Grizfolk: From Far-Flung Places Breaking Down Musical Boundaries
Showcasing local talent is one important component of the Pleasantville Music Festival. But the members of Main Stage act Grizfolk may be as far removed from the village as possible.
Grizfolk was founded by two Swedes, Fredrik Eriksson and Sebastian Fritze, and Adam Roth, who grew up in the deep South. The five eventual members of the group came together in Los Angeles.
The members were all friends working on different projects in California when they started writing and formed a production team. After a while, the group realized that the songs they were writing were really meant to be their own, and they started a band.
“The one thing we all definitely have in common is that we all moved to Los Angeles…to make music,” said Roth. “We’ve all had this childhood dream to be on stage and living the life of a troubadour. We’re all artists individually but collectively it’s…a really complicated thing but for some reason it works.”
The mingling of Swedish and American influences on Grizfolk’s work creates a distinctive sound that combines electronic music with more traditional American popular music. The group has no boundaries, having written songs in a variety of different genres. That results in something more than the traditional perception of pop music.
“Where I come from, down in the South, pop music really isn’t as popular among the cool kids…but I love hooks,” Roth said. “We all love hooks and I think the world needs more hooks and I think that’s what our music is kind of based on. We put as many hooks as possible into one song and I think that’s what pop music is these days, but I think finding a way to let the passion shine through the hooks [is important].”
The band recently released its first EP, “From the Spark,” and is putting the finishing touches on a full-length album, which will be released this fall. The group has had a bit of difficulty completing the album, working in hotel rooms and vans while they tour the world. It’s worth the effort, though, for the experience of meeting fans around the globe.
Roth said the band has had some interesting encounters with fans during their time on the road. Perhaps the most memorable was the time they awoke in Italy to find their car draped in the Italian flag.
Roth noted that one of the most rewarding things about meeting international fans, however, is that pop music has the unique ability to overcome the language barrier.
“It’s crazy because I don’t think I know any American people that can sing Italian songs, but then you go to Italy and they know every lyric word for word [of songs in English], and the meaning,” he said.
Of course, Grizfolk is just as excited to meet New Yorkers at Saturday’s festival, and are promising a good time for all—and maybe even a dance off.
“It’s going to be a rock show. High energy…we like to have fun,” Roth said.
“The music is really serious but when we’re on stage, we like to have fun with it.”
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