Friend of a Friend
... is an American duo that creates a unique blend of folk, post and art rock. The band consists of Claire Molek and Jason Savsani, who met in the summer of 2020 after years of crossing paths.
They describe their musical connection as a “supernatural experience” that led them to record their debut album In Arms on tape in Nashville. The album, released in May 2022, showcases their intimate and experimental sound, featuring a distorted Flamenco guitar, a midi controller and a dynamic physical presence.
The duo has been touring extensively in Europe and North America, gaining over 2 million streams and rave reviews for their cinematic and immersive live shows. Friend of a Friend is a band that defies genres and expectations, inviting listeners to join them in their musical journey.
HLS is the band’s latest masterpiece, a song that resonates with power and emotion. The track is a reflection of their essence as a band, as it has accompanied them throughout their long and evolving journey. It portrays the sorrow that the band experienced and conveyed in their earlier works, but also unveils their growth and resilience. It is a tribute to their musical and personal odyssey, and a source of motivation for their fans. HLS is a song that transcends genres and expectations, and demonstrates that the band is not afraid to confront their emotions and transform them into a place of power.
Who are the artists/musicians who make up Friend of a Friend, and how did you get into music?
CLAIRE: FOAF is Jason Savsani and me (Claire Molek). Jason was given a guitar at an early age and played in a bunch of different bands from high school through his early 20s. He then started a business called MealSharing, and, basically right after it was acquired, COVID hit and then we were introduced by a mutural friend.
I also studied vocals and theory from a young age, playing in multiple choirs in school, as well as a touring Madrigal choir, but I never believed it would be possible to be a musician like this before I met Jason.
“HLS” creates an impressive cinematic atmosphere. What was your inspiration, and what is the story behind the song?
JASON: This song has actually been a part of our DNA as a band for a long time, and it has evolved a lot with us throughout the last few years. The synth on the track is kind of a distilled version of what I originally played on guitar, when Claire and I were still in our acoustic phase. Once we laid that down with the synth it opened up a lot of room for the rest of the track to take on the different layers. CLAIRE: We really wanted to take the sadness that the song could have been and transform it into something powerful. So that it's not someone asking for some kind of pity or empathy, but more so just owning the reality of the feeling and finding the power in the reality and how you embody that reality.
The track is also part of your upcoming album. Please tell us more about it.
JASON: We're beyond excited to finally be giving people a glimpse into album 2 with this track and the other single we've released, Always on Time. We're really proud of the work. The album is called FACILITIES.
CLAIRE: It was made with our friend Jordan Lawlor, who played for many years in M83, a band we both love. It was a magical process, we feel incredibly blessed that we met Jordan and connect with him the way we do. It's just so rare to have that kind of experience with another musician!
JASON: We also were able to take more time with this album, and the whole thing is done in-studio, versus mostly on tape.
CLAIRE: The record has 12 tracks, it was important to us that we made a full statement that reads from the first track until the end. Bits and pieces of it all are embedded into itself.
What does your creative process look like in general?
CLAIRE: It's wild to say but really it all starts with just Jason and I jamming together and it seems to sort of just be given to us as we play it. It's a very special experience.
JASON: And then afterwards we'll tinker and adjust, add different soundscapes. We call it icing. Like icing a cake. But a lot of the time the song is very much the same as the original jam.
Do you have any plans to perform live on stage with the album next year?
CLAIRE: Yes, we do! We are on the road basically from January through March. Some dates are announced and some will be announced soon, def check our insta! Our website also has our tour dates listed as well.
If you could pick a special location for a gig, where would you like to play?
JASON: Glastonbury, Wembley? CLAIRE: Glastonbury 2024!
JASON: Haha, but yeah we would love to be playing stadiums. And then I guess the beach because we love the beach.
CLAIRE: A beach would be rad. I'd love to play in all sorts of unordinary places too and for folks that might not get to experience live music very often.
You say, “It’s difficult to remember life before the band.” Would you say music has changed your life in every way?
JASON: Absolutely! It feels like a lifetime ago since the band started. I've been waiting my whole life to do this and I'm incredibly grateful that we're able to create and tap into the universe together.
CLAIRE: So insanely grateful. Yeah I think music has always been my life internally but that meeting Jason and the power of our connection has definitely changed my life in every way.
JASON: Music just gives back in so many ways, too, that I think we're both so much healthier it really is hard to remember what it felt like before we started.
CLAIRE: It has definitely been a kind of rebirth I think for both of us, for sure. It's been very special to grow together like this.
What do you have in store for the near future?
CLAIRE: All the things! Tour, New Colossus Festival in NYC, more singles, most likely a European tour this summer, and we're currently hard at work on album 3 with Jordan.
Tour Dates
December 18 | Indianapolis, IN | Healery DIY
January 5 | Denver, CO | Marquis Theater
January 6 | Carbondale, CO | Steve’s Guitars
January 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | International Artists Lounge
January 11 | Reno, NV | The Office
January 12 | San Francisco, CA | El Rio (w/ Dakil)
January 17 | San Diego, CA | Humble Heart
January 18 | Los Angeles, CA | Love Song Bar
January 20 | Phoenix, AZ | Trunk Space
February 2 | Chicago, IL | Hideout
Mar 6-11 | New York, NY | New Colossus Festival
