ON THE RISE WITH FRIMANN

By: Connor Duszynski

To those who have been fans from the beginning, Frimann’s rise in the music industry comes as no surprise. Hailing from Norway, he is a proudly queer artist who has been making waves in the music scene since his debut in 2018. Known for his unique blend of pop and disco influences, his music is characterized by a pleasingly pure vocal ambiance and a sound that has been crafted for lovers and free spirits to dance closely to.

Frimann's journey in music began long before he first enrolled at Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). His love of music is something that’s in his bones, his soul. Since his 2018 debut, Frimann has released nine dance-inducing singles, an EP, and a number of choreographed music videos. His music is a testament to his talent and dedication to his craft.

Frimann's music is as much about the sound as it is about the message. As a queer artist, he uses his platform to express his identity and very personal experiences. A celebration of love, freedom, and individuality, his songs resonate with many listeners around the world.

Most recently, Frimann released his new single 'How I Like It’ earlier this summer, which was well-received by critics and fans alike. The song is an irresistible disco number that teases his new EP 'Sugar Papa'. Ever-evolving, what is perhaps most exciting about Frimann is his melodic versatility. As he continues to create and release new music, there is no doubt that Frimann is a rising star to watch. We discussed his time at LIPA, his songwriting process and electric performance style, and what listeners can expect next from the artist.

Thank you for joining me, Frimann! How’ve you been doing? Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello Connor, I’m doing well. Thank you for having me. I appreciate you reaching out to me again. Since we last spoke for The House Magazine’s Music Issue in April 2022, a lot has happened. I’m now officially a university educated singer-songwriter. I’m graduating from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) with a bachelor’s degree in songwriting and performance this month, and will receive my degree certificate from Sir Paul McCartney himself. It’s quite cool thing to be able to say! I was born and raised in Oslo, Norway, but have been based in Liverpool, UK for about three years. I’m an independent artist, which means that I write, arrange and produce my own music. I dance, choreograph, photograph, edit album artwork and music videos, and create content to promote my work. I wear quite a few different hats for my work, which sometimes can feel a bit overwhelming. At the same time, it means that everything released under my name was created by me. I find it all quite empowering. A fun fact about me is that my first name is actually Frimann. People always think that is my chosen artist name, but it is my actual name. I guess I was designated to be free.

Congratulations on graduating; that’s a huge milestone in your life. I definitely understand what it’s like wearing so many hats. What projects have you been up to lately? Are you primarily doing songwriting, live performances, and/or other musical endeavors?

I’m happy to say that 2023 has been a very busy year for me, running from one project to another. My final performance exam at LIPA took a big chunk of my time as I orchestrated the biggest concert I’ve ever done. I had a seven-piece band and six dancers with me to put on ‘Last Kingdom,’ a scripted show I wrote featuring my original music. The show explored themes of personal freedom, joy, sexuality, desire and also the pain and shame of being different in society; living life as an outsider.

Another highlight for me was headlining the Cavern Club back in May. The Cavern Club is Liverpool’s most iconic venue where the Beatles played an insane 292 times. Other huge artists like Adele and The Rolling Stones have also performed on that stage. To be able to say that I have performed my own set on the same stage as these musical acts is very surreal. I could pinch myself. I have warmed up for great queer artists like Nimmo and Mickey Callisto. When Eurovision was hosted in Liverpool, I played a show that they arranged in the heart of the city. So yeah, things are going well for me at the moment and I just want to keep performing and releasing music. So far I have released two new singles this year and I’m working on finishing my second EP ‘Sugar Papa’.

It sounds like you’ve certainly had a busy 2023 so far, and we’re just over half ways done! Has your music or songwriting changed since our last interview at The House Magazine? If so, how?

