For Dru MacDonald, leaving his childhood home on the Canadian island of Newfoundland, was the only option. While the rest of his senior classmates were still celebrating graduation, ‘drumaq’ was on a plane to Los Angeles to start summer classes at FIDM. “Nobody from my school believed I was moving to LA, people from my town just didn’t do that, but the thought of a creative career path felt impossible for me there.” drumaq came to LA, and for the first time in his life he felt like his true self and he's never looked back. “I came out when I moved to LA, I told myself I was going to be the real me the second I stepped off the plane."

After four years at FIDM and with a fresh heartbreak under his belt, drumaq began making music in his bedroom and releasing it online. His soulful crooning about loss and love was met with immense positivity and encouragement, inspiring him to release more music. This newfound interest quickly snowballed into him playing shows, getting an agent, touring and turning it into a full-time gig. “I’ve always loved both fashion and music. At 17, fashion just seemed more accessible. I mean, how was I gonna be Rhianna?” drumaq jokes “but then I started making songs in my bedroom and sharing them and realized how easy it was to connect with people that way.”

The industry quickly began to take note of drumaq’s unique perspective and he was tapped to write songs for established acts like Olivia O’Brien. After taking a break from his own career and spending two years writing for others, drumaq was ready to start releasing music and touring again, but then the pandemic hit and he was forced to go back to releasing singles from his bedroom. This time of introspection made drumaq realize that he was feeling stuck creatively. “I was writing about the same shit over and over; I wasn’t feeling inspired. I need to live a little, go out and experience more and then come back with my own unique story to tell.”

It would have been easy for drumaq to keep putting out half-hearted music or to write for others and coast by, but much like he did at seventeen when he left Newfoundland, he was firm in knowing what was and wasn’t right for him. So, he took another big leap, putting a pause on music to dive back into fashion. drumaq is now working with various brands and designers on digital projects, flexing his creativity in new and fulfilling ways. He excitedly speaks about the potential of future collaborations and eventually starting his own line.

As we wrapped up the shoot drumaq mentioned he was heading back to Newfoundland the next day for his brother’s wedding. He speaks fondly of the island he grew up on and is excited to go back – to see friends and family, to enjoy the raw natural beauty of northeastern Canada. Of course, he needed to leave to help discover who he is, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still love the place he left.

drumaq seems to have a similar mindset when it comes to music. Whatever happens with his latest foray into fashion, music will always be part of what defined him and he will return to it when he feels ready and excited to be there.