Dre Dupuis Captures DIY Spirit and Emotional Depth on Lo-Fi Indie Single “Drift”

LISTEN TO “DRIFT” HERE

St. Catharines, Ontario-based artist Dre Dupuis is carving out a world of intimacy, patience, and raw creativity with his latest single, “Drift.” Recorded entirely in his laundry room on a Tascam 488 tape machine, the song is a warm and melancholic reflection of Dupuis’ DIY ethos – a reminder that great music doesn’t need glossy production to shine. With its lo-fi indie rock textures, layered harmonies, and introspective melodies, “Drift” captures the beauty of limitation and the freedom that can come from working within it.

“‘Drift’ was tracked entirely at home,” Dupuis explains. “I sampled and chopped some drums, recorded guitars and bass directly into the board, and ran vocals through a dynamic mic. Working within the tape machine’s limitations forced me to simplify, which actually freed me up creatively. After two weeks of overcomplicating things digitally, I went back to live mixdowns on tape and finished the mix in two evenings. Hell ya.”

That creative spark – born from the push and pull between constraint and possibility – is the heartbeat of “Drift.” The song moves with a calm yet steady pace, evoking late-night reflection and the kind of small but profound moments that define everyday life. Dupuis’ vocals sit tenderly in the mix, bolstered by guitar lines that sway between understated melancholy and gentle brightness. The track is as much about process as it is about feeling: a song that exists because of its imperfections, recorded in a laundry room but resonating far beyond.

Influenced by artists like The Strokes, Andy Shauf, and The Beach Boys, Dupuis takes cues from melody-driven indie rock and lush, harmony-rich pop while filtering it through his own lo-fi lens. The result is something familiar yet distinct – music that feels like it was made for headphones, late-night drives, or mornings when the world is just beginning to stir awake. “Drift” is unassuming but powerful in its intimacy, a song that brings listeners close enough to feel the warmth of the tape hiss and the hands that built it.

For Dupuis, music has always been about this kind of closeness. A 29-year-old singer-songwriter who has been playing guitar and experimenting with recording since age 12, he has spent years honing not just his sound but also the way he wants to share it. His upcoming self-titled debut album, set for digital release on October 24th, expands on the ethos introduced with “Drift.” Recorded and produced with the same meticulous DIY care, the album is a deeply personal body of work that threads together lo-fi indie rock with soulful songwriting and textured soundscapes.

The debut album promises to serve as a kind of diary – an intimate exploration of life, relationships, and self-understanding, captured in rooms where the quiet allows songs to take shape naturally. Just as “Drift” thrives on its tape-based imperfections, the album as a whole leans into the handmade quality that has defined Dupuis’ journey. It is not about perfection; it’s about presence. Each track offers a snapshot of an artist who builds worlds not in expensive studios but in the corners of his home, weaving together honesty, nostalgia, and invention.

“Drift” also highlights the patience that underpins Dupuis’ process. The decision to return to live mixdowns on tape after two weeks of digital frustration wasn’t just about sound – it was about rediscovering the joy of creating without overthinking. That sense of release and flow is what gives the single its soothing character, and what will no doubt define the full album to come.

Though his music draws inspiration from indie and classic pop traditions, Dupuis’ approach is unmistakably his own. He invites listeners into his world – a world built not from flash but from quiet persistence, where the imperfections in the tape are just as important as the melodies themselves. “Drift” is more than a song; it’s a statement of identity, one that announces Dupuis as an artist to watch in the Canadian indie scene.

With “Drift,” Dre Dupuis not only introduces the sound of his forthcoming debut but also offers a glimpse into the ethos that fuels his artistry. Homemade, heartfelt, and deeply human, it’s a track that proves simplicity can hold enormous emotional weight. And as October 24th approaches, listeners can expect a debut album that carries that same spirit forward – an album born from the patience of one artist in his laundry room, crafting songs that are as timeless as they are personal.