Bouncing back and forth, foot to foot, fists slashing the air and ready for the ring. An anthem of anticipation. A celebration of creativity. An invitation to dance unfettered into the night. That’s the war cry of Are Friends Electric, a Daytona Beach three-piece that spins commanding vocals and a rhythmic ruckus into full-blown theatrics on stage. Featuring Andrea Elmer Mix on lead vocals, Jeremy Mix on guitar/vocals and Matt Brown on drums, the music they make is punk-laced indie pop — focused and fresh, and yet familiar. A dash of David Bowie, a sprinkle of Blondie and the Beatles, the Pretenders or Prince — it’s a little bit nostalgic for the ’80s, while charging forward into whatever’s next.
Their origin story, too, blends present and future with the best bits of the past. Jeremy and Andrea were high school acquaintances in Daytona Beach, but followed divergent paths to opposite coasts. It was music that eventually reintroduced them. Andrea, living in Los Angeles with her then-husband David Faustino, listened to Jeremy’s band at the behest of a mutual friend and was so impressed that she helped them book a gig at the legendary Roxy Theatre. Five years later, Jeremy’s musical pursuits in New York and Andrea’s marriage had both ended. They wandered back home and into each other’s lives once again. Except this time, it was far more than wandering the school halls. They started performing together as a duo around town, playing acoustic covers at local Daytona Beach bars. But it was rock ’n’ roll that was truly in their hearts.
Their passion for pushing the boundaries and blending genres sparked the formation of Are Friends Electric. Matt Brown, a longtime friend of Jeremy’s and touring member of his previous band, came on to play drums, and lent his studio expertise to produce, engineer and mix the trio’s debut album, “The Title Bout.” Funded by a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, the LP, to be released in June 2018, brings the intensity and excitement of a pre-match hype session and the soaring strains of victory via knockout punch without channeling the aggression and anger in between. From the party starter “Alright” and Muhammad Ali-inspired fight song “One Two Punch”, to the sobering struggle with addiction outlined in “Acrobat”, there are pop-infused proclamations and chill confessionals. But you’ll find no darkness here — only a sense of togetherness, positive vibes and the promise of a damn good time. Are Friends Electric’s Gary Numan-inspired moniker doesn’t so much pose a question as answer it: Yes, they are.