FRENSHIP: Soft Synths and Good Vibes
LA based electro-pop band, Frenship, stopped by Toronto’s Drake Underground, as they made their way through their North American tour. Front-men James Sunderland and Brett Hite were situated between green plant decor and illuminated by circular neon lights of cyan and indigo, transforming the Underground into an aesthetically pleasing hideaway. With the atmosphere to match the music, Frenship played their feel-good synthy music to a captivated crowd. Fans were singing along to each word of their songs, unsurprising from a sold-out show. Their mega-hit “Capsize” featuring Emily Warren gained over 400-million streams on Spotify, and has been performed live on Jimmy Kimmel, along with electronic boho-ballad “1000 Nights”. Frenship’s sound spans from electro-rhythmic dance beats, to melodic heartwarming falsettos. James and Brett engaged with the audience in between songs, explaining lyrical meanings and it’s nostalgia.
James shared how life on the road influenced many of their songs, and how travelling causes you to sacrifice some friendships that mean a lot to you. As they premiered a brand new song, James admitted, “this song is important to us because it’s about being on the road, and leaving those people behind”. Whether you are a traveller or not, I think most people can resonate with the idea of having to leave people behind that they care about. Although Frenship has a clear talent for spouting groovy voltaic dance numbers, I would love to see them explore even more of their enchanting and dreamy rhythms. James and Brett have beautiful vocals which compliment each other in a perfect equilibrium, which was really brought out by their song "Goodmorning & Goodbye". James softly sang the lines, “you’re the closest thing to home for me, since my Colorado days”. Frenship’s songs share a common theme that encapsulates the adage of ‘home is where the heart is’, and interprets it into something more artistically cultivated. Being someone who travels often and doesn’t consider one place her home, hearing that line I couldn’t help but identify with the idea that maybe home isn’t about a physical place, but about the people you love. Maybe you don’t find home in a specific city, but maybe you find home in a dance, a joke, a kiss, or a laugh with a friend.
Catch Frenship’s tour, music, merch & more on their website - highly recommended! http://www.wearefrenship.com/featured/