Hey there, who is talking to us today, and where are you writing to us from? — Hey this is Barnaby from Friends of Friends writing in from the Gold Coast!
Can you give us the backstory on how Friends of Friends came together? I know it’s been around as a project for a while — how long has it taken to really lock into this new chapter of the band? — We’ve had a few iterations, but right now, something has clicked. The music has obviously evolved over time, and it’s taken a while for it to reveal itself. We’ve been cutting our teeth quietly, playing small shows, brooding, and over the last 12 months it feels like we’re finally off to the races. We made a few distinct “line in the sand” moments - one of them being that I convinced the rest of the band to let me mix and master everything. Most things are written in my small studio, with the guys coming in and out, trading demos and ideas as we go. It’s like a constant dialogue. The demos have almost become a language of their own. Going completely DIY has opened up so many opportunities - it’s weird, but it’s given us an incredible level of control. What you hear is what you get: no filter, no label, just us. I’m also pretty secretive about letting anyone hear things outside our tiny bubble.
How do each band member’s backgrounds and musical tastes feed into the final sound of Friends of Friends? — We joke that our music feels like our favourite playlist. It’s all a bit incohesive, sometimes stitched together only by my voice and our punk-DIY ethos. Some tracks are big, fuzzy arena moments, and some are soft and intimate. Some are UKG-inspired dance tracks, and others have a cute little pop sheen. That’s my favourite part. I don’t want to write the same song 100 times - I want to write 100 songs at once. In terms of common influences, there are heavy doses of Blink 182, The Cure, Radiohead, and Nine Inch Nails in there somewhere.
The new single ‘SKIN’ is high energy, fuzzy and straight to the point — can you walk us through the story or feeling behind it? — It’s got that “edge-of-the-cliff” vibe. I want it to feel like walking a tightrope, or driving way too fast down the highway. It needed to feel dangerous because I wanted to capture that teenage fever-dream moment of falling for someone - wanting their skin on your skin, that moment before it happens. It’s always felt like a silent scream to me, a thrashing in the water. It’s straight to the point because I want you to scream that moment with me and feel that release.
Sonically, where does this track land in relation to 'I LIKE YA' / 'ATTENTION'? — It’s a bit of a return to form for us. I Like Ya is the cute little pop moment with teeth, Attention is the confession of anger, and Skin is desperation wrapped in bliss - ecstasy with the fear of what happens next.
I have to say — the last few singles 'I LIKE YA' / 'ATTENTION' have got some real SMILE :D-era Porter Robinson sounds going on in my opinion! What are your current go-town influences and records you're listening to? — Yeah! Definitely been listening to a lot of Porter lately. He did a cover of Favourite from Fontaines DC on Like a Version, and honestly, that’s where a lot of our unreleased music sits in my head. That sound is definitely a roadmap for us.
What do you hope listeners take away from SKIN when they hear it for the first time — Honestly? I want them to hit repeat. If anyone out there craves our music as much as we obsess over making it, that’s mission accomplished.
Being featured in Kerrang! alongside heavyweights like Turnstile and Neck Deep is huge. How did you find out, and what was your reaction? — It was definitely a cool moment. We haven’t had many “industry ticks of approval,” so to be recognised like that was massive. Especially now, when we’ve never felt more “stay in your lane,” it’s good fuel for the fire.
Can you give us any hints about what’s on the horizon — like tours, shows, festival appearances? — I’m so excited, but we can’t talk about too many upcoming shows yet. There are some really exciting things later this year that we can’t wait to be part of!
How important is community—to you, to your fanbase, and to keeping this whole thing going — It’s in the name, really. Friends of Friends is also our ethos. We want everyone to feel like they own a little slice of the music, the band, and the community. I don’t really like the word “fan,” but we have some incredibly dedicated followers who get massively involved in everything we do. People have shared intense stories about how our music has helped them, and that’s everything to me. This music has healed me in many ways, and hearing that it does the same for others is pure fuel.
Are there any up-and-coming artists/bands or creatives from your community at home that you'd love our readers to check out? — They’re not from the GC, but puree are our faves atm!! Have to check them out!
