A physical drum kit is somewhat limiting. You have to spend a hefty amount of time tuning it, setting it up, and lugging it in the back of your car from practice space - to the gig - and then back to your house.

One local man has done that hundreds of times but is now taking his drumming talents to the digital realm. 

Dave Power is a UW-Eau Claire graduate and in-demand drummer known for playing in notable outfits such as Aero Flynn, Adeline Rose, and Moon Ruin (among others). In 2020 he made his electronic music debut with the introduction of his project White Dune, releasing the albums Presence in 2020 and Memory I in 2021. Power is back with another thundering downtempo/IDM album Heavy Is the Root of the Light, releasing the new EP on Mar. 11. 

“This record was inspired by my travels with my daughter around the country over the past year and a half,” Power said. “What followed was the stark, isolated upper Midwestern winter that provided ample time to ruminate on those travels, and pushed me to release a lot of pent-up energy and creativity through music.”

Power and his daughter traveled around the country starting in 2020, traveling to breathtaking locations such as the Tetons, the Badlands, Boundary Waters, White Sands National Park, Taos, Bandelier National Monument, and culminating with 10 days in Hawaii. The trip was a chance for the father-and-daughter team to regain a sense of calm during the pandemic, and for Power to capture musical inspiration once again. 

Heavy Is the Root of the Light features the first songs for which Power has had some co-produced tracks. One of these collaborators is his longtime bandmate (and head chef) Mike Noyce, who produced “Waimea” and “Playa Blanca.” Other first-time producing collabs on the EP include Huntley Miller (mastering engineer), whom Power bonded with while living in Minneapolis. 

“I’m slowly coming into my own when it comes to songwriting and making electronic music,” Power said. "I hardly consider myself a songwriter and still feel like I’m just playing around with synths and drum machines with very little direction. It’s definitely a slow process, but I’m having a lot of fun and it’s progressing. I feel that these songs are closer to the vibe I’m going for than any of my releases in the past.”

Power's work with 58 Belvedere, Bathroom Cig, Rose of the West, and Solid Gold will soon culminate in new music, bringing along with it new tour dates around the Midwest. 

Heavy Is the Root of the Light is available now on all major streaming services and from Power directly on bandcamp.com.