Multi-instrumentalist Brian Willey continues to push the boundaries of his project The Black Drumset with Friends in Dark Places, the title track from the band's forthcoming album, due out on July 17the, 2026. Mixing dark alternative moods with an adventurous experimental edge, the song unfolds patiently, prioritizing atmosphere over immediacy.
Willey says about the song: "This was the first song I started for the new album, and in many ways it is my favorite of the bunch. I was living in Tucson, AZ, hiding out during the worst of the pandemic, and this song kind of burst forth after a period of not making any music at all and being very depressed from lockdowns and the whole musical ecosystem going on hold. We sometimes find true friends or positive things within ourselves when going through the darkest times. The song begins in darkness and loss and ends with an insistence on finding joy. This was the first time I sang in first person on a Black Drumset song (I previously had a “rule” for this project that I would never sing in first person)."
Driven by shadowy textures and understated intensity, Friends in Dark Places creates a hypnotic listening experience that feels immersive from beginning to end. Its restrained approach allows every detail to breathe, resulting in a composition that is melancholic and gripping.
The accompanying video complements the track's reflective character through its minimalist execution. Shot entirely from the window of a subway train in Paris by visual artist Seth Orion Schwaiger and edited by Brian Willey using only linear cuts and reordering, the visual avoids digital effects or AI manipulation, reinforcing the song's understated and authentic aesthetic.
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The Black Drumset
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