JJAMZ is a band composed of James Valentine (Maroon 5), Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley/Conor Oberst), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), Michael Runion (solo), and Z Berg (The Like). The group was started at karaoke night at Guys in Hollywood. The band name is an acronym using the first letter of each member's name. The group was means of escape from each member's respective bands. "JJAMZ started at an interesting time in all of our lives. We all needed some kind of escape from relationships or our other bands. It was a tumultuous time, and the lyrics just came out. It was like word vomit. I can't remember." said Z Berg, lead vocalist for the Like.
Nik Freitas is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living in Los Angeles, CA.
A self taught musician and engineer, Nik records and plays everything on his albums. He has released 4 records since 2002, the most recent being 'Sun Down' in 2008.
Nik has toured his own music extensively and has been the opening act on many U.S. tours for such bands as Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, and Azure Ray.
In early 2008, Nik became a member Conor Oberst's Mystic Valley Band. For the next two years,
Freitas played guitar on and toured for Oberst's 2008 self titled solo album, and 2009's 'Outer South', including having two of his own songs featured on 'Outer South'.
In Feb. of 2010 Nik joined the live performing band for the Danger Mouse and James Mercer project Broken Bells, and spent the year playing guitar on the road with the band. Between all the touring, Nik was recording his own music at his home studio in Los Angeles. With the constant
movement, limited time and space, and after playing electric guitar in bands for the previous few years,
Freitas began incorporating electronic instruments more into his music. Guitar solos and live drums were now being
replaced with old early 80's synthesizers and drum machines, mixing organic acoustics with analog sound
generators, Beats, and digital swells.
With a small window inbetween touring with Broken Bells, Nik self released a 5 song E.P. entitled 'Center of the World'
in October 2010 which was followed by a mini US solo tour. The small collection of songs were taken from these new recordings
spanning the past three years.
Now that there is some free time, Nik is happy to announce that the new songs have been made into a brand new record.
Look for Nik's 5th full length album early summer 2011.