Andy Frasco & The U.N.

It felt like time to switch gears.

In 2017, Andy Frasco reached a fork in the road. Renowned for a jubilant jambalaya of rule-breaking rock n roll his career kept rolling ahead at full steam. To date, he had released three independent albums, chronicled a German gig in front of 15,000 screaming fans on the recent live opus Songs from the Road, made jaws drop at festivals such as Grandoozy, Firefly, Mountain Jam, Summer Camp, Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park and Electric Forest, generated millions of streams, launched Andy Frasco’s World Saving Podcast, and performed at festivals alongside icons such as Peter Frampton, Gary Clark Jr., The Revivalists, Snoop Dog, Dr. Dog, Joe Walsh and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few.

After a string of wild shows (and wilder nights) on tour somewhere in the heart of America, one morning sounded a very loud wakeup call for the singer, songwriter, performer, and namesake of Andy Frasco & The U.N.

“I woke up after a five-day bender on cocaine,” he recalls. “This relationship I was in didn’t work out. I bought a house in the Midwest to be close to a girl, but she didn’t trust me. I wouldn’t trust me either, because I was fucking chicks and doing drugs every night on the road. I would take ecstasy just to get out of bed. I was sleep deprived, losing all of my friendships, and fucking overworked. I decided to make a change in my life. I realized that I’m getting older; I couldn’t only be the party guy. I wanted to chronicle my life. I wanted to capture my feelings. I wanted substance in my life and music. I decided to take a step back from this wild life for a second and reevaluate, so I could genuinely enjoy the ride I’m on for the long haul.”

The ride ramps up on his third full-length album, the aptly titled Change of Pace. Andy approached recording from a new vantage point encouraged by iconic Widespread Panic bassist and producer Dave Schools.

At sessions in a remote Sonoma County mountain studio in a converted chicken coop of all places, Schools challenged him as a songwriter and lyricist.

“Dave sat me down and asked, ‘Who do you want to be? What do you want to be remembered by?’,” recalls Andy. “I never really thought of it that way. He dialed things back for me. He’s become a huge inspiration to me as a musician and a friend. The album began there.”

Cutting six songs with Dave, he embarked on something of a “studio tour” to finish Change of Pace. He tapped the talents of Ben Ellman in New Orleans, Charles Goodan in Los Angeles, and Caleb Hawley in New York at Lady Gaga’s Atomic Studios.

As a result, the songs reflect the respective regions.

“There’s a grungy Bourbon street feel, hard-working and moody New York energy, and that indie California vibe,” he goes on. “I’m a traveler at the end of the day. I became a musician to travel and give people therapy through music. As part of this revelation, I realized I don’t need to stay at home when I’m off tour. I decided since I’m most comfortable on the road, so I might as well make this record on the road.”

The first single “Up/Down” slips from a simmering beat and bass line into a horn-driven swoon. Produced by Goodan, its undeniable refrain proves immediately irresistible as he sings, “Your love is up and down.”

“I was just getting through my relationship with that girl from Arkansas,” Andy goes on. “One day, she was happy. The next day, she wasn’t. I speak on the bipolar nature of a relationship. This was the first time I felt that. Normally, I’d be in the next town before things got any further. The song came from an outside point-of-a-view by a guy who never had a real relationship before this in his life!”

Meanwhile, the boisterous “Waiting Game” features Schools’ touch and thrives on delightful proclamations such as “I wanna be the man you can tell your momma about!” The theatrical piano chords, cinematic accordion, and barroom chant delivery on “Don’t let the Haters get you down” takes dead aim at “online trolls talking shit from their parents basements.”

The title track “Change of Pace” gallops ahead on tambourine and organ as Andy’s voice stretches to the heavens and back on the admission, “I’m looking for change of pace. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Everyone has an idea of how you should live your life,” he states. “If you’re dealing with something that you’re not into, try something the complete opposite. Instead of always pondering what you could do tomorrow, do it today.”

In the end, this change elevates Andy to a new level.

“I’d love for people to connect to the songs in addition to the live show,” he leaves off. “I’m a philosopher and a musician at the end of the day. I want to emulate those aspects in my work. I’m also just a guy trying to find happiness like everyone else is. It’s about being okay with the lows, not getting too high with the highs, and being comfortable in your own skin.”

