I was raised on indie rock. My childhood was soundtracked by Arcade Fire, Radiohead, and Wilco, with 93.1 FM—Chicago’s Very Own—playing wherever I was. Just the first note of Arcade Fire’s Funeral (2004) prompts an overwhelming wave of nostalgia, the album inseparable from my memories of home. So, maybe it’s fitting that Friko’s debut album, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here (2024), feels like a trip down memory lane. It’s not just that the duo that makes up Friko—Niko Kapetan and Bailey Minzenberger—and I graduated from Evanston Township High School; it’s that Friko expertly channel the sound and heart of the indie rock that came before. Just as Funeral felt like an intimately recorded debut heralding something much bigger, so does Where we’ve been—a fresh and exciting continuation of indie rock’s very best.
Friko’s greatest strength is their ability to imbue their music with authentic emotion and feeling. Kapetan bares his heart on every track, whether it’s his unrelenting vocals on the bombastic “Chemical” or the tender care with which he sings, “Ella, Ella you’re a shooting star,” on the soft ballad “For Ella.” He reminds me of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke in this way. Like Yorke, Kapetan sings with a unique raw intensity (just listen to Friko’s cover of “Weird Fishes / Arpeggi,” released after the album in June), which is a consistent highlight of the album. Add in Minzenberger’s heartfelt drums, and it is no surprise that Friko consistently meets the moment. Every emotion in Where we’ve been is earned; the album is undeniably genuine.
Maybe this is because, on every track on Where we’ve been, it feels like you’re in the studio with Friko. The production is candid and unrefined, allowing you to feel every hit of the drums and savor every stroke of the guitar. In both the album’s reflective and most rapturous moments, Friko is there with you. “Crimson to Chrome” sounds like you’re listening to an intimate set in their garage, the guitar and drums echoing around you. On “Cardinal,” you can practically feel Kapetan singing next to you—ushering in a sentimental conclusion to the album.
The title track, “Where we’ve been,” is a slow build, as Kapetan’s contemplative vocals become increasingly urgent—a sense of urgency that rarely lets up throughout the eight other tracks. That isn’t a bad thing, though. Over 39 minutes, the tracks stride on with anticipation and unbridled energy. The result is an album that is overwhelmingly cathartic. Each track feels incredibly deserving of its own moment, as if it could be the album’s closing track.
“Get Numb to It!” is a frantic album standout and Friko at their best. Upbeat guitar and rapid percussion contrast Kapetan’s bleak lyrics, as he and Minzenberger will listeners to stand and dance around to, “And it doesn’t get better / It just gets twice as bad, because you let it / So you better get numb to it / Get numb to it!” Despite the depressing content, the song feels like an overwhelming triumph fit for the end of a raucous live show (and it often is).
“Chemical,” too, channels this sense of urgency. Electric guitar, Minzeberger’s drums, and Kapetan’s vocals collide in a building wave that feels ready to break for the entire track. Friko’s ability to build—and maintain—tension is impressive. By the end of the three minutes and 22 seconds, you feel just as out of breath as Kapetan.
But Kapetan and Minzenberger aren’t afraid to slow it down. Interspersed between Friko’s explosive rock are heartfelt and delicate ballads. Of these, the standout is “For Ella.” Backed by piano and an immersive string arrangement, Kapetan’s captivating vocals and lyrics take center stage: “You were running through the backyard / Said the puddles were the ocean / Now the smell of rainy days always reminds me of you.” In these moments, it is impossible not to hang onto every one of Kapetan’s words like it might be his last.
The most exciting thing about Friko? From releasing their debut album to playing at Lollapalooza, and from opening for Royal Otis to announcing a headlining tour in 2025, Friko has had a busy 2024—and they’re just getting started. With Where we’ve been’s extended version releasing on Nov. 22, it is clear that Friko is ready for something much bigger. Friko’s energy and excitement are palpable and signal their wide-eyed aspirations for the future.
Rating: INDY
Alex Johnson is a senior in the College majoring in Government and minoring in Religion, Ethics, and World Affairs.
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