When we last spoke, I had just started writing ‘Sugar Papa’. The record is a four-song concept record about being a struggling, independent artist trying to succeed in a strange and highly dysfunctional environment. In my opinion, we have never consumed art and entertainment before like we do now in 2023. We’re constantly distracting ourselves with different forms of art and entertainment, yet we are not interested in paying for it. We expect entertainment to be created for us at a speedy rate and expect to either be cheap or free.

Did you know that less than half of Spotify’s users pay for the service? The majority of users are subscribing to the free version. Also, the premium subscription is around $10 a month globally, which is an extremely low price to pay for unlimited access to most recorded music worldwide. How can new, young, non-nepo babies succeed in the music industry if the public are not interested in paying for access to their work?

This is an issue I have been thinking about the past few years and it’s something I wanted to explore creatively. Since the main-character of ‘Sugar Papa’ can not find ways to get paid for their music; they explore other, sexual routes of income like being a sugar baby and private dancing. Two titles on the record are ‘Sugar Papa’ and ‘Private Dancer.’ Now that I have finished writing the record, I can say that it was definitely the most challenging piece of work of mine to-date. However, the concept is relatively small. There are only a handful of songs you can write about not making money off of music and instead pursuing sexual careers instead.

" THE FEEDBACK IS FULFILLING.

PEOPLE REALLY LET LOOSE DURING MY SHOWS. THEY DANCE, THEY LAUGH, THEY SING, AND THEY CRY. FOR ME, IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, IT’S POWERFUL. "

I guess I don’t think about this issue as much as musicians and singers must. But I’ve heard a number of artists who share your same grievance talk about how little Spotify and other streaming platforms pay the artists. It’s crazy. I also think it’s interesting that you’re at this point in your career, because it seems like a lot of artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone else who is trying to be selfsufficient gets to this point. We all wonder whether it’s ‘worth it’ or not. I’ve found myself here before. Do you still find fulfillment in your music? What is the most fulfilling aspect of your work?

The feedback is fulfilling. People really let loose during my shows. They dance, they laugh, they sing, and they cry. For me, it is the most wonderful experience, it’s powerful. It has always been my dream to create a space where people can come and forget about all their worries in life. Let’s get lost in the joy of music.

That’s quite a compliment. I agree that feedback is so important. It means that people are listening and sitting with what you’re presenting. Who or what inspires your songwriting process and musical style today?

I am very inspired by Donna Summer and CHIC. I love ’70s disco music. I have not found another music genre that is as filled with the joy and life of disco. The idea of writing songs that makes people want to dance inspires me. The idea of writing songs that can help someone get out of bed on a tough day inspires me. I just want to make music that makes people feel good.

Do your musical inspirations inform what your live performances are like? What can people expect from a Frimann performance?

People can expect to see me dancing on my bandmates a lot. My stage persona is a mixture of my admiration of music icons like Freddie Mercury, Madonna, Lady Gaga and my eight-year dance training. My performance goal is always to entertain. I want to give the audience a show and an experience that they won’t forget. Onstage, I allow myself to fully express sides of me that I tend to suppress more in my everyday life. I become strong, shameless, playful, and a little cocky. I say whatever I feel like saying and move however feels right for that particular song. It is a very freeing and intense experience for me onstage. I love it, it is my favorite thing in the world.

Do you feel as though you take-on a persona on stage or are you your most authentic self while performing?

Oh, for sure! I don’t think I would be very well-liked if I behaved the same way off stage as I do on stage.

Are there any current/upcoming projects, gigs, or musical endeavors that you can share with our readers?

I am about to play Oslo Pride for the fourth time and I recently released my new single ‘How I Like It’ on June 23rd. It’s the first single from ‘Sugar Papa.’ It’s a funky, sexy disco-pop song about being with a person who is the hottest in any room you walk into. This is the one song on the record that is not related to its theme, but I thought it would be a smooth introduction to the sonic universe of ‘Sugar Papa.’ The person I’m describing is someone who everyone desires to be with, but who is somehow yours. They make you work for it though, and there is an ongoing hunt and chase for this person. But like the song says, "That’s just how I like it.”