by emily harris
photo courtesy of frnd crcl
FRND CRCL has created a sound unlike anything else in the pop-punk scene. While blending the early inspirations and sonics of 2000s pop-punk with the intricate lyricism of rap music, the band is branching its sound in all different directions. Their newest release, Internet Noise, is an album testament to the new wave of pop-punk music. The band sat down with us here at Unclear Magazine and discussed their newest release and the background for the album.
Congratulations on your newest album, Internet Noise! Can you tell us a little bit about the inspiration behind the album title as well as the album artwork?
Zac Johnson & Aaron Smith: “Thanks! We are very proud of Internet Noise and happy that everyone is enjoying it! The album title/artwork depicts that our daily lives are now lived by association of the internet. ‘Famous’ was the first single to be released from the album and its lyrics are synonymous to the album title, so we felt like it would convey that message.
As for the artwork itself, we had a few concepts, but luckily enough we came into contact with our good friend Thomas Harris Jr, who’s an amazing graphic design artist. We showed him the ideas we had, then he created a much more mature image that represented the album title very well.”
The album has heavy 2000s pop-punk influences. How have you found a way to create your own unique sound while still blending in those iconic punk roots?
Dom Giacalone: “We all bring different influences to the table, but keep the emphasis on pop structure with a hard rock type of vibe. The songs are usually fundamentally 2000s pop punk influenced in their inception, however, at the end they sort of grow into something more as we continue to work on them together.”
Reigning from the east coast, how has the melting pot of the music scene allowed you to become the musicians you are today, especially as you’ve been in the industry for a few years now?
Dom Giacalone: “There isn’t much of a music scene in our hometown of Vineland. It seemed like back in the mid 2000s a hardcore scene was strong in the area, but that seemed to have faded. Fortunately, Philadelphia is a place where we’ve played many shows and it’s always refreshing to see the many different styles and genres of music. Being at a show and seeing something we didn’t expect is always inspiring.”
The first single you dropped from this album, “Famous,” has over eighty-five thousand streams on Spotify. What made you decide to drop “Famous” as the first single?
Dom Giacalone & Aaron Smith: “‘Famous’ was actually being recorded while we were waiting to drop our 2018 EP Promstarr, so it was the first song to be completed and we felt that it was the catchiest song on the record, but as we said earlier, the lyrics go hand in hand with the album title. Hearing people at shows sing along to the chorus is always an incredible feeling.”
The fourth song from the album, “The Waiting Game,” has a large guitar presence and well as intricate rap lyrics. What was the recording and writing of this song like?
Zac Johnson: “This was actually one of the more difficult songs to put together because of the structure. Originally, it had a full chorus between the first and second verse, solos in the bridge, etc., but we decided that it was just too much — we were toying around with the bridge for a while honestly, and I think the end result was what the song needed — more space for guitars to soar sonically in the bridge, and let the choruses carry the punch. Like I’ve said before, this is one of my favorite songs off the album due to its dark, quirky, carnival-ride vibes.”
The album ends with the slow song that is “Charlotte’s Web.” What made you decide to end the album on a mellow note when it begins with the powerhouse that is “Somethin’ Bout You?”
photo courtesy of frnd crcl
Zac Johnson: “Great question! Honestly, I was hoping someone would notice that transition. So, there’s many songs on the album that flow into the next consecutive song and when I’m formatting an album’s structure, I always take into consideration not only the songs that make up the body of the album, but the songs at the beginning and the end as well. When you listen on a CD (or if you’re streaming the album in order on repeat) the first song plays after the last song; the reason behind the decision to end on a mellow note was that when the album starts again, the energy picks right back up. Maybe I’m biased, but it makes me want to listen to it all over again ‘cause it’s almost as if it were a constant loop/balance of transitioning energy.”
What is one thing you hope someone takes away from this album?
Zac Johnson: “I hope this album helps people the way writing it helped me. It felt good to get a lot of these songs out there because they reflect personal emotions to me. For instance, ‘The Waiting Game,’ in all its dark quirkiness, will always hold a special place in my heart, ‘cause it, at a time, reflected my inner soul of emotion, and in expressing that lyrically behind music, it seemed that I was able to heal in a way from it.”
What are your plans for the future of the band, both in the sense of live shows and new merch?
Zac Johnson & Aaron Smith: “The future’s looking up! We’re close to teaming up with some great people to help us take the band to the next level. I think that you can expect bigger and better things from all across the spectrum of being in a band. New merch is definitely in the works for the fall and new music may come sooner than you think. Trying to reach places we’ve never been before and all in all trying to get our music.“