Leading producer Freeland has been talking about his new artist album Cope™- and his decision to make what he calls a "band album" - ahead of five live shows this week in which UK audiences will be able to experience the all new Freeland 'band sound', previewed to universal acclaim at SxSW last month, live for the first time.
Freeland
Freeland: "I wanted to make more than just another artist project. I always saw Cope™ as a band album, rather than just another DJ slapping together a bunch of random club grooves. I wanted to create songs I could play live, not just spin. And the songs on this album combine electronic grooves with shoegaze guitars, real drums and songwriting, so they are begging to be performed live!"
Freeland has collaborated with vocalist Kurt Baumann in creating Cope™, and Kurt will provide bass, guitar and vocals at the live Freeland shows this week, with Pop Levi collaborator Hayden Scott on drums and Freeland himself triggering samples, playing rude Korg MS-20 synth lines, and taking lead vocals on the band's thundering, take-no-prisoners cover of Grinderman's 'No Pussy Blues'. The shows take place in Exeter, London, Bristol, Oxford and Birmingham.
Explaining how his new band is a logical progression from his legendary DJ sets, Freeland continues: "I've always mixed rock into my sets anyway, so having a band is just a natural progression from that. Freeland has all the hard-hitting grooves of my DJ sets, but played live they're even more raw, personal and in your face. This is the sound I've always heard in my head, so now I want to hear it as loud as possible!"
The album, meanwhile, features guest appearances from some of rocks finest players, including The Pixies' Joey Santiago, Spinnerette's Brody Dalle, DEVO's Jerry Casale and the legend that is Tommy Lee. Cope™ will be released by Marine Parade in June, with single 'Under Control' out on 20 April.
TOUR DATES
Tuesday 7 April: Cavern Club Exeter
Wednesday 8 April: Hoxton Bar & Grill, London
Thursday 9 April: Motion, Bristol
Friday 10 April: Slide @ Academy, Oxford
Saturday 11 April: Custard Factory, Birmingham