DRAM Releases New Album ‘What Had Happened Was…’ Via Waver Records

DRAM officially releases his new full length album What Had Happened Was…, out now via his own newly minted independent label, WAVER Records. The project arrives including previously released singles “PPL,” featuring BJ The Chicago Kid, “Let Me See Your Phone,” produced by Rory Farrell (New Rory & Mal podcast) and Chiiild, and “WHAM,” for which he shares a new accompanying visual. With the full length, DRAM continues his new era as he showcases his ability to bring his charismatic presence and knack for writing earworms into his new “DRAM&B” sound.

What Had Happened Was… is DRAM’s most raw and open album yet. Unlike his music in the past, DRAM’s goal with this project was to lean heavily into his soul side, and put everything on the table. From the ups and downs of fame, dealing with mental health issues through multi-platinum success in the music business, the personal relationships he’s dealt with over the years, and even openly discussing the loss of his mother. What Had Happened Was… is both a review of personal traumas he had to overcome, and how he’s been able to evolve as a person.

Following his smash success with songs like “Broccoli” and “Cha Cha” in 2016, DRAM went through a phase of deep self-exploration and reflection that was also riddled with substance addiction, close family loss, and growing frustration with the music industry at large looking to fit him into a box. Through this tumultuous time, he began to find solace in his craft again and started to make the music he always saw himself making by leaning heavily into his love for R&B and shifting the focus away from chasing more pop rap hits. 

His return in 2021 was marked by the singer moving his birth name Shelley to the forefront, and under the new moniker SHELLEY FKA DRAM, he released the album of the same name. The music of SHELLEY showed a stark shift into his new direction, while it also felt like a stepping stone sonically to the fully realized music he is crafting and releasing today. Understanding that the “SHELLEY” release was a vital part of his exploration and self-reflecting process, but not yet his final form, DRAM has returned to his original artist name after realizing that regardless of what the direction of the music is like he is still the same 1-of-1 artist and person.

DRAM

What Had Happened Was…

November 10, 2022

WAVER Records

1. Vibe Of The Year

2. Ride Or Die

3. WHAM

4. 3’s Company

5. Let Me See Your Phone

6. Where’s My Sunshine?

8. Best That I Got

9. Can’t Hold You Down

10. Bad News

11. Angry

12. A Mother’s Love

13. Note To Self

14. Soul To Take

15. Big Baby DRAM

16. PPL (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)

17. Reflections

18. First Time Again

19. WWYD? Part 2