Like: L7, Alice In Chains, Djunah
Label: n/a
Adjectives: Raw, Sentimental, Confessional
Description: Friendship Commanders, a heavy duo from Nashville, will be releasing their third album MASS which is a conceptual work, exploring the themes of memory, language, and the state of Massachusetts. It was written as a tribute to the memory of Marc Orleans, a fellow musician and close friend of songwriter Buick Audra, who tragically passed away by suicide. The upcoming album's latest single, Fail, is a reflection on the experience of loss and the new perspective it can bring. Buick Audra's journey of introspection, prompted by Orleans' death, was so impactful that it inspired the creation of the entire album.
Buick Audra says: “I was in my late teens/early twenties when I first met Marc. We were both playing in bands and making art in Boston. Our friendship was so easy and uncomplicated, and when I look back at that time, I realize how rare that was for me then. The rest of my story up there was intense and even traumatizing. His death has brought me an unbelievable amount of grief, but also the confirmation that I knew and loved him when he was here—and I sure as hell hope that he felt known by me in his lifetime. Losing him has made me aware of who I want to be to the people I actually care about, and who I want to spend less energy on. It’s been illuminating in a number of ways, but mostly, I just miss him. I respect his decision to die, but I might be sad about it for the rest of my days. I wrote this song to speak to him from here.”
The band's drummer / bassist and video director Jerry Roe adds, “I met Buick after nearly all of the events, times, and places that inspired this album took place, but I've come to know the stories intimately and it felt very special to bring these songs about them to life. Musically, I've never felt more at home. This new body of work combines all of the things I love most. It's heavy, very melodic, intensely emotional, and somehow simultaneously fun and heartbreaking. Very proud of what we all made together from Buick's work. In making the video, I wanted to honor all of those things, while respecting him and his decision to leave.”
