Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Drowned Signal
Introduction of the project
Drowned Signal is the creative project of songwriter and creator Arvin Yarollahi—a lifelong musician driven by a need to express what words alone cannot capture.
From an early obsession with music to years of writing in the background, this project represents a turning point: a decision to finally bring those ideas to life, without compromise or delay.
At the core of Drowned Signal is authenticity. Every song begins with a personal emotion, a moment, or a thought that demands to be translated into sound. By combining traditional songwriting with modern production tools, including AI, Arvin has created a workflow that allows him to stay close to that original feeling—turning raw ideas into fully realized tracks with clarity and intensity.
The vision is simple: to create music that connects. Music that feels honest, immersive, and emotionally real.
Drowned Signal is not just about sound—it’s about resonance.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
One of my earliest and strongest memories is my obsession with Oasis. I was completely hooked.
I remember staying up late into the night, calling radio stations over and over, trying to win tickets to their concerts. It wasn’t just about the music—it was about the feeling, the urgency, the idea that this really mattered.
Looking back, that obsession says a lot. Music wasn’t just something I listened to—it was something I chased.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
It started with a need to express things I couldn’t put into words. I wrote lyrics long before I understood structure or production. Over time, that evolved into wanting to shape entire songs—stories, moods, energy.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Drowned Signal is really about removing barriers.
I reached a point where I didn’t want ideas to stay ideas anymore. Traditionally, you’d need a band, studio time, coordination—it slows things down. Now, I can take a feeling, a lyric, a concept, and build a full track around it in a much more direct way.
AI became a natural part of that process—not as a shortcut, but as a tool that helps translate vision into sound.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
It’s emotional, atmospheric, and driven. Somewhere between rock, industrial, and modern alternative. There’s intensity, but also vulnerability—like something breaking through the surface.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
That there are no fixed rules anymore.
Technology has opened up new ways of creating, and I’ve learned to embrace that. Using AI as part of the production process has changed how I work—it’s made it possible to stay in a creative flow instead of getting stuck in technical limitations.
At the end of the day, it’s still about making something that feels real.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
My voice, the melodies, song structure and lyrics are always the starting point—that’s where everything begins. From there, I use modern production tools, including AI-based systems, to shape the sound and build the full track.
For me, AI isn’t replacing creativity—it’s enabling it. It allows me to move faster, experiment more, and bring ideas to life that would otherwise require a full team or studio setup. But the core—the emotion, the message, the direction—that always comes from me.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I’m constantly discovering new artists, especially those who blend genres and aren’t afraid to experiment emotionally and sonically.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
A lot. My music reflects tension, growth, setbacks, and resilience. It’s about pushing through something—mentally or emotionally—and finding clarity on the other side.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
That they’re not alone in what they’re feeling. And that even in darker moments, there’s movement forward.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
That there are many ways to create—and none of them are “wrong” if they lead to something meaningful.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
As I am from Sweden a dream would be to be able to perform my music at Way out West, a festival in Gothenburg, Sweden
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Someone like Chester Bennington. Not just for the sound, but for the emotional honesty he brought into everything.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music?
You can find Drowned Signal on Spotify, and follow the journey on Instagram. The best way to support is simply to listen, save the songs, and share them.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
To keep growing, reaching more people, and building something that resonates on a deeper level.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That this is authentic.
There’s sometimes a misconception that using AI makes things less real, but for me it’s the opposite. It allows me to express myself more freely and consistently. Every song still starts with something personal—it just reaches its final form through a more modern process.
