What is the best thing about Los Angeles?
Marie: The sun.
Bruce: She really loves the sun. I would also add the food and the beach. It all just puts everybody in a good mood for the most part.

What is the worst?
Bruce: In a ‘first world problem’ kind of way I would say having to know exactly where you’re going before you leave the house. It’s not like New York or Paris where you wander, explore, and happen upon interesting places. You need a plan.

What is a perfect day in Los Angeles?
Marie: Waking up and sitting in the sun for breakfast with the guitar nearby.
Bruce: Then, if it’s a Sunday, hitting up the Melrose Trading Post and looking at vintage items while drinking one of those coconuts they sell.
Marie: Then relaxing by a pool. If you don’t have one, which we don’t, be really nice to someone who does and maybe they’ll take pity on you.
Bruce: The perfect night time activity in LA is the Hollywood Bowl. So ending up there with a bunch of wine would be ideal.
Marie: Or the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for a movie with friends.

“California sun ☀️ Taking a break from being locked in the studio” via @freedomfrymusic

What’s it like being a band in Los Angeles?
Bruce: By the end of the first year you’ve probably met nearly every good drummer in town. They’re all musically promiscuous. I mean that in the best possible way. The local radio stations are so supportive of local music, too. That’s huge.
Marie: There are so many great venues in LA and every one is a little milestone. One of our first shows ever was at The Whisky and we kept talking about playing at the Troubadour someday. Then we played the Troubadour and it was awesome, now we talk about playing the Staples Center.

What inspires your songwriting?
Marie: Each song is different. Some start with a title and others are just melodies that pop in our heads. There are eras of music, like the 70s, where the production was so good. We try to inject a little bit of that sound in whenever we can.
Bruce: I really love songs that can fit whatever mood you’re in because the emotions and feelings are so layered you can get out of it whatever you’re needing. The Smiths and The Beatles were the best at doing that for me. Sad lyrics with happy chords or sad melodies with uplifting lyrics. Something that’s accessible and understandable on the surface but you can also cry, laugh, or dance to it.

What’s your favorite way to interact with fans, before, during and after the show?
Marie: I like locking eyes and singing to people during the show. Our fans are like the battery that charges our show. When they’re getting into it and moving we try to take that energy and give it right back to them.
Bruce: After the show, shots are fun… In moderation.

Via @freedomfrymusic

If you could tour with any band or artist from any time in history, who would it be?
Marie: I think we would tour with Serge Gainsbourg.

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Marie: Lunge time. We all get goofy with disco music and stretch backstage.

How do you get oriented in a new city?
Bruce: Usually we Yelp a great food spot first. Then we wander from that point or meet some locals who tell us what’s up.

Which bands/artists are you listening to these days?
Marie: Tame Impala is always on repeat in the Freedom Fry household. We actually made a ton of Spotify playlists of music we love, if you’re ever looking for new songs hit them up.

facebook.com/freedomfrymusic

Los Angeles photo by Jonpaul Douglass.