INTERVIEW: Free Nationals pave their own path
More commonly known as Anderson Paak’s live band, the Free Nationals have been making headway in their own direction with their debut album set to drop December 13.
Boasting collaborations with the likes of Daniel Caesar, Mac Miller and Kalis Uchis and with their already released singles reaching over 60 million streams, the Free Nationals show that they are so much more than just another band. We had a chat with guitarist Jose Rios on their upcoming self-titled album, Free Nationals.
Hey Jose, how’s your day been over there?
It’s been chill bro, it’s a little overcast here in LA, but you know its not too bad over here weather-wise, it’s always pretty chill.
That’s good! I just wanted to say that I listened to your album and it’s so good! I love the energy and the direction you have taken with it - It’s super chill and funky, I love it!
You know man, I really appreciate you saying that. It’s just great to have a date man, to have a time to put it out is just incredible for us man, unbelievable. We’re really proud.
So what’s it been like recording your debut album?
Right now, we’re excited and everything. The things we’re doing, it aint gonna be easy. We’ve had some trying times, we’ve had some issues with just being too busy. We’re trying to do this at the same time Anderson is putting out two records, there was a lot things that slow us down. We couldn’t record for a while. But like I say man, nothing in this world is worth doing if you don’t go through something. We had to go through some hurdles man, we perservered. We have a date - December 13th!
Did you guys go anywhere special to get inspiration or motivation for your writing?
For our record we didn’t have a budget like that. Anderson, he got a lil budget so we went to Hawaii, but for us, we had no budget, so we had to stick it out in LA. We had to get creative here. It was good - with passion projects you gotta stick to the basics. That’s what we get.
Nah that’s awesome for you guys. So I saw you guys got on Jimmy Fallon the other day, how was that experience?
Man, he’s been very supportive of the whole team. I think that was our fourth time on there, Anderson’s fifth. That shit was sick man, the whole Roots crew was there. You’re performing, Fallon is on your right, Roots crew on your left, a crowd in front of you, and it’s game time. You know, you gotta put up or shut up. It’s an opportunity to showcase what your project is. Fallon held the record out, he announced the name, and he did us a huge favour, and now a lot more people know about it because of that. And yeah, that’s just what we’re on right now man, promo, doing interviews, we’re making sure people know that it’s coming.
What’s it been like getting all these collaborations on your album, with the likes of Daniel Caesar, Mac Miller, T.I.?
Yeah, the process itself was very natural. It was just like, we had the music done and we were just sitting there like, well now we just need lyrics. You have Syd’s number? So we hit up Syd. You have JID’s number? So we hit up JID. We hit them up, waited some time and they sent us some stuff. Daniel Caesar did his thing. Everyone contributed, and they believed in us, they believed in the project and they provided us with some really special stuff.
The only person I was in the studio with was Kalis Uchi. I was in the studio with her when she came. When she actually recorded it we actually stepped out because she wanted privacy. But before she went in the booth, I remember being in the studio and just having a chat to her, just about her relationship and the person she was going out with at the time. And it was very personal, she opened up to me and then she goes into the booth. We go to go eat and leave her alone, we come back and she had done that song.
What’s it been like touring with Anderson? And will it be weird touring without him?
Touring with Anderson is incredible because of the fact we started from nothing and now we play for thousands all over the world. Playing with him is incredible man, it’s always an adventure. The shows are getting bigger and bigger and bigger man. It’s insane man, I think where we are at musically is that we’re at our highest point man, we’re playing to our fullest ability right now, we’re playing our asses off. We’re up there tearing shit up, giving everything every night.
As far as playing without him, it’s exciting too man. We have to come up with a new show, we have to interchange people in a new way. We have to do it without the ring leader, without the master of ceremonies. But the thing is, without him there, we have to step up. I have to take more solos. Ron has to be more on the vocals, Kelsey has to do more on the background, Callum has taken over the drum duties. Everyone has to step up, and that’s what this is about, having to step up, stepping out and showing people that, yes we are his band, but we are also a huge part of making him who he is today. And we can help other people get to where he is too.
That’s so good! For the future, what’s your dream collaboration?
I’m gonna say D’Angelo man. I’m putting it out there. Every interview I’ve done I’ve mentioned his name, so let’s see if the universe sends him my way!
Speak it into being!
Yeah bro, I’m starting with that, so we’ll see what happens.
Of course, well all the best with that! Are you guys excited for this new chapter in your life?
Absolutely man, it’s exciting because it makes music fun. It’s fun. That’s the most important thing. In this business you can get caught up in the lights and everything, the business, the management, and you lose something. You lose the spark and the thing you came here to do in the first place. It’s sad man sometimes. But something like this, I feel as though we’re back in the driver’s seat again. We’re calling the shots, we’re saying what we want, how we want things to look, what the cover is going to look like, what shows we want to play at.
It’s a new thing, it’s fresh. It’s also delicate because it’s new, we don’t want to mess it up, but we want to nourish it and continue it to grow within it. If you follow our career you know that we got a lot of shows on the road right now. We know how to put a show on.
Alright well one more question before I let you go. Are there any plans of you coming to Australia for touring?
I haven’t heard anything from my team, but I mean we’re ready to go man! We love it our there. I don’t know if you got people out there bro, but this Free Nationals stuff man, it’s very open, and we’re open to whatever. Send it our way man and we’re down, we’re open to play! So yeah, hell yeah! We’ll get down there bro, it’s just a matter of time.
Well I’m looking forward to see you guys come, and I’m really proud of all the work you’ve been putting out. All the best for the future!
Thank you, that means a lot man, appreciate it. Take it easy!
