Formed in 2012, Grizfolk fuses Swedish pop and Americana to create a new genre, one which band members Adam Roth, Sebastian Fritze, Fredrik Eriksson, Brendan Willing James, and Bill Delia call “folktronic.”
“We all grew up listening to various styles of music and appreciated each other’s influences. When we started writing together, we felt like we stumbled onto something different,” says Roth, the band’s singer and guitarist.
Grizfolk’s recently released EP, From the Spark, features a curious blend of acoustic-meets-turntable tracks, with Roth providing Southern folktale vocals over a bed of European synth. The EP’s first tune, “The Struggle,” is a solid mainstream indie-pop effort in the vein of Imagine Dragons and fun., while the final number “Vagabond” is a clear electro ballad. The middle two songs, “Hymnals” and “Waiting for You,” fall somewhere in the middle.
Roth and company are currently in the process of finishing a full-length record and releasing the new single “Way Back When,” which’ll be featured in the upcoming animated flick Mr. Peabody and Sherman. “We also have a really crazy music video coming soon … it involves a bear,” says programmer Fritze.
The Grizfolk crew is quickly making a name for themselves across the county. Rolling Stone even ran a photo of the band playing a show at the Troubadour in L.A. They also performed live at MTV’s Soundtrack Sessions.
But what the band is most excited about is their upcoming European tour with their pals Bastille. “Their fans have welcomed us with open arms and ears. And the shows have been electric with big smiles,” adds Roth. “The last tour with them, we learned that taking a nap whenever possible is very necessary.”
Right now, the guys in Grizfolk are shocked by their sudden success. Fritze says, “This is a new experience for all of us, and it’s been moving so quickly, but we feel very blessed to have such amazing opportunities to see the world and work with great people.” —Kalyn Oyer
Grizfolk performs with ZZ Ward and the O’ My’s Thurs. March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Farm. Tickets are $18. Check musicfarm.com for more. Love Best of Charleston? Help the Charleston City Paper keep Best of Charleston going every year with a donation. Or sign up to become a member of the Charleston City Paper club.