Chicago Up-and-Comers, Friko Chat on their Debut Record and Headlining Tour

Out of Chicago’s own Friko, we had the chance to speak with Niko and Bailey. We caught up with the band a few days after their latest single “Crashing Through” released, and just about a week before their headlining tour to get the latest insight into what’s on the horizon for the band.

Backward Noise: Hey Niko & Bailey! So glad to have you on with Backward Noise. I am from Philly, and I am excited to see Friko come to our city on your new tour. There are so many exciting things to talk about but let me hear from you guys. You’re based out of Chicago, right?

Niko: Yea, I grew up in Evanston and moved to Chicago the past four years.

BN: So, lets first talk about all the new things happening with Friko. You have new singles coming out, music videos, and of course the biggest thing is the new album which is just mind-blowing. It’s considered the debut for Friko. We’ve seen the demos you’ve put out back in 2019, but now you’ve evolved and have come together to create this masterpiece of an album. Can you tell me about your newest single “Crashing Through”?

Niko: So that song actually started when I was working on this other idea. I was doing this thing at the time with using string samples for my classical stuff. I was just toying around with those and there was this revel piece that I reversed some parts of it. It kind of created this totally different sounding song and it was more electronic. The riff came from that, and the song got written from that.

BN: You have a new music video out for “Crashing Through.” I saw that the two directors were Alec Basse & Max Moore. They are famous for working with artists like Neck Deep, Petey, and White Reaper. What was it like working with them?

Bailey: It was a lot of fun working with the two of them. They both have so many amazing ideas. So, when we were initially discussing it together it was a lot because we were spit balling stuff and any kind of crazy idea that anyone had we leaned into it. We were trying to see what we could make happen and that’s really exciting. They are both driven, really kind, and easy to work with. I think a problem that I’ve had in the past is being way too aware that the fact there is a camera on me, but they helped make the environment so approachable and easy that I was able to try to forget that a little bit.

Niko: I feel like for both of us we really didn’t have to act in the video. We were walking through the spaces and that’s the first time I’ve ever had to be in a pro setting and had to do any type of acting. It was so hard; I was like holy shit, I really underestimated this. They knew this was our real first official video. If we had an idea, they would really think about it and see it through oftentimes. Yea, we’re gonna do another thing with them I think for a single at the top of next year, like a live video thing. And we had just like thirty of our close friends come out and it was really incredible, a dream come true. Not even exaggerating that’s how it felt after we did it.

BN: You put on a great performance in the music video, and you put on an amazing performance on stage as well. Are your fans open with you about connecting with your live set? What have your experiences been with fans at your live shows?

Niko: We still play a lot of shows where nobody knows us. We’ve been out in Chicago most of the time and the past year it’s started getting very special. We were doing a DIY show and that was the first time the place was packed where people came for the music. Just hearing anybody say it was important to them in anyway is incredible. What you could dream of happened.

Bailey: There was a really amazing show, we were playing a quieter song where I would sit on the ground and Niko would play the piano, and when I get nervous, I shut my eyes and I’ll just kind of try to be there in the moment and then after the song I opened my eyes, and everyone was sitting. People just like moved with us and as soon as we finished everyone got up. That was really powerful just to look out and see so many people that I love so much and also people I didn’t recognize.

Niko: None of us really noticed either until the song ended because I look away from the crowd playing the piano when they did that. So that was really great.

BN: That’s so magical, especially when a crowd can read the room. At live performances people connect and create almost like a hive mind. There is a euphoric emotion that pours out of you when you’re at a show. The artist is giving it and the fans are receiving it. I hear a lot of theatrical influence in your music. What kind of upbringing did you have when you were in high school? Were you ever a part of clubs or activities that influenced you to delve more into music?

Niko: For me, when I was in early high school, I got put on to Bowie and then I got into Rocky Horror Picture Show. So just full on glam. Over time I’ve calmed down on some of that stuff. But no clubs.

