Meet Jeff Draco | Musician/Touring Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Draco and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I feel that honesty and an expressive personality have allowed my brand to grow and succeed. I’ve always tried to stay transparent and it has allowed me to push my creative ideas further with the dedicated support of my audience.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started writing and releasing music as Jeff Draco in early 2018 and it’s been a rollercoaster so far. I’m an independent artist so everything I do, I’ve done myself. I record all my music at home in my self-made DIY studio – I do hope and plan to start working in larger studios at some point, but having the accessibility and convenience of being able to record something after waking up in the middle of the night with a new idea is so grand. Up until very recently, aside from the music, I’ve also done all my art design, visual content, marketing, and networking. I’m now fortunate enough to have the best manager in the world, Matt, who goes beyond the extra mile to make things work and for this project to succeed. I’ve also been working musically with friend and collaborator Grant Claytor, who co-produced, mixed, and mastered my latest EP “Freezing in Hollywood”.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you’re visiting my hometown, I would first head to AdMo (Adams Morgan) to grab a coffee and hit some of the shops. Then I’d head over to Smash Records, one of my favorite vinyl shops in DC, and spend too much money on records. Later I would head to DC9 for a burger and some drinks on the rooftop (DC9 has the best burgers in DC in my opinion and it is the venue I’ve probably played the most number of times in DC!), I love it there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely, my bandmates, Josh Poggioli, George Turner, Tyler Drager, and Owen Greene, friends, and family, deserve recognition for getting me where I am today. I’ve been surrounded by friends and collaborators who have been the most supportive and have gone the extra mile many times for me. I’ve been so fortunate to have friends who consistently come to shows, help with music videos and photo shoots, and continue to support any crazy idea or endeavor I think I can tackle. Then there’s the band, aka my second family. My bandmates have gone above and beyond in supporting this project – from touring up and down the east coast in a CR-V (with five of us crammed in) to helping make DIY merch (and so much more). My live show has a level of energy that I couldn’t achieve without their own style and flavor on my songs, I’d be lost without them, they’re the best dudes I could ask for.

Website: jeffdraco.com

Instagram: instagram.com/jeffdraco

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-gilman/

Twitter: twitter.com/jeffdraco

Facebook: facebook.com/jeffdracomusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb_ASPxj4dv1krd88CT1H-w

Image Credits
Photo #1 – Briana DeRosa Photos #2-5 by Eva Dorsey