By Mike Romero
This Friday, July 29th, Fictionist will be releasing a brand new EP entitled Free Spirit. The title track was included on 2014’s Fictionist but is being rereleased alongside three brand new tracks. The record is being released through Harbour/Caroline Records.
“‘Free Spirit’ was part of our 2014 LP, which we released on our own, without a business team,” says Fictionist’s Robbie Connolly. “Since that time, we have met a few people that are willing and able to help us push the song to a bigger audience. Releasing this new EP gives us a chance to push that song further, while also allowing us to release three new songs we’ve been stoked to put out.”
Harbour Records is a newly established record label run by Chris Hardin and Brendan Bourke that began in 2012. Hardin and Bourke have 50 years of experience between them, having managed platinum-selling artists like Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer, Billy Idol, The Ramones, and Lou Gramm. Caroline Records is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group that has been around since the early 70’s. They’ve distributed work for artists like Matt and Kim, Halsey, and The Alabama Shakes.
While their self-titled LP featured mid tempo tracks like “Not Over You” and tracks with unconventional grooves like “Lock and Key,” the Free Spirit EP is a lot more pop-oriented, taking after the title track’s overall energy and feel. “Free Spirit” features up tempo dance beats, synthesizer, and some awesome production choices. “Right Now” has some bombastic tom work and high energy arpeggiators. “High Society” is definitely a stand out track from the album. It grooves hard. It has a thumping bass line that really gets the feet going.
“The EP is named after ‘Free Spirit’ because it was our focus to get that song out into the world, while the other songs also carry their own weight,” Connolly says. “I think the four together make for a powerful set of songs.”
The official album release concert will be held at Kilby Court on July 30th with Child Ivory and Indigo Plateau. The band will make an appearance on K-UTE Internet Radio Friday from 4 to 5PM to talk about the record. Fictionist is also holding a ticket giveaway for this weekend’s show. Those who like Fictionist and K-UTE Internet Radio on Facebook will earn a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. Winners will be announced on-air during their interview this Friday.
Make sure to like Fictionist on Facebook. You can hear the EP ahead of the release by visiting PureVolume.com, and pre-order the album on Fictionist’s official website. Tickets for their album release concert are available for purchase online here. Check out the teaser for the “Free Spirit” music video below.
Provo Music Magazine 