For Mihali, music behaves much like a living being. 

 

It grows, matures, and changes with a sentient consciousness and whims of its own. The Vermont-based solo singer, songwriter, guitarist, artist, and Twiddle co-founder follows reggae’s evolutionary ebb and flow, existing in a perpetual state of inspiration and creation, and remaining committed to sonic evolution. Exuding a balanced mix of rich influence, Mihali’s music entwines reggae spirit, fluid soundscape architecture, and invigorating mantras meant to be chanted aloud in a packed venue. 

 

Following years of fan demand, Mihali served up his solo debut, Breathe and Let Go, in 2020. It boasted collaborations with Citizen Cope, Matisyahu, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Trevor Hall, and instantly reacted with audiences, gathering millions of streams. In addition to glowing reviews from JamBase and Live For Live Music, Grateful Web exclaimed, “Mihali’s musical talent is special.” 

 

During the global pandemic, Mihali kept writing songs. One particular tune, “All Day” [feat. Nathan Aurora], reminded him of tourmates and friends Iya Terra, so he sent the demo to vocalist and guitarist Nathan Feinstein. Vibing with the direction, Nathan finished the song and fired it back to Mihali, unassumingly kicking off the process behind his new record, Effection [released July 22, 2022].

 

“It was very easy,” Mihali says with a smile. “Reggae has always been such a passion of mine. I’d write a song, send it to Nate, and we’d work on it. It simply happened. We basically agreed, ‘Let’s write a record.’ It was more about having fun as buddies. Nathan’s a genius. He did all of the drums, bass, piano, and a bit of guitar. Every morning, I would wake up to a new .wav file, and it was like Christmas!”

 

They finished the record remotely, with Nathan behind the board as producer. After teasing its arrival with “Maplewood,” Mihali unveiled the single “Greater Escape” [with The Movement & The Elovaters]. The gritty dub track features a simmering, synth and guitar driven beat, accented by explosive verses from Josh Swain of reggae-rock quartet The Movement and Jackson Weatherbee of The Elovaters.

 

“I was getting overwhelmed in life,” he admits. “Sometimes, you have to take that much-needed break to do what makes you happy instead of getting caught up in the details of what’s bringing you down. Some people climb mountains; other people party. It’s all about what gets you there. Musically, it’s so different from anything I’ve ever done. Nathan has so many connections and gave me a lot of access to great minds such as The Movement and The Elovaters.”

 

Waves of guitar buoy Mihali’s flowing delivery on third single, “Living Is The Lesson” [with Iration]. He enlisted the support of veteran California dub-pop band Iration for the track, which is accompanied by an animated music video in psychedelic pastel by Kamil Dymek.

 

“It’s an ode to living in the present and trying to enjoy it rather than looking at the future,” he goes on. “A lot of us are so nose down to the grind trying to achieve a goal, that we miss out on the good things in our lives. It’s horrible to look back and see what you could’ve experienced.”

 

Then, there’s the title track “Effection” [with SOJA]. Horns pipe up over a laid back guitar riff before Mihali urges, “Wake up the love inside of you,” as Hemphill counters with a commensurately thoughtful cameo.

 

“It’s about making positive changes in your life to get healthier, which is usually very difficult to do,” he notes. “You have to really want it and call upon yourself to get there. I love SOJA’s lyrics. They resonate with the album and the current times.”

 

Representing the most striking progression on the record, Mihali joins forces with bluegrass phenomenon The Kitchen Dwellers for “Ballad of Broken.” It incorporates “untraditional reggae instruments” - a la banjo, mandolin, and upright bass - into a luminous anthem.

 

“It’s a nice, sad country song, reggae-style,” he grins. “It was new territory for all of us.”

 

In the end, living remains Mihali’s greatest lesson, and his music continues to transform with him.  

 

“I tried not to go super heavy or deep on the emotions,” he leaves off. “Instead, there’s a lot of happiness and hope on Effection. Personally, I’m wearing a lot of hats right now. I’m incredibly proud and excited to be releasing so much music and, as always, evolving.”

Effection was released via Ineffable Records on July 22nd, 2022.