London based rockers Freespirits band formed by brothers Carlo & Lucas Mariani. With an album on its way and a UK tour too, we thought it would be time to find out a little bit more about them.
Give us a potted history of the band
We’re an alt rock power trio based in London drawing influences from grunge, shoegaze and britpop.
The line-up is Carlo on vocals, Lucas on bass and Giupo on drums.
The was band formed in 2013 by my brother Lucas and I in Basingstoke or aka “Boringstoke”.
It’s a commuter town so we had nothing to do, we were working shitty jobs and just wanted to get out there, play our music and travel to interesting places.
We’re now hitting our 10-year anniversary this year having toured the UK many times, the US twice and still the energy and ethos is the same: we still want to keep writing inspiring music, travel to new places and play to bigger crowds.
This year we have reached a new level with the band; a record deal, booking agents both in the UK and the US and a 2nd US tour from NYC to Houston (we’re currently on route from Philly to Richmond).
There’s so much in the pipeline for us this year: new singles, the launch of our debut album, festival slots a new UK tour in May and so much more…
Who inspired you to start making music
Our parents were our first exposure to music. They had a really eclectic music taste so we’d listen to Oasis, Alice in Chains, Pumpkins, Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Beatles, Michael Jackson but also Italian artists like Lucio Dalla, Pavarotti, Eros; Brazilian popular music such as Tom Jobim and even classical composers like Ravel.
A weird but interesting mix that gave us a rich set of influences to draw from.
And the one or maybe two records that inspired you artistically and why
Oasis’ Morning Glory and Nevermind by Nirvana .
Two iconic masterpieces that gave me at an early age an indication on how I wanted to shape our sound and write music.
I always wanted to make life-affirming art that would touch people, hopefully change people’s lives for the better and leave a lasting legacy.
If you’re trying to explain who you sound like to someone that’s never heard you, what do you say
A mix between the harshness and heaviness of bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins but with the sense of melody from bands like Oasis and The Verve.
We also dig the bands on Run for Cover records like Basement, Citizen, Turnover and Title Fight.
Tell us about your new single
The track’s called “What I’m Made Of” and
And it was recorded in a 8-hour session in São Paulo with a renowned Brazilian producer called Alexandre Capilé.
We won a competition run by Hotel Records and were chosen to be included on their compilation Hotel Records Vol. 4.
The lyrics talk about about being resilient, persistent, confident and trusting the process despite any drawbacks and obstacles that life throws at you.
I sort of compare life to skateboarding, the last line of the track says:
“fall, get up and try again…”
Where can we get hold of it
It’s out now on all streaming services.
Pick your poison…
Tell us how you write
I usually write the songs and then we work with the band to augment them.
Sometimes lyrics come first, sometimes it’s a riff that becomes a whole song, there’s no set rule, it’s an unorthodox & mysterious craft lol
But we really want to write and record the next album as a band.
Tell us about your live show and what would be your dream gig
Our live shows are always energetic and we like to play every show like it’s our last, because in truth it could be…
A dream gig would be main stage at Glasto or Wembley Stadium, we’re getting there.
What can we expect from you in the near future
A new single in May followed by a UK tour (see dates below).
Then the album in August and a US/Canada tour. Probably some more dates in Autumn in the UK and EU.
From there we’ll just see how things go but all we can say is that we already have another album in the bag and ready to release next year.
Tell us your favourite records that are rocking your headphones/tour bus / stereo
Glow On – Turnstile
Relationship of Command – At The Drive-in
Meloncollie and the Infinite Sadness – Smashing Pumpkins
A Northern Soul – The Verve
Colourmeinkindness – Basement
Youth – Citizen
Purple – STP
Find out more via the band’s Website or Facebook
The band are set for a UK tour see the dates below:
UK TOUR APRIL/MAY
- 15 April – Frome – Dorset Festival
- 26 April – London – Fiddlers Elbow
- 27 April – Cambridge – Portland Arms
- 4 May – Lowestoft – Seagull
- 14 May – Norwich – B2
- 20 May – Nottingham – Via Fossa
- 21 May – Hull- Dive
- 27 May – Manchester – Mancunia Arts Centre
