After the rousing response to their much-loved EP 'Pure Recreations, Vol. 1' near the end of last year, London-based trio FODÉ recently returned for 2024 to deliver their shimmering new single 'Dead Poets'.
Bringing back more of that smooth and immersive aesthetic they have been building for themselves over the years, 'Dead Poets' makes for an incredibly rich and enjoyable listen. With its broad and progressive energy set to some illuminating hooks layered throughout, they are returning to the fold with one of their more captivating cuts to date.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I had played other instruments before but, I learned the guitar when I was 13 in music class. I think that's when I really connected with an instrument, and that's what started my songwriting because we had to write a song for that class. I just kind of picked up guitar easily, so that was the instrument I fell in love with.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I was really into Disney Channel as a kid so, you know, music targeted at that audience. was huge with me. I grew up with High School Musical and Glee and stuff like that. So a lot of my music taste was shaped by those things, slightly embarrassingly. It's a mix of things, like, my mom had a very eclectic music taste. We would listen to Seal and Julio Iglesias and Nat King Cole, like these old classics. So it was a bit of a weird mix of things growing up.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I can't remember one, I just remember being between seven and eight during that era of CDs and portable CD players everyone would have a pouch of CDs. I remember listening to a lot of Avril Lavigne because my sister was 14 at the time so she was super into that. I don't remember buying any myself cause I was the youngest in my family so I kind of just went along with what everyone else listened to.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
A song I wish I had written, off the top of my head probably "Here, There, Everywhere" by the Beatles. I think that's one of the most perfect love songs ever written. Lyrically and melodically, I think it's just anything you would want out of a love song.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I don't have any habits or rituals when writing. Over time I've learned that the best thing I can do is just go with how I feel. If I feel a certain emotion or feel in the mood to create, I allow myself to do that and whenever anything feels wrong or unnatural, I don't try to force it, I just say, okay, that's enough for today. I think every song is different. Some songs I can write in like a couple of hours in one session. Some songs I've taken three years to write.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Right now, I'm so busy right now, that I haven't been listening to new music, but particularly Djo is a great artist that I love. Always listening to The 1975, cause I'm obsessed. A song that's been stuck in my head though is, "I'm Alive" by Celine Dion. That's a little fun fact.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I'll go for a band that all of us in our band are into. Probably The Strokes or maybe Steely Dan. That would be really sick for all three of us. I think those are bands that we look up to and think are just the coolest.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding part of being a musician is hearing from a fan how much they love the music and how much it brings them joy or whatever emotion it brings to them that gives value to their experience. That's always the best thing, cause that's the best thing about creating in general. You don't create in a vacuum, I create for people, and just to hear that people are enjoying it is the best thing for me.
And what is the most frustrating part?
It's super hard as an independent musician to get the music in front of people. I can know that my music has value and that's one thing but It's a whole other thing to even get the opportunity for people to listen and see if they enjoy it. So that is, I think the most frustrating part. Finding a way to deliver it to people because it's so, so competitive, especially as an independent musician with no backing or support, is what makes it quite difficult.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
One of the best pieces of advice I got was from a random person when I was working in a pub. He knew I was a musician before I even really spoke to him. And, because he's a musician himself he just said to focus on the music and the rest will fall into place. He said to make something that I think is great and my time will come and that was something I'll remember because I was in a place where I wasn't sure if what I was doing music-wise was gonna be worth my time. So hearing that from someone in the position that I wanted to be in and especially a stranger, it was great.
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FODÉ's new single 'Dead Poets' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.