Fringe Frontier: “We'd prefer to be underproduced than overproduced, lean into imperfections, and draw from several different genres”
Florida-based duo Fringe Frontier came into my world in March of 2025. The tune in question was called Astor Place, and the wonderful blend of nostalgia, grit, and heart instantly resonated. Five singles have since followed, and my love for John Lloyd and Jerry Thomas' work has only solidified into genuine anticipation for whatever comes next.
Keen to get to know John and Jerry better, I was stoked when the musicians agreed to an interview!
Chatting with us about their brand new single, Heading For, what "being successful" in the music industry would look like for them, and whether they feel artists have a responsibility to comment on the times we’re living in, please welcome John and Jerry of Fringe Frontier!
Jerry...John...the two of you were among my favourite musical discoveries of the year! It's a true honour to have you here.
Now, for those unfortunate souls who have yet to discover the power of Fringe Frontier, what would you say they’re missing out on? How would you describe your music?
John: First, thanks so much for your kind words about our music. It means a tremendous amount to us. It always feels a little aspirational to think about people finding connection with our tunes. We're certainly stoked, of course, when people do.
You and others have described our style as raw, garage(ish) rock, fuzzy and lyrically honest—all things we're after when we write, so it's great to hear our vision is coming through. We'd prefer to be underproduced than overproduced, lean into imperfections, and draw from several different genres. And at the core, thanks to Jerry, we dig having danceable grooves to keep it all moving.
Jerry: All of that, yes. And every song has a different story. A different feel. We have a different approach each time.
Let's chat about Heading For, your brand new single. Another cracking piece of raw, groovy goodness - I'm wondering if you remember what the spark was that set this one in motion?
Also, did you know early on what kind of energy you wanted the track to carry, or did that reveal itself as the tune evolved?
John: It was a slow spark. Both Jerry and I lived in and around New York City for many years, so the gritty energy of the city—the asphalt ebb and flow—is always beating at the back of our songs about urban life.
Spending a lot of time in the Lower East Side, I'd walk by all these studio apartments—lived in a few myself—and kept those visions/feelings of what might be going on inside them. Years later, they somehow mixed together for a song. In terms of the energy, we knew we wanted the background noise of the city through crunchy guitars, wanted the urban pulse with the drum pocket, and wanted a least a little mania with different guitar tones and tempo changes. McKenzie did a nice job of putting everything in its place while still keeping the emotion raw and on edge.
As you're aware, I’ve really gotten into your music over the past months, so I’d love to know: who are some of your biggest musical influences - and if I peeked at your ‘Recently Played’ section right now, who would I find there?
John: The Jam, The Clash. Ramones, The Pretenders, Nick Cave, Buzzcocks. But I also love Americana music: The Grateful Dead, The Band, Lucinda Williams, and John Prine. My Spotify Wrapped showed my top 2025 listens were Roger Eno and Robyn Gutherie. Go figure!! Somehow, it all mashes together.
Jerry: I'm all over the place. I still use an iPod, and it has about 4000 songs on shuffle. It goes from Miles Davis to Black Sabbath to Mendelssohn to Be Bop Deluxe, and then add in a lot more, including the artists that John referenced, and then add in hundreds more!
I’m a sucker for having to know the origins of a band or artist’s name. I just can’t help myself! How exactly did Fringe Frontier come about?
Jerry: John and I were texting one night, going back and forth for a while on what we wanted to do musically, and those two words appeared in consecutive sentences, and the name just jumped out at me. It describes our "mission" haha.
Success is, obviously, such a broad term with different meanings for everyone. What would “being successful” in the music industry look like to you?
John: At least breaking even financially would be nice (LOL)! Fortunately, Jerry and I are good friends first, so the making of the tunes is fulfilling. Beyond that, I'd say having a base of people who enjoy our music and find some kind of link to the songs would be our ideal vision of success. In short, somewhere between a once-a-month dive bar gig and the Era's Tour!
Jerry: I totally agree with all of that! And we want the fun quotient to always be there.
When a new song starts to form, what’s your usual approach?
Can you talk us through how you develop that initial idea into a fully realised piece of music?
John: Some start with lyrics, some from a guitar riff, some from Jerry laying down a drum track, and me trying to do it justice. We try to keep the process fluid and spontaneous, and approach each song uniquely so the music as a whole continues to evolve.
Jerry: Yah. It varies. Just like that.
Do you feel artists have a responsibility to comment on the times we’re living in, or is music’s role more personal and timeless?
John: That's a big question—love it! Obligation or accident, all form of art, I suppose, is at least a bit of commentary on the times we're moving through. I'm not sure every artist should necessarily aim for social/political commentary itself. Billy Bragg—one of my favorites—does it brilliantly. But he comes to it first with a personal passion, and that personal stake has to be the root note of every song if it's going to resonate with an audience—and certainly if it's going to endure beyond current times. Ultimately, whether it's social commentary or personal commentary, the artist's responsibility is to share/show some side of what it's like to be human. Or something like that!
Jerry: John is so very talented at writing, and not just the lyrics to our songs. He's capable of reaching into his soul and then expressing emotions so that the listener or reader can "get it" and identify. Sometimes I want us to be more political, but it has to happen naturally. Drive-By Truckers and The Clash come to mind.
Guys, thank you again for taking the time. It's been great to have you here!
Before we say farewell, what comes next for Fringe Frontier, and do you have any words of wisdom you'd like to leave us with?
More releases! So stay tuned and keep rockin'! And thank you so much for the opportunity to speak with you.
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