northern drift

northern drift didn’t start as a carefully planned artist project. It grew out of a lifetime of playing music. Long before the name existed, Dave Womer was playing guitar in jazz ensembles and small groups, developing the instincts that would shape his sound years later. By the early 2000s he had expanded into instruments like banjo and was performing regularly with vocalist Margo Valiante In 2004 he gained wider attention as guitarist for the indie pop trio Badpenny whose performances were recognized in Denver’s Metroland. After stepping away from music for a time, Womer eventually returned with a new direction. Under the name northern drift, he began creating instrumental lofi built around real instruments. Acoustic guitars, felted pianos, and subtle electronics combine into warm, organic soundscapes that sit just above sleepy lofi. Based in upstate New York, northern drift has steadily built a global audience, generating more than 1.9 million Spotify streams in the past year alone. Collaborations with artists like Hillscus, moat, and jaspurrr have helped broaden the project’s sound while keeping its organic roots intact. The focus remains simple. Create music that helps people slow down. Something warm, grounded, and quietly human.