Bailey: I was never really involved in theatre. The closest I was to theatre I was in the pit band for a musical that our high school did when I was a senior and then a I also played in pit band for a student run comedy show in high school. But that’s the closest I’ve ever been to theater. Also, this past year I was filling in for a weekend on a David Bowie tribute show, so I was playing in the pit band for that too and it was just incredible. A DIY Bowie show with costume changes and full choreography and incredible, incredible performers. And I think it’ll probably come back this year if you want to come to Chicago and see!

BN: That glam from Rocky Horror and Bowie is very theatrical when it comes to stage performance. It changes the whole entire perspective of performing on a stage. Throwing different orchestral arrangements into your production is an incredibly difficult thing to do. When you pull it off the right way, like you have been doing, it can sound awesome. Speaking of glam, when it comes to putting on shows, what is your go to plan when it comes to packing and composing outfits for the tour? Do you pack light?

Bailey: In the very beginning stages we all had jumpsuits that we wore. Like matching jumpsuits. And then, shortly after that we would talk about it beforehand. Like you should wear your dress shirt and you should wear your nice dress where we were kind of coordinating on it. And now it’s like pretty lax, where we don’t even talk about it.

Niko: Yea, it was so far in the glam direction that me personally, consciously because I’m such a fan of The Replacements and Sonic Youth or like any of the 80’s punk stuff. I really love the opposite end of the spectrum. We like to look nice sometimes but most of the week I’m working in a warehouse, so I dress in like trashy not good-looking clothes. We just do our own thing now. We pack light I think.

Bailey: I love that where it’s like whatever we put on that day. Whatever is going to make you feel the best. If all of us are coming in with that, it ends up being more eclectic. We played a show last week where Niko was dressed very nice with a button down, our bassist was wearing a jumpsuit, and I was wearing cargo pants and a big shirt.

BN: I understand that work life balance and having work clothes and everyday clothes. Bands go through eras each tour which can differ in styles and designs. Sometimes being able to wear what you want on tour is such a weight lifted off your shoulders. Growing up did you go to a lot of local shows in your city? Were your parents supportive of your music passion?

Niko: I grew up seeing a lot of local shows. Definitely like local smallish Chicago acts like Whitney and Twin Peaks. I grew up on those early in high school and I was really inspired by the scene in Chicago. My parents have always been really supportive, they still are. My Dad always wanted to be a musician, his Dad didn’t want him to be and that isn’t the easiest with that kind of thing.

Bailey: My parents have always been incredible supporters and I’ve been so lucky for that. My Dad is an incredible musician, and my mom has a beautiful voice. My Dad was a gigging musician for a long time, and I was definitely heavily influenced just growing up around that. My Dad is big into jazz and classical and that definitely influenced me a lot. I didn’t start going to DIY shows or anything until college. Because there wasn’t much of a DIY scene in Evanston that I was aware of. I went to a couple of garage shows and stuff, but it wasn’t super active. When I moved into Chicago, into the city, and started to get out into that community it has been incredible.

BN: To wrap it up. You have your new album coming out February 16th, Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here. We’ve gotten a little taste of it, but what else can we expect from the album sound wise? Can we expect to hear more from the album on this upcoming tour?

Niko: Musically I’d say the next single is going to be the opposite of “Crashing Through” in most ways. We just put so much time into this record. Before we had a label on it or anything a lot of people just wanted to do it. Our friend Jack Henry wanted to put in so much time and me only being able to pay him very little. It was just done on willpower and friends helping each other out. On this tour we’re looking to play a couple ones we don’t play much live. And yea, we’re gonna bring the house down.

Bailey: I’m just excited to get to play a little bit more. Getting to be in that space together for eight days. I’m just looking forward to spending that time together with our people.

Niko: We’ve got a whole crew now. Six people.

BN: We look forward to the show! See you in Philly!

You can see Friko on tour now through December 10th! They put on an amazing live performance that is unforgettable. This is the type of act you will regret not seeing when they are playing smaller venues. We hope to see Friko rising in popularity over the next coming years.