Friko have shared a new video, “For Ella,” the track is off their forthcoming debut album, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here, available February 16, 2024 via ATO Records. “For Ella,” a love song sketched by Kapetan after visiting a graveyard in Wisconsin. In bringing the piano-laced reverie to life, Friko worked with violinist and Chicago stalwart Macie Stewart, as well as cellist Alejandro Quiles.

The video was directed by Alice Avery (a testament to Friko’s tight-knit group of friends and collaborators) and is a feat in stop-motion animation, vividly translating the song’s fabled qualities. “‘For Ella’ is our ode to classical music and we knew from the beginning we wanted the song to go side by side with a stop motion video,” says the band. “We’ve been working with our close friend Alice Avery, who also went to the same high school as us, on various videos, but the connection between this video and song feel particularly special to us.”

The band is currently on tour, having just completed a run of East Coast shows in Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and New York City last week. They’ll continue across the Midwest this weekend with shows in Milwaukee and Madison. More dates will be announced soon!

Where we’ve been, Where we go from here was mastered by Heba Kadry (Björk, Big Thief) and engineered by Jack Henry and Scott Tallarida, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here embodies a sonic complexity befitting of a band that names Romantic-era classical music and the more primal edges of art-rock among their inspirations. Friko hopes that their music’s emotional potency might have a galvanizing impact on audiences. Niko says, “I want our music to pick people up, so that they can actually go out and do something with whatever they’re feeling.”

Friko 2023 Tour Dates

Sat. Dec. 9 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
Sun. Dec. 10 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon

Pre-order Where we’ve been, Where we go by Friko HERE