Over two years in the making, and many more in the two musicianâs shared dream, âReal Thingâ unites longtime collaborators Michael Collins (Drugdealer) and Natalie Mering (Weyes Blood). Recorded across continents, âReal Thingâ is a return, a refinement and a reminder of the deep connection that has bound these two titans of song over multiple collaborations. The journey of âReal Thingâ began when Collins, while on a European sojourn, crossed paths with Parisian producer Max Baby. As one does while in Paris, they found themselves in a studio owned by a member of the 1970s French prog rock band Magma. There, a chord progression long-gestating in Collinsâ brain blossomed into a bonafide demo.
Collins recalls, âI realized immediately that it was the perfect thing to show Nat, who I had been wanting to collaborate with again for years.â The connection and musical camaraderie between Collins and Mering dates back to 2014 in Oakland, where a chance meeting and studio session marked the genesis of their enduring partnership. Collins reflects, âSince then, Iâve felt like sheâs my musical family. I canât really ask for more in terms of someone who inspired me to even get to this place in my songwriting.â On the B-side is âThe Newsâ, Drugdealerâs first collaboration with Robbie Chemical. What began as a simple harmony grew into a panoramic partnership, the musicianâs voices effortlessly entwined, and a pop paragon envisioned. Inspired by generational conversations on chaos, change and connection, the track opens a new chapter - topical, personal and unmistakably Drugdealer. As Drugdealer, Michael Collins has crafted a career that blends introspective songwriting with a reverence for classic pop and R&B. A native of the East Coast, Collinsâ musical adventure began with the experimental pop collages of Run DMT and Salvia Plath before evolving into the more melodic, refined songwriting heard in Drugdealerâs acclaimed albums âRaw Honeyâ and âHiding In Plain Sightâ. ï· Natalie Mering, better known as Weyes Blood, has similarly forged a path of emotive, transcendental folk-pop that delves into themes of myth, love and existential longing.
Known for her ethereal voice and evocative lyrics, Meringâs latest works, âTitanic Risingâ and âAnd In The Darkness, Hearts Aglowâ, are nothing short of modern classics, though also feel like just the start of this artistâs undeniable ascent. ï· âFor both artists, this is their first song since their respective 2022 albums, and what a way to come back. âReal Thingâ feels like uncovering a forgotten â70s disco duetâ - PASTE ï· âA lush and insistent folk-pop jamâ - Stereogum ï· For fans of Mac Demarco, Kate Bollinger, Men I Trust, Toro y Moi, TOPS, Alice Phoebe Lou, Tame Impala, Thee Sacred Souls, Vacations, Allah-Las, Kurt Vile, Beach Fossils, Slow Pulp, Foxygen, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Hand Habits, Father John Misty, Oracle Sisters, Whitney, The Lemon Twigs, Mild High Club, Khruangbin, Angel Olsen.