FRENSHIP, a critically acclaimed duo made up of James Sunderland and Brett Hite, has utilized their melodic tunes and lyrical genius to captivate the public since their hit single in 2016, “Capsize”, featuring Emily Warren. Since then, the group has risen to stardom and, left to navigate the twisted realm of the music industry, released multiple electro-pop albums and singles within the past seven years under Columbia Records. In a test of their vulnerability, FRENSHIP has released a new EP album, Base Camp, as an exploration on the continued plagues of loneliness, the feelings of unrest that come with living in a polarizing country, and the desire for human connection. Sunderland and Hite’s motivation for releasing this album stems from the need to write music that honestly expresses what they are feeling in the wake of an ever changing world.In their interview with Grandstand Media, the duo went over their emotions going into this project. “Hopefully we've whittled this project down more and more to who we are, and that shows on Base Camp,” Sunderland explains. “We’re just making music, chipping away at it, getting better with each song we make.” From the melancholy limbo of emotions embedded within the upbeat tune of “Sad Anymore”, to the yearning of escapism in “Copenhagen”, to the swelling instrumental of “Love Like Its Religion” with Drew Sycamore, to the echoed vocal harmonizations of “Pretend” with King Henry, FRENSHIP has shown their versatility when it comes to touching the souls of human connectivity. The mournful emptiness and self-deprecation present in “Insignificant Other” coupled with the fear of loneliness expressed in “Lover or an Enemy” give insight into not only Sunderland and Hite’s feelings but also the ability for the audience to connect so deeply with these messages. “We have more access to everyone than we've ever had before, and yet we’re as lonely as we’ve ever been,” Hite points out. In a world more connected than ever, the divides between each other and the epidemic of loneliness has never been worse. This increase in polarization and tragedy is explored in the track “Copenhagen”, expressing the feelings of powerlessness that comes with this environment and the desire to escape to a world of one's own.The emotional journey this album creates opens up a realm of vulnerability, creating a space in which people can connect through their collective loneliness. The encompassing of melancholy tones, echoing vocals, and swirling instrumentals seems to encompass the very essence of humanity. The duo is currently on their U.S. tour, stopping in a myriad of locations including New York, California, Philadelphia, Colorado, and Texas. This album is a stepping stone for the future of FRENSHIP’s exploration on the sensitivity of being alive in the twenty-first century.

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based in new york, ny / with midwestern roots