Let’s meet the American/French duo, Special Friend. The Paris-based pair, comprised of drummer/vocalist Erica Ashleson and guitarist/vocalist Guillaume Siracusa, got their start in 2017. After only a few months together, the two recorded a self-titled EP at their practice space over a two-day period. Eventually released by the French labels Buddy Records, Gravity Music, Hidden Bay, and Howlin’ Banana in 2019, this initial release found Special Friend being compared to luminaries like Yo La Tengo, Duster, and Electrelane.
The band is currently readying their second effort, “Ennemi Commun,” for release digitally and on vinyl via Howlin’ Banana Records and Hidden Bay Records on March 26th. This time Ashleson and Siracusa enlisted Vincent Hivert (En Attendant Ana) to assist them in recording the album on a Tascam 8-track. The machine’s additional tracking has allowed the band to further layer their sound with guitars, toy keyboards, and harmonizing vocals.
Special Friend combines fuzz-laden layers of guitar and glowing vocal harmonies into infectious, vintage-sounding indie-pop on their newest effort’s title track. The video for the cut was shot and edited by Erica and features footage of the band on the road in NYC, with footage of their travels all the way from Madison to Bristol.
