Music has always been influencing Fashion and Fashion has always had a significant impact on music. Seeing the FRNKOW creations in the new video “Strangers” by RIKAS is a testament to the transformative power of collaborative creativity. The unique blend of style and sound not only resonates with their audience but also amplifies the ethos behind the FRNKOW creations. We took the release of the videos as an opportunity to do an interview with RIKAS about their new music and their approach to fashion.
After “Passenger”, you have now released your new single “Strangers”. Five years have passed since your last album, how is this reflected in the new album? How has your musical style developed?
A lot has happened since the first album and I think you can hear that on our new songs. In my eyes, we have become more self-reflective people. Over all the years and crises, we have managed to turn our gaze inwards to find a more emotional approach to ourselves as a group, as individuals as well as to our music. We wrote the debut album during a very busy and exciting time. In the years between 2017 and 2019, we played over 200 live shows and built up our company at the same time. Everything felt new and exciting, the era of „first times“. “Showtime” is therefore a very young and sometimes naive album. I guess now our new music is much clearer and therefore more emotionally accessible. It’s touching on a different level and we like this development because it reflect’s how we’ve grown over the years.
The four of you have been making music together since you were school, you founded Rikas in 2016, you write the songs, produce and record them, do the art direction of your records and videos, and you tour together throughout Europe. What impact does this have on your friendship?
To us it is important that this project is built on a strong foundation of friendship. We have been friends throughout high school (and some even since kindergarden). Our connection is based on shared values, same taste and similar goals, which is what connects us and has brought us to this point so far. Of course between all the work-related topics, the band’s everyday life and traveling, we sometimes have to remember us to meet each other more as private individuals. But often this happens all by itself. We want to uphold the fact that there is always room for empathy, friendship and personal matters. Because I believe that we men in particular tend to lose sight of this from time to time. And especially as artists the importance of it becomes clear. Because in the end everything we do is based on it and everything we want to create are: emotions.
In the video for the single “Strangers” all of you are wearing FRNKOW. What role does fashion and what you wear in your videos and concerts play for you as a band?
First of all we really appreciate this collaboration. We love what you guys do and what you brought into these videos. Art, music and fashion can stand for certain things. We want to surround ourselves with that. One thing we like about this band the most is how it connects our different interests. It’s an open room for interdisciplinary creativity. Fashion is something to be creative about and it’s something you communicate with. The act of dressing up brings joy and lightness. And also when we wear certain clothes, we can reinforce our message, core and character in an aesthetic way. We believe that this is what artists are empowered to do. We want to implement to this not only on stage, in videos or in photographs, but also in everyday life. However, for the official act of going on stage (whether it might be an actual or a metaphoric one) dressing up takes up the most special and relevant part.
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You are successful on Spotify, on the radio and are one of the most sought-after music exports from Germany. This year you’re going on tour again. When does it start and where can we see and hear you?
Well, spring is on its way and festival season is about to start. We are going to play some Open Airs this summer. We also have a tour set up for late summer, early fall which is bringing us to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and France. You can find the dates on our homepage. And looking further into the future: for the new year we are currently planning on touring throughout Europe. More on that soon 🙂
Tickets and more information: www.rikasband.com, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube.
Video by Manuel Hauer | Styling by Andrea Tzelepides
Video by Manuel Hauer | Styling by Andrea Tzelepides