Page 12 - ION Indie Magazine SeptOct 2023
P. 12
The Sounds of The Friends...
Writing music for the band is an incredibly Having two saxophones kind of sets us apart a
creative and collaborative process, as it needs to little bit rather than an entire horn section or a
be when accounting for seven musical talents saxophone and a trumpet. We've got a tenor sax
and opinions. Rae explained that a member will and an alto sax, and that is very much an
speak up about an element a song might be identifiable part of our sound.”
missing, and the follow up question is always
“Who can play that instrument?” This makes for a The favoring and admiration towards the
very diverse musical spectrum the band has woodwinds can continue to be seen in their June
traversed. single “Cold-Hearted Man,” with the introduction to
clarinet now in their band lineup, as well as a few
“We've got jazz, we've got rock, we've got pop, other instruments.
we've got some musical theater, we've got world
music and Latin groups, there's something for “The clarinet, the banjo, the banjolele, and the
everybody,” Rae laughed. “It’s hard to really pin upright bass were all introduced to our sound for
down the sound of The Friends, I don’t think there the first time with the release of Cold-Hearted
is a specific definition for the iconic The Friends Man,” Rae listed off.
sound because we’re constantly trying to bring in
new sounds and instruments from new “We knew we wanted to go for something that was
inspirations.” quite campy, and tongue in cheek – kind of period
appropriate, similar to the genre of gypsy jazz
Although there is no specific sound to Sammy music. It just made sense with the rest of the
Rae and The Friends, Rae does highlight the direction the song was taking.”
importance of saxophone to their sound.
Sammy Rae and The Friend’s first EP, “The Good
“I think the saxophone is a cornerstone sound of Life” featured the string sections prominently, such
our band,” Rae said. “The saxophone exists kind as bass, and many forms of guitar and ukulele,
of in a similar tambor to the human voice, and and Rae assures that their debut full-length album
both of my saxophone players have that sort of will also be heavy on the strings once again.
sensibility where they play very much like singers,
and I sing very much like a horn player. That trio “If it goes according to plan, we'll be releasing our
that we have has become a really efficient debut full-length album at this time next year,” Rae
starting place for many songs.” revealed. “We’ve never released a full-length
album before, we’ve only ever released EPs, so to
“I'm very melodically driven,” Rae continued. “A be able to tailor an entire tour around the release,
lot of our music is very melodic – melodic, upbeat theme and concept of an album is a creative
hooks in blaring saxophone lines. challenge I’m very excited to take on.”
