Some bands start with a plan. Downward wasn’t one of them.
Drew Richardson and Tollie Pugh have been playing together since they were kids, running through high school band iterations until something stuck. “The name came from Hum, but it’s just a word. There really are no good band names left. The Killers took the last one,” Richardson jokes.
But there’s nothing random about what Downward has become. The Tulsa-based band just dropped LP2 on New Morality Zine, a self-titled sophomore record that Richardson calls “sort of a second debut.” It’s an evolution, built from years of refining their sound—balancing heavy melancholy with something more expansive. The record is out now via New Morality Zine, with vinyl available in select stores across the U.S.
LP2: A second debut
“I was 17 when we wrote most of the first record, and we didn’t have any goals for the band at the time,” Richardson says. LP2 feels like a band in full control of its identity, no longer constrained by any singular scene. There’s still the weight of post-hardcore and alternative, but this is a record about pushing past the expected. The sonic clarity hits hard, making each moment feel deliberate.
One track that carries that intention is Line, originally on their 2022 EP, The Brass Tax. “This version of Line is probably my favorite song on the record. It was my favorite song on the EP, and it took us a really long time to figure out a way to do it justice live. Once we figured it out, we had to record it again.”
Then there’s Perfect Food, a song that mixes abstract imagery with something more personal. “It might be the most ‘business as usual’ song for us,” Richardson explains. “We played through it a couple of times, and I just got hit with this ‘Oh yeah, I’m definitely in the right band’ feeling. It really changed my mood and gave me a bit of confidence when we went in to record.”
View this post on Instagram
The album’s artwork—a plastic-wrapped statue from a Tulsa cemetery—matches the record’s tone. “Shout out Madden for that photo,” Richardson adds.
Built on community
Downward isn’t looking for validation from anyone outside their world. The band thrives on collaboration, pulling inspiration from friends more than industry trends. “I’m really inspired by our friends and I feel lucky to say that,” Richardson says.
“Bands like Prize Horse, Modern Color, and Portrayal of Guilt consistently make me pretty stoked about music.”
They tracked the album with Kendal Osborne, someone Richardson credits as essential to the process.
“He’s a one of a kind person and a master at his craft. He made the exact album we wanted.” Additional collaborators included Dave Collis and Sean Hallock from Slow Mass, with mixing and mastering handled by Corey Coffman of Gleemer.
Rooted in DIY
Downward formed in a DIY scene that didn’t have much room for turnover. “Oklahoma definitely used to feel like the DIY scene couldn’t afford to lose any heads,” Richardson says. “It doesn’t feel that way anymore—there’s a lot of kids. It hasn’t changed much since we became a part of it aside from social media influence being stronger now.”
View this post on Instagram
That grassroots foundation still runs through everything they do. In the studio, they prefer to track drums and bass live before layering “like 100 guitars” on top. The sound is big, but the approach stays intimate.
Out on the road
View this post on Instagram
With LP2 out, Downward is spending the next month on tour with Movements, Citizen, and Scowl. The run started in Tempe, Arizona, on March 1 and will hit cities like Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta, Brooklyn, and Boston before wrapping up in Los Angeles on April 6.
View this post on Instagram
More shows are planned through summer and fall.
Keep in the loop!
🗞️ Subscribe on Substack
🔔 Join our Messenger and WhatsApp
📜 Get daily news via Instagram Stories
Your support keeps us alive!
IDIOTEQ is a one-man DIY operation, tirelessly spotlighting the local cultural scenes and independent bands that often go unreported elsewhere. Born in the early 00s, this platform has been committed to giving hard-working artists the high-quality coverage they truly deserve.
No ads, no distractions—just pure inspiration and a genuine focus on independent artists and their stories.
Please consider helping keep IDIOTEQ ad-free and in tune with the indie scene by donating today.
DONATE via PayPal 𝗈𝗋 SUPPORT via Patreon
100% of the funds collected go toward maintaining and improving this magazine. Every contribution, however big or small, is super valuable.
Your support ensures that we continue to be a place where you can discover, learn, and get inspired, without any advertising noise. Thank you for being a part of this musical journey.
