DROWSE You are getting sleepy… MATT VRVILO
Cold Air, the new album from Portland’s Drowse, is a gently noisy rumination on fear, sadness, dreams, and death helmed by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kyle Bates.
It’s a far cry from the runny noses, untied shoes, and playground giggles that fill his days as a preschool teacher. But Bates’ job and his music are intrinsically linked, since the demands of the latter help keep the feelings explored with the former at bay.
“If I’m really stressed out or feeling down, when I go [to work], it’s sort of impossible to feel negative, because the kids are so cute and you have to be really present to interact with them all the time,” he says. “If I’m feeling bad about stuff it really helps to take my mind off things.”