Social Drag

Social Drag is the ‘90s rock inspired, original project from singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, Emily Hulslander. Hulslander enlists various members of the Los Angeles musical community to round out the lineup for live shows and studio recordings. Emily is also one half of the band Guyville, a Los Angeles based duo comprised of Emily and Kat Hamilton.

Hulslander enlisted a core group of engineers and musicians to record the debut EP and the collective dedicated themselves to giving the songs the texture of the ‘90s; evoking the height of Weezer’s fame with crunchy guitar riffs on songs like “Drug Like You” and “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,” skirting the line of messy grunge with heavy-hitting drum fills on “Never Enough” and building a sonic guitar-soaked world from one lilting continuous guitar riff inspired by Stone Temple Pilots on “Out Of My Hands.”

While the instrumentation is a persistent gut punch, Hulslander’s voice offers moments ranging from ferocious growls to delicate cries. The closer, “Remind Me” leaves the listener with very little closure. But closure was never the point; Social Drag is about exploring the dark while holding hands with the past. By the end of the EP, both Hulslander and the audience have had a similar journey. You don’t always need to know what story you want to tell, you just have to have the desire to tell it.