Jacksonville, Florida trio 1blackfrend are heading to Wales for LOUD WOMEN Fest Newport at Le Pub on 3 October. We caught up with guitarist and vocalist Randi Johnson ahead of the show to talk very loud music, gaslighting, Nicolas Cage and the time an audience had to light the stage with their phones.
Who are 1blackfrend?
Randi on guitar and vocals, Chris Poland on drums and sax, and Grant on bass and backing vocals. We write together.
Jacksonville, Florida is where we dwell. Detroit will always be home.
Describe your sound in three words.
So very loud.
Tell us about the songs.
Our latest release, ‘She Said’, is about resolve and yearning.
‘Gaslight’ is one that people really connect with, because we’ve all done it or have been a recipient of manipulation, and it stinks.
Then there’s ‘Nicky Cage’, which has the lyric: “maybe I’m mental friend potential I get you soft oh well”.
Which only meant I inspired no erection from my crush at the time. They weren’t into me, even after watching Nicolas Cage.
What’s the Jacksonville scene like?
Erratic and colourful. All the genres are out here in Jacksonville. We fit in wherever we can get in.
If you could rip up the rulebook of the music industry, what’s the first thing you’d rewrite?
The Bible.
What’s been your proudest moment so far?
This friggin LOUD WOMEN festival invite is pretty rad. But we haven’t played just yet, so I believe our proudest moment would be at Rain Dogs, a pub in Jacksonville which has since closed.
At our last gig there the breaker blew and the lights went off. The audience volunteered their camera flashlights, shone them on us and sang along with us for our last couple of songs.
What’s the biggest hurdle you’ve faced?
No hurdles, just general life. Coping with the everyday grift is the only formidable challenge I can think of, and we overcome it daily by showing up for each other as best we can.
Who’s on the dream bill?
Nina Simone, Radiohead and Kamasi Washington.
And for dream collaborations: The Noisettes, Lianne La Havas and Brittany Howard.
What’s next?
Kona Skatepark with The Portrait on 23 October, and our first album release is in the works.
Listen to and support 1blackfrend on Bandcamp.
Catch 1blackfrend at LOUD WOMEN Fest Newport at Le Pub on Saturday 3 October, alongside Cape Orange, Eilis Frawley, emmy woods, Hairdye, I, Doris, Lady Garden, Local Rainbow, ScareBears, SheBeat and The NaNaz. Get tickets here.
