Friko—the Chicago based band of vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan, drummer Bailey Minzenberger, guitarist Korgan Robb, and bassist David Fuller—announces their sophomore album, Something Worth Waiting For, out April 24th via ATO Records, and presents the lead single/video, “Seven Degrees.” The album bears a heightened urgency that Friko partly attributes to a profound shift in their production process. Produced by Grammy-award winner John Congleton (St. Vincent, Mannequin Pussy, Mogwai, Angel Olsen) and recorded at his Los Angeles studio, Something Worth Waiting For is equal parts sonically extravagant and emotionally searing. “On our first record we were much more involved in the technical aspect of everything, but this time John made it clear that he wanted us to just come in and do our thing,” says Minzenberger. “I think that allowed us to let go in a way that we never had before, and because of that we captured something very raw.”

While Something Worth Waiting For often embodies a frenzied intensity, the album tilts toward the ecstatic on songs like lead single “Seven Degrees,” a sing-along-ready anthem born from a linguistic misunderstanding on Kapetan’s part. “For a long time I thought the saying was ‘seven degrees of separation’ and not ‘six,’” he explains. “There’s a lightness to that song but really it’s about connection, and trying to stay close to the people you care about.”Something Worth Waiting For ultimately locates a wildly elusive balance between the wide-eyed idealism of youth and the self-possessed grit of lived experience. The accompanying video for “Seven Degrees” was produced by Infinite Dog (They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Geese, MJ Lenderman) and delves into the world of RC cars.

Something Worth Waiting For marks the first Friko release to feature Robb and Fuller, who joined the band in the midst of their globe-spanning tour in support of their full-length debut—an endeavor that included headlining shows all over North America, England, Europe, and Asia (and achieving remarkable success in Japan, where they performed at Fuji Rock Festival then quickly returned for a sold-out show at Tokyo’s 1,000-capacity Kanda Square Hall), as well as touring with seminal alt-rock acts like The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse. And with the expansion of their lineup, Kapetan and Minzenberger found an ideal match for their viscerally attuned yet voraciously creative sensibilities. “We spend so much of our time talking about these songs and focusing on every detail,” says Fuller. “That deep love of the music is in all our bones, which makes it really special for every one of us.”

As they assembled songs for the new album, they mined inspiration from their constant activity over the past two years, arriving at a body of work that speaks to a more existential form of movement. “If the general theme of the record is transit, then the title gets at the idea of always moving toward something you never quite seem to reach,” says Kapetan. “That might sound pessimistic, but maybe the reaching isn’t necessarily the point,” Minzenberger adds. “I think life is meant to bring new experiences so that your world is ever-expanding, and not about constantly striving to achieve one particular thing.”

As they look toward their future, Friko express a sense of promise: “there’s been so much change and growth since the first record, which I think will continue as we move forward,” says Minzenberger. “There’s usually a lot of fear or discomfort when you’re trying something different, but we’re just going to keep being as genuine as possible and keep creating whatever feels true to us.”

When Friko delivered their uncompromising and thrilling debut album Where we’ve been, Where we go from here in 2024, they introduced a galvanizing new voice into the indie-rock canon. Both uncompromising in spirit and thrilling in impact, the 2024 LP landed on best-of-the-year lists from the likes of Pitchfork, the cover of NME, and led to glowing acclaim from Rolling Stone, Paste, NPR Music, and SPIN. In the making of their sophomore full-length, the band gained a powerful new clarity on their purpose and vision while embracing an even bolder sense of abandon, exploring everything from noise-rock to avant-garde classical to ’70s-era symphonic balladry.

Friko will celebrate the release of Something Worth Waiting For with a hometown show at Chicago’s Metro. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 10am CST. The following exclusives are also available for pre-order: Artist Store exclusive (“Hot Air Balloon” tri-color variant), Rough Trade Exclusive (“Bike Wheel” variant), and Chicago Exclusive (Blue Vinyl), in addition to the wide black vinyl and CD.

Something Worth Waiting For Tracklist:
1. Guess
2. Still Around
3. Choo Choo
4. Alice
5. Certainty
6. Hot Air Balloon
7. Seven Degrees
8. Something Worth Waiting For
9. Dear Bicycle

Friko Tour Dates:
Sat. April 25 – Chicago, IL @ Metro [Release Show]