Seldom does one venture into Adams Morgan after ten on a Saturday looking for anything other than trouble, but last week I was invited to a unique music and art celebration at Affinity Lab, a cooperative space for creatives above The Diner. The reason? Local music industry designer, Marc Harkness, was celebrating his third year making album covers for artists you love. The band? Freezepop, a three-piece synth-pop group not well-known in these parts except if you’re a Guitar Hero devotee.
Freezepop hails from Boston and is made up of Liz Enthusiasm (lead vocals), the Duke of Pannekoeken and Sean Drinkwater (both the Duke and Drinkwater take no prisoners on keytar). Because Affinity Lab had to push their workstations against walls, there wasn’t a ton of space to move. There was however, plenty for the senses as The Duke and Drinkwater took turns touring the space, shredding and teaching us that anyone with a keytar must learn to play Europe’s “Final Countdown” like they do (the line to the keg vanished the second fingers touched keys for what I think was at least 14 minutes).
Freezepop’s DIY drive has been a major asset for the band, particularly with their label, Archenemy, and Liz Enthusiasm’s double duty as as the band’s front-woman and graphic designer. She has always regarded her design as one of her main creative contributions to the band. “It comes a lot easier to me than, say, writing lyrics. Having a strong visual identity has definitely helped us stand out, especially early on in our career.”
Liz points out how important it is, particularly for bands just starting out, to focus on a visual identity that helps complete the whole package and get you noticed. Adding, “…[it] makes you look like you’re a “real” band. And since there are like 5 trillion bands on MySpace and other social networks, any edge you can get is a good thing.”
Check out Liz’s latest work on Freezepop’s album Future Future Future Perfect and be sure to see them live this Thursday, October 16 at Alley Katz if you happen to be in Richmond, VA.
