Since their very first days as a band, members of the Venice, California-based alt-rock quintet Grizfolk have made full use of their disparate origins and distinct sensibilities. Drawing on wide-ranging backgrounds both musical and geographical — frontman Adam Roth, bassist Brendan Willing James, and drummer Bill Delia hail from different corners from the U.S., while keyboardist Sebastian Fritze and guitarist Fredrik Eriksson come from opposite coasts of Sweden — the band textures its songs with a heady mix of graceful melody, sprawling guitar work, and lush but edgy electronics. And on their debut album Waking Up The Giants, Grizfolk deliver an arena-ready sound honed partly through recent tours with artists like Bastille and X Ambassadors, while steadily building a warm, intimate mood that echoes the closeness of their collaboration.
Mainly self-produced and recorded everywhere from the band members’ living rooms to the famed Sunset Sound studio, Waking Up The Giants takes its title from the album’s epic centerpiece. “There’s that cautionary phrase about being careful not to wake the sleeping giant, but we’re kind of going for the opposite of that,” says James. “We’re saying, ‘Let’s not be scared, let’s wake the damn thing up and make some waves in the world.’” Offering anthem after anthem, Waking Up The Giants never shies away from emotional truth, but ultimately inspires a deep and powerful sense of hope. “The lyrics in ‘Waking Up The Giants’ can relate back to anyone who might have an idea that they’re afraid to express, but that might spark something that winds up changing their life for the better,” says Roth.
