Matt McAndrew has always been a star.
Millions of people saw it on Season 7 of NBC’s The Voice, where the Jersey Shore native came in second and score multiple Top 10 downloads on iTunes and later a #14 song on the Billboard Hot 100.
We at Pop Break were able to see it firsthand in 2018 when McAndrew donated his time to headline our annual Local Christmas Party in Asbury Park to benefit the city’s Toys for Tots Drive.
This summer crowds around the country can see his star power as the frontman of the post-hardcore band, Rain City Drive, as they toured on the Idobi Radio Summer School Tour. And for those who couldn’t make that Kevin Lyman created traveling festival, the guys will be hitting the road again this fall.
Recently, we caught up with McAndrew to discuss going from being a solo artist to front Rain City Drive, touring the country with the Lyman co-created Idobi Radio Summer School Tour, five things he’s excited for for Rain City Drive this year and more.
Matt, when Pop Break first interviewed you — you were hot off The Voice, and your music was more singer/songwriter based. Can you talk about the transition from solo work, to joining Rain City Drive, which has a much heavier sound?
I found it really refreshing to be able to express myself in a new way over heavier instrumentals. I had hit a wall creatively with my solo music and making To Better Days opened up a new world for me as a songwriter.
Speaking of the sound, it is a seamless blend of metal and pop — talk about fusing two very disparate sounds and creating your sound?
I think as long as you’re pulling from “darker” sounding pop influences the fusion is pretty easy. I can’t do harsh vocals so even if the instrumentals get heavy I’ll still be doing my thing over them.
The band dropped the new single “Ride or Die” — how do you feel this stands out from the rest of the band’s catalog?
It’s one of the only straight ahead love songs we have. That stands out the most to me.
Is this song the prelude to a brand new full-length record dropping in the near future?
We are working on a new album and will be releasing new singles consistently for the foreseeable future.
The band spent their summer on the Idobi Radio Summer School Tour — a tour co-founded by Kevin Lyman of The Warped Tour. Can you talk about how the band was brought into this traveling festival and how does it feel being a part of something new founded by an iconic music name like Kevin?
All the bands on this package are very sweet and it was a great hang. I appreciate the festival cultivating such a positive environment.
For those coming out to see the tour, but maybe haven’t seen Rain City Drive before, what can they expect from the band’s live performance?
It’s a high energy set — a good mix of songs. Come sing along with us.
In the same vein, if someone is coming out and has not heard of Rain City Drive before, what song would you recommend them check out in order to fully understand what this band is fully about?
I might say to check out “Medicate Me.”
What do you love about being in Rain City Drive?
I like all the different influences and styles I can incorporate into our sound.
What are five things you’re excited for Rain City Drive for the rest of 2025?
- Writing a bunch of songs for the album
- Releasing more new music
- Things Are Different Now Deluxe
- US Tour in the Fall
- That’s it!
