A Day In The Life: Friko
Chicago's Friko came bounding into the new year with a gutsy, visceral throwback to early noughties indie rock. Armed with an album cover plucked straight from Conor Oberst's dusty old bookshelf, and the kind of warbling, teetering-on-the-edge voice that could shape the weather, their debut full-length is a thrilling, heartfelt, gloriously messy affair that won hearts and minds far from their Illinois stomping ground.
Consisting of Niko Kapetan and Bailey Minzenberger, the band (somewhat charmingly) cite MewithoutYou, Mitski, and The Beach Boys as inspirations on their sound but for all the many reference points that tumble out of their work they manage to sound and - perhaps more importantly feel - thrillingly authentic.
Ahead of a trip across the pond in Novemver, where Friko play Mutations Festival in Brighton and Pitchfork Festival in London, as well as shows across the UK & Europe (see below), we grabbed them for a quick run through of the songs that keep them company from sunrise to sunset. Read on for more...
What's the first album you reach for in the quiet of the morning?
I have been listening to the Drive My Car soundtrack by Eiko Ishibashi on REPEAT since I heard it a couple months ago. The movie is incredible but the arrangements for the score are even better in my opinion. Totally meant for just sitting and thinking for a little in the morning.
What's the one song you play to wake you up and embrace the day ahead?
As of late it’s been Head Over Heels by Tears For Fears. Those guys made some of the headiest pop music that can still be enjoyed by anybody, and that song in particular just gives me that jolt of emotion and energy that I’ve been needing lately
Who's your favourite artist to blast on a road trip?
Our go to van tunes on tour lately have been two songs by a classic Country/Americana songwriter, Dottie West. A Lesson In Leaving and Leavings For Unbelievers are the songs we’ve all been shouting at the top of our lungs while cruising down the highway.
What's a song that sounds best just as the sun begins to go down?
100 by Dean Blunt has been our sunset song recently. Kind of like Bill Callahan singing over a Mazzy Star instrumental. It’s melancholic, it’s wistful, it’s everything you want out of a sunset drive.
What's your favourite album to dance to when the night arrives?
Turn On the Bright Lights by Interpol is probably our night time jammer. We all grew up with this album getting us through middle school/high school. Dark, brooding, often heavy, really helps for looking out the window and feeling much cooler than you are.
And finally, what's the last song you play to end the day?
My night ending song is probably Opening by Phillip Glass. This song really got me through my late teens and also put me on to a whole different type of music which was modern classical. I’ve fallen asleep to it countless times with it on loop.
Where we've been, where we go from here LP is out now, via ATO
Listen on Bandcamp
Live Dates:
Nov 2nd | Amsterdam, NL - Bitterzoet
Nov 3rd | Brussels, BE - Les Nuits Weekender
Nov 5th | Rennes, FR - L'Antipode
Nov 7th | Paris, FR - Pitchfork Avant Garde
Nov 9th | London, UK - Pitchfork Festival London
Nov 10th | Bristol, UK - Louisiana
Nov 12th | Manchester, UK - YES
Nov 13th | Glasgow, UK - King Tuts
Nov 14th | Dublin, IE - Workman's Club
Nov 16th | Weissenhäuser Strand, DE - Rolling Stone Weekender
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