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Meet Drew Arriola-Sands of Trap Girl in South Gate

Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Arriola-Sands.

Drew, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been playing instruments since I was a preteen and I started singing “professionally” in my mid-twenties. I played and sang folk music first and then decided to form a punk band after watching two very important documentaries, The Gits Movie and The Amazing Adventures of Betty Blowtorch. Two true films capturing the femm DIY punk band experience. I was beyond inspired. I also became obsessed with the mysterious death of Spanish banda singer Jenni Rivera. I admired her strength and she was a tough hometown girl from Long Beach and I liked that and believed it or not I modeled my early trap girl look after her. My band’s big debut happened in 2014 and we’ve been busy bitches since then.

Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing is smooth for a plus-size trans Latina fronting a punk band. But like every brown band before us, we must pay dues, whether we like it or not. But for five years we have managed and survived.

Please tell us about Trap Girl.
We specialize in one of a kind, glamorous hardcore punk with a dark edge.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
What I see change from the industry is more record deals and more opportunities for trans people when it comes to music.

Contact Info:

  • Instagram: @trapgirl4lyfe
  • Others: listen to us on spotify and bandcamp!


Image Credit:
Photo by Henry Zavala

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