pure xtc’s "Drive" Feels Like Crying With the Windows Down—And That’s the Point
- Sophie Ray
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Some songs don’t just hit—they haunt. pure xtc’s latest single, "Drive," is one of those rare tracks that settles deep in your chest and stays there, humming like a restless engine. The final piece in a trilogy that began with "Fall Apart" and "Mood Ring," this track doesn’t just close a chapter—it burns the whole story down, then hits the gas.
Taylor Hughes, the Baltimore-born, Kansas City-based multi-instrumentalist behind pure xtc, built this song in her home studio—layer by layer, memory by memory. And she makes it clear: this isn’t just about heartbreak.
“'Drive' is about the moment love loses its grip—when the person you once couldn’t live without becomes a stranger,” Hughes shared. “I built the song in my home studio, layering airy textures to capture that feeling of longing. The verses came fast, but the chorus was a battle. I had the first half but struggled to make the melody land. That’s when I called Mariel Loveland—she helped refine the lyrics and capture that quiet surrender. It’s the sound of leaving, of moving toward something lighter, something free.”
And honestly, that quote feels like the song. From the opening line—“You’re fading in my rearview / I can’t see you like I used to”—to the broken, anthemic chorus—“I’m not okay but I’ll be alright / I’m gonna drive until I leave you behind”—the entire track is a meditation on movement. Not just physically, but emotionally. It’s about getting in the car when everything hurts and trusting that the road will pull you forward.
"Drive" thrives in the shadows, much like Hughes’ whole aesthetic. Her sound is dark, immersive, and emotionally naked. Every synth, every guitar echo, every beat feels like it’s carrying a little weight—and that’s what makes the song so magnetic. It doesn’t just make you feel something—it lets you feel everything.
Her rise from NYC transplant to Kansas City alt-pop visionary has been anything but quiet. Her music has played everywhere from Birkenstock stores in the UK to AMC theaters in the Midwest. She’s been spotlighted on Apple Music’s New in Alternative and Proud Radio, scored indie films, and shared stages with artists like Fletcher, Slayyyter, Jenny Lewis, and Dashboard Confessional. And yet, there’s still something fiercely personal about her work—like she’s letting you in on a secret she’s still learning how to say out loud.
"Drive" doesn’t try to fix anything. It just tells the truth in a way that makes it feel okay not to be okay. It’s the kind of song you blast at night, alone in the car, singing through tears you didn’t realize were still there. It’s goodbye and it’s freedom and it’s survival, all in under four minutes.
And if this is how pure xtc ends the trilogy, we’re already buckled up for what’s next.
Check out this latest release and listen to more of pure xtc on Spotify & YouTube.