When their 2013 album, ‘Blackbird’, was released, Fat Freddy’s Drop were asked what they’d like to be remembered for. Guitarist Jetlag Johnson replied: “the next thing we do, it’s going to be banging, the best thing we’ve ever released”.
His light-hearted statement drifted almost instantly out of focus in the boys’ memories; but it must’ve quietly lodged itself in their collective subconscious because their new album, ‘Bays’, certainly rises to the challenge. The lead single, ‘Razor’, is a perfect example; a finely struck balance between the classic Fat Freddy’s feel and a completely new flavour for the band.
Trombonist Hopepa, admits to having a soft spot for the song. “It was something a bit different from us and a good way of signalling a bit of a new direction. It’s not necessarily indicative of the whole album though, in true Freddy’s fashion it’s quite eclectic.”
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The songs that populate 'Bays' were born and reared entirely in the studio. This is a radical change from their usual style of allowing new songs to emerge on stage, nurtured to maturity by audience reactions. “They were still jams but they were studio jams, which was quite a different way for us to work.
“We’ve been rehearsing them and we made a video recording of a live session just this week [which should be out soon]. The songs are already starting to change and take on different directions.”
And that’s one of the beautiful things about Fat Freddy’s Drop. Each album, and each performance, marks a moment in time that will never be revisited the same way again.
Just as their music is ever-changing, so is the space after which ‘Bays’ was named. “It’s been lots of things in its time but it’s always had this classic, industrial warehouse vibe. Back when we were coming up there were a lot of warehouse parties and that was a huge part of our musical development. There’s nothing like those long jams you could have in the corner of a warehouse party. It’s really special to have that set-up permanently now.”
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For Hopepa, the new production method for ‘Bays’ had the happy side-effect of allowing him to spend more time at home. While the band’s upcoming tours through Europe, NZ and Australia will take him away from his family, he’s excited about getting back on stage. “We’d love to be able to tour other places too. Europe’s been good. Aussie’s been great. It would be awesome to get into Asia and South America.
“My friend just finished a tour through China and he was like ‘dude, Freddy’s gotta play over there'. They have a great reggae scene and they’re hungry for music. I was all for it until he told us about the toilets and how you have to squat over a hole in the ground. Yeah, I’m not into that.”
Squat toilets do take a bit of getting used to. But that’s all part of the adventure when touring overseas and Hopepa admits there are things about the Freddy’s crew that locals have found bizarre. “We say 'choice' a lot in New Zealand, but in Germany everyone thinks you’re saying tschüss, which means goodbye. So I say it mid-conversation and people get confused like ‘wait, you’re leaving?’
“And they don’t like me getting down to my shorts and singlet. They think I’m just wearing underwear and I’m like ‘no, this is clothing’. There was one audience review that said ‘the trombone player came out in his underwear and it ruined the whole show’. Sometimes it pays not to read your own press.”
'Bays' is available now.
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Fat Freddy’s Drop Tour Dates
Sat 13 Feb - Red Hill Auditorium (Perth)Sun 14 Feb - Clancy’s Fish Pub (Dunsborough)
Wed 17 Feb - Thebarton Theatre (Adelaide)
Fri 19 Feb - The Forum (Melbourne)
Sat 20 Feb - The Forum (Melbourne)
Wed 24 Feb - Odeon Theatre (Hobart)
Fri 26 Feb - Horden Pavilion (Sydney)
Sat 27 Feb - The Tivoli Theatre (Brisbane)
