Frenship is actually the group name for a couple of West Coast musicians (Brett Hite and James Sunderland) who became fast-"frens" while working together at an LA fitness store. Soon they were creating music and a buzz on the internet with their synth-laden single-word singles "Knives," "Nowhere" and "Carpet."
As part of their first EP for Columbia, Frenship hooked up with someone you may have heard of... indirectly. Over just the past three-years, New York-native Emily Warren has co-penned dozens of songs for acts like Fifth Harmony, Jesse J, Melanie Martinez and 5 Seconds of Summer. Earlier this year Emily scored her biggest hit to date with "Don't Let Me Down," a tune she co-wrote for the Chainsmokers.
This time around Emily not only shares writing credit on the Frenship track "Capsize," but a microphone as well... and with beautiful results. Her vocals are delicate and boyant and breathy but with metaphors that convey sudden heartbreak and long-lasting regret.
All the words seem to be carefully chosen and laid-out as a conversation between lovers who recently split, not unlike Gotye's 2011 duet "Somebody That I Used to Know." Except less bitter and more blue. I especially love the chorus where his concern ends with a hesitant, "Are you...?" But before he can get out the word "okay" she responds immediately with, "I'm fine." But... you just know she's not.
Hite told Andrew Hannah from the alternative music site The Line of Best Fit that the song is all about honesty and that it "meant something very different to all three of us, so we each wrote about something different in the two verses. Ironically, that is the version that felt the most truthful and cohesive in the end."
I found "Capsize" uplifting yet dark but still likable and a very easy listen. In fact, I guarantee this breezy little pop gem will have you thinking "Oh my God!" after just one spin. Actually, it's sort-of unavoidable. ;v)
By-the-way, that voice you hear at the end of the the track is an audio snippet taken from a message left on Warren's voicemail from her grandmother to whom she credits inspiration.
