Behind the Lyrics of My New Song DND (Driving Through Zip Codes)
It’s hard to believe this song has finally made its way out into the world.
I remember when we first started creating DND.
Jose, my friend and producer in Boise, began playing this catchy R&B piano line, and as always, the melody hit me immediately. Our creative flow has always felt like such a gift, and this session was no different.
Since moving to Boise, ID for college, one of the things I’ve noticed is how quickly you can pass from one town to the next, switching zip codes without even realizing it. On the drive from my place to Jose’s, I crossed into a new zip code and thought, That’s it.
“I want to write a song about how easy it is to leave what’s familiar, just by driving.”
Those ideas came together as I started writing the lyrics for DND in November 2024. But the inspiration goes deeper. Since I got my license at 16, I’ve always used drives as an escape, leaving my small Texas town and heading into Austin whenever I needed to clear my head or process a rough day. I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling: slipping down a road with your thoughts or letting your favorite album play over the speakers while you breathe a little easier.
For me, these drives never really have a destination. It’s more about reaching that mental place where I can finally say,
“I’m okay. I’m ready to head back now.”
My favorite part of the song is the bridge:
"I’ve got the moon on my left and it’s chasing me down.
Blew through an album, should I turn around now?
I’m driving through zip codes, zip zip codes."
Not only do I love how this section sounds musically, but the lyrics take me back to sitting in the backseat as a kid, staring out the window and thinking the moon was following us. The mind plays such fun games when you’re little; it’s one of those core memories, I wonder if other people share.
All this to say: I’m so excited to finally share DND with the world. This song has been stuck in my head since day one of making it, and so much love and laughter went into creating it. There are three versions: the regular master, a sped-up version, and a slowed-down version. So whatever mood you’re in, there’s something for you, or just let the EP play through and enjoy how the transitions between each version change pitch and texture. Honestly, it scratches a part of my brain that always makes me smile.
It would mean the world if you streamed it and showed it some love!