Chicago band Friko have shared new single/video, “Where We’ve Been,” the not-quite title track from their debut album, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here, which comes out on February 16th via ATO Records. The group includes vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger — “”Where We’ve Been” has sort of become the Friko theme song for the band,” says Niko. “Recording it was kind of the moment where it felt like the band really took on what it represents to all of us now.”

“When we recorded it in the studio it was one rotation shorter and didn’t have the ending group vocal refrain, ‘Where we’ve been where we go from here, take your weight and throw your arms around me,’” continues Niko. “It kind of just fizzled out. After completing a few takes, Scott Tallarida (the producer of the record and our friend) took us aside and basically told us the song wasn’t finished. We were already in an emotional state from not getting the take we wanted and hearing that the song IS NOT FINISHED while recording it is kind of crazy.”

“Bailey had the idea to go to a straight-ahead beat and I said that I would just start screaming whatever came to mind. We recorded it fully through and once we were done we were all sobbing. And that’s the take on the record. We knew having it be the opening track was a bold choice but it felt necessary because of how much the song means to us,” concludes Niko. The accompanying video filmed at Treehouse Records Studio in Chicago captures the spirit of Friko’s cathartic live show which the band will bring to The Current’s Winter Dig Out in Minneapolis on February 24th and the Metro in Chicago for their record release show on March 1st before heading to SXSW.

Friko’s Mastered by Heba Kadry (Björk, Big Thief) and engineered by Jack Henry and Scott Tallarida.

Friko 2024 Tour Dates:

Sat. Feb. 24 – Minneapolis, MN @ Hook & Ladder Theater (The Current’s Winter Dig Out)
Fri. March 1 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
Mon. March 11-Sat. March 16 – Austin, TX @ SXSW Music Festival

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