FAT FREDDY’S DROP release the companion film to WAIRUNGA
A bush-alchemy album and concert film like no other. Essential lockdown viewing.
“Not content with just a new album, Fat Freddy’s Drop record and film in the rain… They stand by farmhouses playing techno-jazz.” – stuff.co.nz
“The Wairunga concert film offers a rare and fascinating view of Fat Freddy’s Drop as it documents the band at work” – Flicks
“Beautifully lit and superbly edited, there’s a very organic feeling to this film as your eyes drift around the band and the elements of their performance space; as if you’re there yourself choosing what you settle your eyes on” – Ambient Light
“The legendary crew keep the vibe right throughout, letting their musical muse take them through soulful and lush zones of sonic exploration” – Undertheradar.co.nz
Turn the music up! The concert film to Fat Freddy’s Drop bush-alchemy WAIRUNGA album returns online this Friday 27 August.
The one hour film of the music in the making premiered on the big screen in Auckland and Wellington and streamed online for a nanosecond in the lead up to the album launch. An album Freddy’s fans are calling a masterpiece.
The boil-up of cosmic vibes, Afro-Acid beats, hot buttered soul, righteous reggae, subterranean bass and twisted up melodies is a fitting tribute to a magical location, albeit, at the mercy of the elements, Freddys brazenly recording the seven tracks outdoors sans audience. The film allows the viewer to get up close to the band and kit, an insight to the music boil up.
Five new tracks emerged, ‘COFFEE BLACK’, ‘SHADY’, ‘BUSH TELEGRAPH’, ‘LEAVE YOUR WINDOW OPEN’ and ‘DIG DEEP’ and the band reworked two classics ‘BONES’ and ‘WAIRUNGA’. Since the digital album drop a week ago WAIRUNGA has hit high rotate on the likes of Apple Music, Bandcamp and Spotify where Freddys just cracked half a million followers.
The process for WAIRUNGA saw the band hunker down for ten days of experimentation at BAYS studio before packing the studio to head away. Freddy trumpet alchemist Tony Chang says that “with a swag of fresh material ready, all the group needed was the right space to perform and record. Wairunga, high above Waimarama Beach, got the nod.”
Wairunga, deep in Ng?ti Kahungunu country, is a friend’s place the band has roamed for over two decades and the inspiration for the original ‘WAIRUNGA BLUES’ track on the BAYS album. Throwing caution to the trade winds, literally, Freddys backed by Western Audio sound and Transmit visual recording crews set up on a grass tennis court surrounded by a bush backdrop.
The weather was calm but as the performance progressed the weather elements turned with tempest-like bursts of rain and chill winds. Freddys dug deep to finish the session, nothing could stop the bush energy and music. “We were definitely at the mercy of the elements there and the elements let us get away with it”, Tony Chang says.
The WAIRUNGA project follows Freddys LOCK-IN at Michael Fowler Centre, an album and concert film recorded sans audience last year. The LOCK-IN concert film was released with the album and has over 800,000 views on Freddys YouTube with fans once again tuning in from Europe, UK, South America, Middle East and around the Pacific. It means Freddys have now achieved two album releases in a year and a half, a worthy feat given the band average four years between studio albums to compose, road test and produce.
Letting the people do the talking, Fred Heads responses to WAIRUNGA
“Love y’all soo much and thankful for the medicinal music you continue to spread across the globe…”
“Estou desejoso do vosso concerto em Portugal! Grande som!”
“Increíble maestros”
“Strength and power to Fat Freddy and the beloved citizens of New Zealand. We are with you.”
“Terrific combination of music performance & video-making: collective focus is ON. And it looks oh-so-freakin-cold…Arohanui from lockdown town, Sydney.”
“I have listened 10 times to coffee black now and my conclusion is that i need stronger speaker at my place.”
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