Introducing The Transatlantic Group FARR
Upcoming duo FARR is a music group unlike any other. Split between LA and London, singer Romeo and producer Linden Jay, combine their talents to create fresh and honest tracks. The pair utilizes the internet to share ideas for records like their powerful new single, ‘Heal Me’, a showcase on the ups and downs of their frequent traveling. The two are set to support artist Kelis on her European tour this spring but are also set to perform in their own right at The Lexington in London on March 4.
We got the chance to chat with the guys about everything from how they first met, their upcoming debut album, and so much more…
Let’s take it back a bit. How did you two end up meeting?
We met in a random studio session. It was really clear out of the gate that we worked well together. By the end of the session, we had essentially written our track ‘Down’. We were working on our solo projects but loved working together and decided to form FARR.
How did you guys come up with the name FARR?
When we decided to start putting out the music we had been working on, our manager said we needed to come up with a name, so we went on a hike in LA just to get out of the city, really. We came up with the idea of ‘Feels About Right’ but didn’t feel like it was quite our vibe, too “boy bandy”, so we shortened it to FAR, but that was taken, so we added the extra ‘R’.
What’s your creative process like with Romeo being in LA and Linden Jay in London?
It’s super varied! The process is always different. We try to spend a fair amount of time together to work on music, but generally, it’s a lot of sending music back and forth over WhatsApp and FaceTime.
What are the benefits of being a transatlantic group? What are the downsides?
One of the reasons it works so well is that we’ll often start ideas on our own, incubate them on our own time, and then we’ll come together to share what we’ve been working on. Having our own time to work on the tracks lets us come at everything with a different perspective and then blend together our two worlds. Our skill sets are very different, so when we come together, it creates a full picture. Plus, we’re essentially working on music around the clock because someone is always awake haha.
Downsides are how hard it can be to finish things. It’s hard to get to that final 5% of finishing a track because that’s always easier together in person. Also, it’s hard to play shows together as frequently as it is for people living in the same city.
Your latest track ‘Heal Me’ is such a passionate track. What was the inspiration for the record?
Romeo: I started this track on the same writing trip where I met Linden, actually. I had dragged myself to a session with Carl Barat and Olly Burden and was not feeling great. It was my longest and first trip alone in another country, and I had been feeling pretty lonely in London. We ended up with ‘Heal Me’ which is essentially a love song about being away from someone you care about for a long time.
Absolutely love your track ‘Technicolour‘ and the video is such a vibe. Why did you guys choose to film in the desert?
We wanted to shoot something with our friend Max Junk, and it seemed like a quick and easy way to do a video in a day without spending tons of money. It was incredibly fun to shoot because we went to Goodwill and bought a bunch of miscellaneous items and spray painted them and filled them with the colored powder, then we got to break it all with baseball bats.
You two have recently announced the release of your debut album ‘Weightless’. What can fans expect from the record?
The album is a culmination of all the time we have spent working together, it’s pretty varied but has our distinct sound through everything. It’s explosive with a lot of musically dense moments, but also has a number of beautiful and understated tracks that show our more calm side.
Will you be touring the album soon?
Yes, we’re super psyched to be touring with Kelis in March through Europe on the 20th-anniversary tour of her album Kaleidoscope. We’re looking forward to playing these larger venues, supporting Kelis, and playing this album live for everyone! It’s going to be great.
Make sure to check out FARR perform a live version of their track ‘Heal Me’ below. Click here for tickets to their show at The Lexington on March 4th…
