Freezepop has always been something of an oxymoron: embraced by both hipsters and nerds; serious about irony; and retro-futuristic. A synth band in a guitar videogame, singing pop songs about rock. And it all somehow makes sense when you listen to the music.
Formed in Boston in the summer of 1999, when electropop was barely a blip on the indie radar, Freezepop released two homemade EPs and started a DIY machine that woul...d become one of their trademarks. Their debut album, 2000’s Freezepop Forever, was released domestically on their own label, Archenemy, as well as licensed in Europe by the Spanish indiepop label Elefant. Several more EPs followed, and in 2004, Freezepop put out their sophomore album, Fancy Ultra•Fresh. After nearly eight years of self-releasing their CDs, they partnered with Rykodisc/Cordless Recordings for their third album, Future Future Future Perfect. Their single “Less Talk More Rokk” was the iTunes #4 dance/electronic song of 2007.
While the band has done well on college radio, repeat-charting in the CMJ Top 50, a key factor in Freezepop’s success has been that they have sought out licensing opportunities to get their music out into the world. A natural fit on videogame soundtracks, the band saw their following grow through songs in the cult music-based games Fre- quency and Amplitude, and then increase exponentially after appear- ing in several installments of the massively popular Guitar Hero series, Dance Dance Revolution, and Rock Band. Freezepop have a strong connection with their fans and have toured extensively, playing ener- getic, fun, and chaotic shows throughout North America and Europe.
Some may see Imaginary Friends as the grown-up Freezepop. For the first time, new songs from this record were tested out on live audiences rather than being crafted solely in the studio, which in many ways streamlined Freezepop’s sound into a focused force that reflects the energy of the live show. With a whimsical spirit still intact, Imaginary Friends is a more impactful and refined record than fans have heard in the past and finds Freezepop taking the leap to dance floor legends.