Friends Of Friends Chats About The Magic Of Making Music With Your Friends + More
Blending high energy Indie Rock with cutting edge Future Pop production are Queensland based Alternative act Friends of Friends. Born out of the creative mind of frontman Barnaby Baker - this genre defying band project captures the melancholic thrill of coming of age angst against a backdrop of soaring electric guitars, punchy drum grooves and unforgettable pop hooks.
The past year has been a mammoth series of wins for Friends of Friends - between embarking on a national tour with Slowly Slowly, to releasing their latest critically acclaimed single ‘Morphine’, there’s no sign of slowing down for this rockstar four-piece.
We had the chance to catch up with lead singer Barnaby to dig deeper into the magic of making music with your friends (and their friends) - as well as what you can expect to hear from the band in the near future right here…
J: What’s up boys? It’s so nice to finally catch up. You had a stacked 2022 and it looks like that was just the warm up. To kick things off I’d love to know what the biggest highlight of the past 12 months has been and why?
FOF: One of our biggest highlights was opening for Slowly Slowly at the Princess Theatre. It was our first ‘Big Gig.’ We were only expecting a handful of people including our friends until we walked on stage to find the place nearly full. Was absolutely wild!
Also, hearing the whole room scream our lyrics from song one till the end in Brisbane on our headline tour just past was tear jerking. I remember singing the first lyric to the first song (Way Out) and being in complete awe with how aggressively the room lit up with voices. I’m still moved and humbled by it.
J: One of my favourite tracks of yours “Find Myself” had a super unique promotional campaign that utilised VR technology. Tell me more about how you dreamt that up and the process of making that come to life.
FOF: We had this funny idea of making a bunch of posters about finding yourself while listening to ‘Find Myself.’ We kept pushing the idea further until it became this fake company called Mind Link Inc. that would help you find yourself - and so naturally it had to come alive as a 360°, art gallery styled experience about finding yourself while listening to ‘Find Myself.’ it’s all a bit tongue in cheek but came out pretty cool!
J: You finished last year coming off of a Australia-wide tour with Punk legends Slowly Slowly - what was that experience like and have you got any memorable stories from the tour you’d like to share?
FOF: Everytime we were hanging with the Slowly boys was a highlight. It was our first time touring as a band as well, so creating memories with FOF and sharing the stage with the Slowly crew was amazing.
J: I’ve been following your music journey for a while now and it’s been so exciting to see how your production and writing has evolved incorporating elements of Hyperpop, and experimental rock. What artists and other creatives inspire you? And Furthermore what was your top Album of 2022?
FOF: Lately, the biggest influence has been Nine Inch Nails. I’ve ingested a lot of hyperpop, a lot of Charlie XCX and heaps of Pink Panthress as well. I get extremely fixated on creating atmosphere, and will spend hours making bizarre synths that just sound like hot air, or screaming that’s been pitch shifted and tuned into some kind of horror orchestra. It’s usually hard to hear, but for some reason it’s the only way I feel I can write. I need to be immersed in an otherworldly sonic landscape for songs to flow.
My favourite album from 2022 was Yuele’s Glitch Princess. It’s raw, and experimental without being unhinged. Very into it.
J: You can’t have a name like “Friends of Friends” and not get asked this question - what is your favourite thing about each member of the band?
FOF: Tom is an absolute gem. Being our lead guitarist and manager while also being a full-time manager in the industry, he always makes time to be involved with FOF
Morgan is an elite human and that’s all you need to know
Frank is the most generous and loyal person possible. He’s incredibly reliable and makes you feel safe and comfy in any environment.
Frank ads: Barnaby is the best combination of a Front Man and Stage Crew anyone could ask for. Switches on when it’s go time and doesn’t hesitate to help when we’re having an issue.
J: You boys have become pretty well known locally as a killer live act and I’ve been lucky enough to catch one of your Brisbane shows and witness how hard your fans go. If you could play a show at any city/venue in the world where would you choose and why?
FOF: There are so many amazing venues around the world that we would love to play, but honestly, I think a home show at riverstage would be the absolute capstone. A home show in the open air is the stuff of dreams - quite literally.
J: I’d love to know what we can expect from the band in the near future - anything exciting currently in the works?
FOF: We’ve got our next single from our upcoming EP coming out on March 30th! It’s a bit of a left turn in a fun way, paying homage to a bit of Springsteen and Sam Fender, but we’re all feeling extremely proud and excited by it, and hope you will too!
And lastly, if you had to sum up the “FOF” experience in one sentence what would it be?
FOF: It’s that nagging little piece that fits the burning hole in your heart you’ve been missing - well it is for me anyways.