The Drought: All About Salt Lake City’s New Emerging Indie Rock Band
The Drought in their hometown, Salt Lake City, utah (USA)
In the salt lake city music scene, an indie band entitled The Drought is rising to the top. Composed of 4 members; Emmy Gilbert, Griffin Mozdy, Jackson Green, and Maddex atkinson, the band creates a sound that can instantly be identified as classic american indie rock with dreamy vocals and prominent, energetic, and upbeat guitar.
Their most popular song, entitled Portrait is a playful guitar melody with soft vocals, is quite a beautiful tune. Speeding up and slowing down, one can imagine how an audience would move to this catchy song.
Their new single, BLB (standing for big little boy) however, has a much more straightforward sound and honest lyrics. Allowing the bass to be the star of the instrumentals, the song has a sassy sound that accompanies the lyrics quite well. The song describes a relatable situation of dealing with men that refuse to act their age. Personally, I already have a list of people I know in my head that would benefit from listening to these lyrics.
BLB album cover - the drought
The rest of their discography is a bit more emotional and melancholic. The slow melodies and light vocals calm the mind, until the eventual pick-up of the instrumentals that adds a nice contrast to the songs, overall making a very nice and easy listen.
The band provided us with a short description of themselves as follows:
“The Drought is an alternative rock band with progressive rock influences, formed in Salt Lake City in 2021. Known for their dynamic sound that bridges the gaps between gritty rock and intricate melodies, classical arpeggiation and folk rhythm, and jazz and modern pop, The Drought has quickly established themselves as a standout in the local music scene. Their raw energy, both in the studio and on stage, has earned them headlining performances at key venues such as Kilby Court, Quarters DLC, and Urban Lounge.
With Griffin Mozdy on lead and rhythm guitar, Maddex Atkinson on bass, Emmy Gilbert on vocals, and Jackson Green on drums, The Drought continues to push creative boundaries, captivating audiences with their unique approach to rock music.”
The band also gave us some more insight on how they came to be:
“The Drought, as it stands today, has only been together for a little over a year. While the band originally formed in 2021, the only remaining members from that era are guitarist Griffin Mozdy (who actually started on bass) and drummer Jackson Green—lifelong friends who continued to make music together. The search for new members took time. After two lineup changes and two years, they found their vocalist, Emmy Gilbert, through auditions. But the story actually started years earlier—Griffin, Jackson, and Emmy all went to the same school. Griffin had first heard Emmy sing at a grade school talent show, and when the band needed a singer, he reached out to see if she was interested. She was, and after her audition in August 2023, she officially became part of The Drought. One last piece was missing: a bassist. Three months later, during a casual visit to Guitar Center, they spotted an ad from Maddex Atkinson, who was looking for a band. Intrigued, they reached out, set up an audition, and it just clicked. Maddex joined shortly after, completing the current four-piece lineup: lead guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. This third iteration of The Drought is the most solid it's ever been—and they're just getting started.”
Lead Singer, Emmy Gilbert performs in salt lake city, utah - Shot by Taylor Jones
The Drought performed their most recent show at Kilby Court on the 13th of February, 2025, promoting their new music and celebrating Valentine’s Day. For more information on the band, updates, or inquiries, be sure to follow their instagram (thedrought_slc). Their music is also available for listening on any streaming platform.
