DROPOUT YEAR

Moving forward has never sounded so sweet. After heartbreak, sweat and even some tears, Dropout Year are finally in peak condition. Consisting of lead vocalist Steve Reter and guitarists Brandon Reter and Adam Goodman, Dropout Year has found their most stable and productive lineup to date. So with firm ground under their feet, Dropout Year can finally focus on their goal: bringing catchy, bright pop-rock to as many people as possible.
A goal like this doesn’t happen overnight. Dropout Year aren’t an instant success story, but that’s not to say that the band haven’t had plenty of early triumphs. With three EP’s under their belt and a new 8-song EP out early this year, the band knows how to craft the melodies fans crave with the honesty of a dear friend. From following the 2008 Van’s Warped Tour and selling over 3500 CDs in three weeks by sheer force of will to securing studio time with producer Rob Freeman (Hit The Lights, Armor For Sleep, Cobra Starship), Dropout Year have created their own opportunities.
Clearly, this is a band that is learning. Dropout Year’s members have known each other since high school and in some cases beyond. Having strong personal relationships has already improved the band, as Steve Reter says, “The chemistry on and off the stage is great.” Knowing trust was no longer an issue, the band sat down to write their next record, aptly titled The Way We Play. As any fan of the band knows, the guys have a knack for tackling relationship topics without coming across trite or overdone. The Way We Play’s 8-songs takes this diversity to an even greater scale. Reter describes the new songs as pop-rock, but he also believes the lyrics are going to be more noteworthy than ever, saying, “It’s been a ball writing songs that deal with some of the darker and limiting aspects of relationships. The Way We Play is really about the transitions we make in life to achieve our goals." Reter’s lyrics ring with such a truth that you can’t help but be optimistic. The moves the band has taken to get here, to be very literally on the cusp of stardom, shines through every new chorus and every new triumphant climax. As Reter says in his typically upbeat fashion, “With every move we make in our lives, we affect everything around us. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad. But we’re always in transition and ready for the next move.” Don’t be surprised if the next move he’s talking about ends up being one that turns Dropout Year into a household name.