Early praise for FRIGS:
“sludgy, scuzzed-out post-punk awash in psychedelic feedback and the grunge-hewn emotional ferocity of singer Bri Salmena. It's visceral. It spits.” – Noisey
“this post punk gem hits a sweet spot” – Nylon (Best Releases of The Week)
“Salmena's vocal emphasis flips between gruff and sweet, and the pace moves from militant, atonal power rock to a woozy, notably powerless standstill” – The FADER
“Vicious slabs of noise are offset against open-ended guitar notes reminiscent of Deerhunter and Preoccupations” – DIY
“led by vocalist Bria Salmena, whose affecting brood places FRIGS in the same canon as other emotive, female-led indie outfits—think Angel Olsen, Torres, Weyes Blood, et al. And they’re of that same caliber, too.” – Nerdist
Rising Toronto post-punks FRIGS today share new single “II” - a politically inspired cut from their forthcoming debut LP Basic Bahaviour, set for release Feb 23 via Arts & Crafts.
Speaking on “II”, frontwoman Bria Salmena says: “‘II’ was written shortly after a catastrophic political event that took place about a year ago. However, it does not solely reflect that one event but everything leading up that has allowed for it to happen, and everything that is to come because of it. I truly hate that I even wasted energy thinking about this person let alone wrote a song about it.
“Has anything ever happened that made you wish the reality we live in is a simulation? Wouldn't it kind of be a relief to know it’s just the doings of some disgusting internet troll in some alternate universe? That’s what this song is about.”
LISTEN: FRIGS - “II”
https://youtu.be/ZLhpqD8uenI
Basic Behaviour, FRIGS’ debut, self-produced full-length, was written and recorded over a 16-month period, split between two locations: the band’s home studio and Union Sound Company in the east end of Toronto. As much as the lyrical subject matter within the record reflects personal experiences of frontwoman Bria Salmena, the album is a product of years of self discovery as a unit. Recording at home allowed the band to take the time to explore their sound, experimenting with sonic textures and production, and meticulously re-working their material. These sessions proved to be invaluable in creating a sound unique to FRIGS. However, a degree of positive urgency was deemed necessary in order to finalize the process. Working with engineer Ian Gomes, FRIGS embraced the limitations of third-party studio time and completed the record with a sense of immediacy. The resulting contrast between these two approaches in recording creates an end product that is at once stark, chaotic, reflective, and manic, ultimately forming the core of Basic Behaviour’s identity.
FRIGS is made up of Bria, Duncan, Lucas, and Kris. The band pairs the raw, emotional grunge of PJ Harvey with the immersive, psychedelic post-punk of early Sonic Youth. With each member bringing a unique set of influences, FRIGS create a sound that is hard to pin down and an impression that’s unshakable. Led by the force of Bria’s vocals, the band has earned a reputation for putting on a hypnotic and visceral live performance. Embracing the mercurial and experimental, their shows are built upon instinct; a vocal growl can unexpectedly give way to a hushed whisper; languid drones boil over into guttural and searing tones.
Starting in March, FRIGS hit the road for an expansive North American tour, which includes dates in Brooklyn, DC, Chicago, Seattle, SXSW, and more. All dates below.
Tour Dates:
03/01 - Montreal, QC - Bar le Ritz
03/02 - Boston, MA - O'Brien's Pub
03/03 - Brooklyn, NY - Alphaville
03/04 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie - Upstairs
03/05 - Lancaster, PA - Lizard Lounge
03/06 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
03/07 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook
03/08 - Savannah, GA - Savannah Stopover Festival
03/12 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
03/14 - New Orleans, LA - Gasa Gasa
03/15 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03/16 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03/17 - Hot Springs, AR - Valley of the Vapors Festival
03/19 - Kansas City, MO - miniBar
03/21 - Denver, CO - Streets of London
03/22 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
03/23 - Boise, ID - Treefort Music Fest
03/24 - Portland, OR - Tonic Lounge
03/25 - Victoria, BC - Logan’s Pub
03/26 - Seattle, WA - The Funhouse
03/27 - Vancouver, BC - The Cobalt
03/29 - Calgary, AB - Broken City
03/30 - Edmonton, AB - Bohemia
03/31 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigo's Cantina
04/01 - Winnipeg, MB - The Good Will
04/04 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
04/06 - London, ON - Rum Runners
04/07 - Toronto, ON - Garrison