Series Classification: PG (Parental Guidance) | Watch the series here
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Playback: Fat Freddy’s Drop handycam time machine. Landing in Tooting, South London, home base for the next six weeks. The band is straight into rehearsals, jams, writing beats, networking, and adventuring out for the first shows of the band’s debut European tour, 2003. An improvised studio, centred around the MPC 2000, is set up in the lounge at the semi-detached Tooting house. It’s a flower pot, boombox world.
Playback: Fat Freddy’s Drop depart Auckland International Airport bound for London, 2003. Taking up residence for six weeks in Tooting, South London, the band set up a studio in the lounge with a MPC 2000 and Powerbook G4, and get straight into rehearsals and making beats.
Playback: Something is cooking in Tooting. Band manager Nicole Duckworth shows UK promoter Charles Kirby-Welch the Freddy's EPK. The band meet with Charles, including a preview of a mock-up for the HOPE 10" vinyl, and a discussion about the upcoming first show at Fabric, London. Tooting is good. The band keep it real.
Playback: Freddy's gets ready to go at Fabric, London. A soundcheck and reuniting with fellow Wellington bands -- the likes of WAI & EBB -- for the Spacific showcase of Aotearoa music and culture. Singing "HOPE for a Generation, just beyond my reach, not beyond my sight". The audience dig Freddy's jams.
Playback: London vibes. Freddy's are guests at the Carbon Record Store launch. Back at Tooting, everyone is beat-making, writing music, tag-teaming on the MPC. Jams include early versions of "Ray Ray." Mia Faiumu, daughter of Freddy's beatmaker DJ Fitchie and band Manager Nicole Duckworth, is on the roady with Freddy's. They make an excursion to the local Mitcham Carnival.
Playback: Dobie Blaze is cooking up a barbecue in the Tooting backyard for the band and guests. Old school house-party style, the creative energy rolls to late night jams, including "Ray Ray." Joe Dukie is writing lyrics to a "happy song" -- sounds like "Wandering Eye."
Playback: There’s a heatwave in London. Freddy’s play an in-store at newly launched Carbon Record Store in Carnaby, London. Space is tight; crowd is small; time to get lost in the grooves. "Midnight Marauders" features a Fulla Flash sax solo. An early version of "Wandering Eye" is road-tested. "Runnin'" from Live at the Matterhorn gets a hoon.
NZ On Air Photo: NZOA
