Next up for a Come Hear NC blog profile (link in bio), Hard Drive (@harddrive_mash)! Too many writers now are just trans...

Next up for a Come Hear NC blog profile (link in bio), Hard Drive (@harddrive_mash)! Too many writers now are just transcribers of press releases, public statements, and received wisdom. It’s a problem in all genres of criticism and journalism! But Hard Drive’s official description on their Bandcamp and website captures so much of their character – their seriousness about old-time music, but also and the absurd humor which paints the edges of their work, that it’s worth reproducing here: “Hard Drive is a hard-driving aural modern traditional old time authentic millennial bluegrass collective made up of Tatiana Hargreaves (@dragonfiddler), Aaron Tacke, Sonya Badigian (@sonyabadigian), and Nokosee Fields (@pretty_little_ndn). From brother duets to raging fiddle tunes, Hard Drive brings a sense of deep intuition and silliness to the world that encompasses old-time, country, and bluegrass.” Hard Drive know their stuff backwards and forwards, but are part of the present’s musical and cultural world. It’s beautiful stuff (check out their album RANDOM ACCESS MASH), playing with more whimsy and downhome joy than the average down-the-middle trad group. What’s not to love? Hard Drive Lineup: Tatiana on fiddle, Aaron on banjo, Sonya on guitar, and Nokosee on bass. The interview answers below are the distilled product of a group phone call between all four band members. Like Gibson & Toutant before, they treated the proceedings with a suitable amount of seriousness. Link in bio: enjoy! Image: The members of Hard Drive arrayed on and around a golf cart, provided by band Alt. text: Four band members of Hard Drive playfully pose on and around a golf cart: one in front, one on roof, two in back.