"Los Angeles is such a big part of what our music is, not unlike the Chili Peppers or Ozomatli," says singer-Fredalba visionary Eric Balfour. "There are so many influences here, from punk to Latin to rock to electro, that shapes who we are as musicians. This city shapes our style in every way. I wanted our sound to be L.A."
Uptown Music for Downtown Kids, Fredalba's Piller Records debut, could not be the product of any other landscape. Fredalba has pulled off the unique feat of sounding like something as abstract as a city with convincing clarity. The sextet's seamless merging of sounds and cultures into one coherent and focused style is the product of a longstanding vision held dear to Balfour's heart from a very young age. "I grew up in an environment where the artist was held at the highest pinnacle," remembers Balfour. "To create art and create music that was one of the most respected things you could do. That shaped a lot of how I view the world and had a lot to do with me wanting to become a singer."
Fredalba grew out of that vision. Assembled over time through friends of friends, the band converged through a common love of music, culture, and energy. That recipe has birthed Uptown Music, a sonic companion to Possibility Through Positivity the band's credo. "This band is about raw energy," says Balfour. "And bringing it to you when you see us live so it inspires you and it motivates you to get up, move, and do something."
Rough and tumble rock tracks ("Storm"), urban hymns ("Uptown Music"), and soaring anthems ("Shine") insure that Uptown Music flows freely through Fredalba's world of hip-hop, rock, and Latin rhythms, but it¹s the flute crisscrossing this beautiful union that truly sets the band apart. "Eric was interested in what it would sound like," says flautist Charmian Callon. "We had no idea if it would sound good, but it sounded really great. I think it opens a lot of people's eyes and ears to a new vibe. Of course, anybody in the jazz and classical world is familiar with the flute, but the majority of the population is not. A lot of times when they see it in a rock band, they are skeptical. But they are always pleasantly surprised."
As will all those that enter Fredalba's world: An eclectic mix of sonic art and culture corralled into a funky, energetic burst of uplifting might. Just likeŠchicken? "For me, chicken is chicken," says Balfour. "It just depends on what you put on it. Ours is definitely a sweet, tangy barbeque sauce that's a little bit spicy and has a really good after taste."
Headed by actor Eric Balfour, this band has now changed their name to Born As Ghosts.
Get Up
Fredalba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That your crushing with these lies
As your son cries alone
But you don't feel him when he moans
Now's the time to make us see
There's more to you than addict's greed
I believe you can retrieve
Look inside and you will see
So take my hand...cause I
Have no time.....but I
Walk this line....cause I
Don't wanna watch you die
Get up let me know you're alive
Get up put your hand in the sky
Get up let me know you're alive
Get up now its time to survive
Get up let me know you're alive
Get up put your hand in the sky
Get up let me know you're alive
Soon the son and the moon will arrive
Now the pain that you feel
The time has come to let it heal
Another day another year
You shouldn't give into this fear
So many lies so many tries
But every time your sister cries
You gotta know that every load
It's like a bomb set to explode
So take my hand...cause I
Have no time.....but I
Walk this line....cause I
Don't wanna watch you die
Get up let me know you're alive
Get up put your hand in the sky
Get up let me know you're alive
Get up now its time to survive
Get up let me know you're alive
Get up put your hand in the sky
Get up let me know you're alive
Soon the son and the moon will arrive
Hey I know.. said I... I live my life ..I'll take
Get up let me know you're alive
Get up put your hand in the sky
Get up let me know you're alive
Get up now its time to survive
Get up let me know you're alive
Get up put your hand in the sky
Get up let me know you're alive
Soon the son and the moon will arrive
The song "Get Up" by Fredalba is a cry for help and a message of hope to those battling addiction. The lyrics are a plea to the person struggling with addiction to recognize the damage they are causing to themselves and those around them. The artist emphasizes the importance of hope, healing and recovery, and encourages the person to take action to get better. The first verse of the song talks about how the lies told by the addicted person are hurting the people around them, especially their family members who are left to deal with the aftermath of addiction. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Get up" as a plea to the person to take action, put their hand up, and acknowledge that they are still alive and capable of recovery. The second verse talks about the importance of healing from the pain caused by addiction, and how every time someone cries, it is like a bomb waiting to explode. The song ends on a note of hope, with the line "Soon the son and the moon will arrive", indicating that a new day and new possibilities are on the horizon.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't you see all the lives
The lies you tell are hurting people
That your crushing with these lies
Your lies are causing emotional harm to others
As your son cries alone
Your actions have impacted your son's emotional wellbeing
But you don't feel him when he moans
You are unaware or indifferent towards your son's pain
Now's the time to make us see
It's time to acknowledge and address the damage caused by your addiction
There's more to you than addict's greed
Your addiction does not define you as a person
I believe you can retrieve
I have faith in your ability to recover from addiction
Look inside and you will see
The path to recovery starts with self-reflection
So take my hand...cause I
I am here to support you
Have no time.....but I
Despite being busy, I am willing to help you through this
Walk this line....cause I
I am not going to give up on you, even if it's difficult
Don't wanna watch you die
I care about you and I don't want you to lose your life to addiction
Get up let me know you're alive
I want to see you take positive steps towards recovery
Get up put your hand in the sky
Raise your hand as a symbol of commitment to change
Get up now its time to survive
It's time to overcome addiction and live a better life
Soon the son and the moon will arrive
A new day is coming and with it, a fresh opportunity to start anew
Now the pain that you feel
It's time to confront the pain and trauma that led to addiction
The time has come to let it heal
It's time to let go of past pain and move forward
Another day another year
It's never too late to start recovery, no matter how much time has passed
You shouldn't give into this fear
Don't let fear of the unknown prevent you from seeking help
So many lies so many tries
Addiction is a difficult battle, but it's worth persevering through
But every time your sister cries
Your addiction affects not just you, but those close to you as well
You gotta know that every load
It's important to be aware of the burden addiction places on those around you
It's like a bomb set to explode
Addiction can have serious consequences and must be addressed before it's too late
Hey I know.. said I... I live my life ..I'll take
I'm willing to help you through recovery, even if it means sacrificing some of my own time and energy
Contributed by Mateo P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.