Work Drugs

Work Drugs is an American synth pop duo from Philadelphia, founded by Thomas Crystal and Benjamin Louisiana. It currently consists of Crystal (vocals and guitar), alongside Louisiana (vocals and keys), Jonas Ohh (drums), Mr. Kansas City (bass), and Katie Nicks (vocals and percussion). It band has had LPs released via boutique label Bobby Cahn Records and toured on the festival circuit in the United States, including SXSW and CMJ, as well as national support slots for the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Umphrey's McGee, Maps and Atlases, Battles, Peter, Bjorn & John, Sun Airway, Memoryhouse, Parts and Labor, J.Viewz, and more.

History Work Drugs is a Philadelphia-based recording project started by Thomas Crystal and Benjamin Louisiana on the banks of the Delaware River.

Self-described as a band that "makes music specifically for boating, sexting, dancing, yachting, and living" or "Philadelphia's premier Bat Mitzvah and Quinceanera party band", Work Drugs' name was given by their friend Eduardo S. as they were sailing the Baja of Mexico. Band members Tom and Ben bonded together in sailing school over music, which is when they started composing songs for their first album. In a 2011 article, The Guardian, described their music commenting, “It's like hearing Steely Dan’s “Aja” through fog".

Their earliest efforts arrived sporadically in the form of singles ("Third Wave", "Dog Daze" and "Rad Racer"). On June 27, 2011, the duo released their first album Summer Blood, which consisted of their first few singles and three acoustic recordings. Later that year they released their sophomore album Aurora Lies. The album, released on November 7, 2011, was the band's first release to bring a collection of entirely previously unreleased tracks. On July 10, 2012, Work Drugs resurfaced with their third album, Absolute Bearing.

In August 2011, the song "Rad Racer" was featured in the Urban Outfitters commercial for "Favorite Fall Jeans of 2011". In his 2011 album, Still Sound, Xxyyxx included a remixed version of "Rad Racer".

Work Drugs have played live shows across North America in cities such as Boston, New York City, Chicago and San Francisco. In April 2011, the group supported Northern Ireland-based indie rock band Two Door Cinema Club and Chicago indie rock band Maps & Atlases on a tour of the West Coast of the United States.

In late 2011, Work Drugs supported Peter, Bjorn & John and Memoryhouse on their east coast tour through Philadelphia.

In February 2012, Work Drugs supported Umphrey's McGee on their east coast run through Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Discography

Studio albums Year Details2011Summer Blood Released: 27 June 2011 Label: Self-releasedAurora Lies Released: 7 November 2011 Label: Bobby Cahn RecordsCayman Islands Sessions Released: 15 December 2011 Label: Bobby Cahn Records2012Absolute Bearing Released: 10 July 2012 Label: Bobby Cahn RecordsDelta Released: 5 December 2012 Label: Bobby Cahn Records2013Mavericks Released: 18 June 2013 Label: Bobby Cahn Records2014Insurgents Released: 4 March 2014 Label: Bobby Cahn RecordsRunaways Released: 7 October 2014 Label: Bobby Cahn RecordsCayman Islands Sessions, Vol.II Released: 2 December 2014 Label: Bobby Cahn Records2015Louisa Released: 7 August 2015 Label: Bobby Cahn Records2016Method Acting Released: 19 August 2016 Label: Self released2017Sierra Released: 20 January 2017 Label: Self releasedFlaunt The Imperfection Released: 11 August 2017 Label: Self released2018Holding on to Forever Released: 17 September 2018 Label: Self released2019Fantasy File Released: 30 August 2019 Label: Self released2020A Matter of Degrees Released: 18 September 2020 Label: Self released2021Pride and Competition Released: 22 October 2021 Label: Self released2022Some You Leave Out Released: 18 November 2022 Label: Self released2023Dreams Rules Desire Released: 22 September 2023 Label: Self released2024Cayman Island Sessions, Vol. 3 Released: 19 April 2024 Label: Self released2025Post Modern Expression Released: 31 October 2025 Label: Self released

Extended plays Year Details2013Amore EP Released: 14 February 2013 Label: Bobby Cahn Records2018Mixed Drinks EP Released: 5 March 2018Infinity Eyes EP Released: 27 March 2018Pacific Heart EP Released: 27 April 2018After Midnight EP Released: 20 June 2018Sunset Mornings EP Released: 8 August 2018

Remixes Little Scream – "The Heron and the Fox" (Work Drugs Remix) (2011 Secretly Canadian) Bon Iver - "Beth/Rest" (Work Drugs Remix) (2012 Jagjaguwar)

Singles As a celebration of their first anniversary, Work Drugs released a collaborative single with Philly artist Dylan Sieh aka Tours called Dirty Dreams on 7 December 2011.

The track can be streamed here.

Track List: Summer Blood