A Chat with Friendly Fire (29.11.22)
Influenced by diverse artists ranging from Bruce Springsteen to The Replacements and Hüsker Dü, the US-based band Friendly Fire have a unique sound. We speak with frontman Josh Sanders about their album Beyond The Neverglades, greatest achievements, and future plans for Friendly Fire.
OSR: What drew you to music?
Sanders: Probably fascination with music videos my sisters would watch when I was a kid, guitars and drums always fascinated me. But, my earliest memory of really falling in love with music is of my grandmother playing Nat King Cole for me when I was like 7.
OSR: What inspires you to make music?
Sanders: People, art, history, cities, anything that grabs my imagination.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Sanders: Quite literally EVERYTHING. Sometimes to my own detriment.
OSR: Is there a backstory or theme to your album Beyond The Neverglades?
Sanders: The album was kinda gonna have a Florida theme to it. The idea of “Neverglades” came to me just thinking about the fact that such a huge part of Florida’s iconography as the Everglades may not even exist in a few generations, which is just insane.
OSR: What was the most exciting part of creating the album?
Sanders: Being able to take the time in tracking my guitars and vocals at home and alone and not have to worry about studio costs gave me the opportunity to try things I’ve never tried before and at any hour of the day.
OSR: What about the most challenging?
Sanders: Meeting our own deadlines 😄.
OSR: If you were a vegetable, what would you be and why?
Sanders: Probably a potato, I think I’d really enjoy just laying around in the dirt all day.
OSR: What is the worst piece of advice you have ever received?
Sanders: Any of my own in my mid-20s.
OSR: What is your greatest achievement?
Sanders: Right now, this record, I think. That or starting a business with my friends but that’s still being realised.
OSR: What future plans do you have for Friendly Fire?
Sanders: Have fun, keep writing, play as many shows as possible, press this album on wax and accomplish everything we can.
Many thanks to Josh Sanders for speaking with us. For more from Friendly Fire check out their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
