Up-and-coming band steals the show and tells us all about their new experience in the limelight

For a band who six months ago could never have imagined sitting in an interview in New York, let alone on tour with Andy Black in the United States, The Faim could fool anyone with their immediate confidence when they take the stage.

 

From the very beginning of the performance, I knew that something was different. Maybe it was the way every fan in the audience was fully engaged or the cloud of energy that seemed to radiate from every member of the band, but whatever it was my gut was telling me that I needed more of it. There’s performing and then there’s what The Faim did– and that was living, connecting, and exemplifying the power of music. It didn’t seem like they were playing to cater to the audience, but rather they were bringing the audience with them on a journey. They weren’t giving the audience a show, but rather creating something with them. Very few bands can truly capture this sort of dynamic with a crowd, especially when that crowd is someone else’s. While The Faim was only opening for Andy Black this tour, they stole the show. In many ways, it reminds me of the type of high-level energy I would have expected from a Queen show (not that I myself was ever lucky enough to see one).

Every member of the band was on this level, too. So often you’ll see acts where only the lead singer is giving out that sort of aura, but for The Faim that just wasn’t an option. Each member was so confident in their own specific instrument and role that just that confidence alone was enough to make anything possible. Stephen Beerkens played his bass between his legs and in the air and did so with such poise that I was blown away. He didn’t miss a beat and he knew exactly how wound up this all made the fans.

The chemistry between the members, too, was impossible to miss. They seemed so in tune with each other in a way that not even hours of rehearsal could create. It was natural for them to play alongside each other and it showed.

From on-stage to backstage, The Faim proves to have perfect band chemistry.

Despite this high level of energy, I noticed that their composure on stage was so different than talking to them before the show backstage. Maybe different isn’t the right word, but rather what I felt backstage had been amplified to new levels on stage. “At the end of the day,” Josh Raven (lead singer) said. “We’re just like four idiots that love playing music.”

For four idiots, though, I think their sound was some of the most matured in an early stage alternative band that I’ve heard in a while. It’s polished, but it’s still truthful. The honesty that they exemplify in their music is what creates such a breathable atmosphere and provides the best sort of space for their fans.

In fact, during their performance, the microphone was decorated with a gay pride flag. To keep the energy flowing and open Josh cracked jokes with the audience. While this technique is pretty consistently used to break down walls between fans and performers, Josh took it a step further, embracing the crowd and audience. Out of nowhere, he ran into the middle of the pit, sparking the energy everywhere. He wasn’t afraid and just wanted everyone to dance and he became the catalyst for the party that ensued. 

“The main thing we want everyone to take away is not only that you can feel safe at our shows, but also in their own world in being who they are: comfortable in pursuing a passion, pursuing a dream or being able to chase something that might seem impossible because that’s the same thing it was for us,” Josh said, emphasizing exactly the sort of open environment found at this show that was full of inspiration and encouragement. He also described their band as transparent, noting that what you see is what you get.

With this barrier broken, I wondered how The Faim saw their fanbase, really. As a newly emerging act, stepping into the limelight can sometimes be overwhelming. Furthermore, The Faim has taken on a very interesting fanbase. Alternative bands rarely also need to balance the strange dynamic of fandom. Typically, fans of these sort of bands aren’t making communities out of fan accounts. This particular genre isn’t known for that, but it’s part of The Faim’s rise to fame.

“It’s great because, in an essence, music is communication,” Stephen (bass/keys) notes. “People are communicating based on our music… finding commonalities between themselves and other people through the connection that we’re giving them… it’s really great, you know? It’s really humbling.” 

“We’re not objects.”

Other bands in this space that have had this sort of fangirl aspect are 5 Seconds of Summer and All Time Low; both have had embraced it fully… just as The Faim has. However, they told me they aren’t ever going to be fully used to it. Sam (guitar) says “no one is already used to that before it’s happening… because it’s something that you really can’t get used to. Sometimes lines are crossed where things are said that are inappropriate and those are the hard things to get used to because at the end of the day we are just humans… we’re not objects.”

But what creates a fan base like this? Music that is honest and, in some ways, music that is satisfying. Linden (drums) says he hopes that fans can take away depth from their music. “I hope it’s not just some run of the mill sort of song with like a pop chorus.”

And it looks like we’ll be seeing more of this music soon. The Faim is working on a full-length album.

The future’s so bright for these guys. “This is The Faim,” Josh said. “We’re all four friends that have known each other for a very long time. This is the dawn of The Faim.”

As they move forward, the growth they will experience is only going to raise the bar for any other band. Honestly, The Faim’s performance was too big for that stage. They played better and with more life than artists that I’ve seen at Madison Square Garden. They played like they wanted to be there and just seeing the passion in their eyes inspired me. The Faim deserves to be playing arenas, but they don’t care where it is they’re playing they are just genuinely so glad to be doing so. Josh explained: “Any opportunity for us to be on the road is awesome because we love connecting with new people.”

While they didn’t expect to get here, their existence in music is the breath of fresh air that we need. Sam didn’t even expect to be doing music, it all sort of just came together. “I always loved music, but I never really thought it would be something I would do as a job.”

Linden also added: “I didn’t think I’d be here right now. You told me six months ago that I’d be in New York City talking to an interviewer, I’d be like ‘what’re you talking about?’”.

But thankfully, The Faim has such strong chemistry between them that they make their unexpected happening worthwhile.

They’re the next big thing and I don’t say that lightly.

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