A Dirty Dozen with AARON ‘REV’ PETERS from THE DROWNS – August 2026

Photo credit: John Gilhooley

According to a recent press release: “Seattle punk rockers The Drowns have shared “Have A Heart” from their upcoming full length album Harsh Reality, which releases September 18 via Pirates Press Records. Vocalist / guitarist Rev Peters, vocalist / bassist Andy Wylie, and drummer Jake Margolis largely bashed out the tracks themselves, with the exception of additional guitar work on “Vengeance” by Zach Blair (Rise Against, Only Crime, GWAR), and a touch of accordion on “3rd & Pike” courtesy of Matt Hensley (A-100s, Flogging Molly). This collection of 13 new songs fuses everything fans have loved about the band’s previous sonic experimentation and focuses it into laser-tight melodic songwriting firmly rooted in punk rock, but with the potential to reach listeners from all walks of life. It’s a record poised to give the band’s hard-earned position as a fan-favorite in the global punk scene an even greater trajectory. For a band that has won over fans around the globe, record by record and show by show, it is a big statement, but simply put: Harsh Reality is The Drowns at the top of their game.” We get singer / guitarist Rev to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

We made this new album with Bill Stevenson from the Descendants. This album is a new era of The Drowns as a band. It’s an incredible sounding album, with multiple themes layered throughout.

2. What got you into music and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I saw the Temptations as a child, and thought “that would be a rad job,” but it wasn’t until I saw my first punk show that I wanted to be a musician.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

We wear a lot of influences on our sleeves, and I think if you listen to the album, you’ll be able to pick a lot out on your own. No, one specific source didn’t guide my taste.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Wesley Willis. I guarantee it would be fun, and rad.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

We play 200 shows a year and we essentially don’t get down time. But I’m a big pinball player.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

We are a punk rock and roll band, plain and simple. There’s a guy out there who has a personal music blog who reviews albums, and he doesn’t listen to them AT ALL. He once referred to us as a “Hardcore Ska Band” and thought that the vocals on the album was just me changing my voice on purpose, because he didn’t do enough research to realize we have 2 singers.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

We literally don’t do any of this. We are an “order pizza and listen to records” type of band.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Mariah Carey knocked me over once when I was 10 years old, outside of the Lockness Monster Rollercoaster at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg VA.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Creating art is a gift, and being able to do it is a blessing. If I wasn’t doing this, I’d probably still do something in the industry.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

The fact that anyone is asking about the art that we make is good enough for me. We have to keep conversations about music going, or we’ll all lose touch.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

No, I’ve been pretty fortunate with all of it, I’d hate to change the outcome.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I wish I could have been around Joe Strummer recording Streetcore. That’s one of my favorite albums of all time.

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Category: Interviews