Sounds normally associated with Los Angeles: The whirl of helicopters, the … Read Full Bio ↴Sounds normally associated with Los Angeles: The whirl of helicopters, the shrill of police sirens, the blaring of car horns. But that's all hype and Hollywood. There is another sound that fills the streets of this sprawling urban Mecca and it's an amalgamation of hip-shaking Latin rhythms, bass-heavy hip-hop beats, streetwise rock riffs, and funky soul grooves. Even a gorgeous redirection of wind can be heard weaving its way through the organized chaos, calming its paroxysmal energy. Collectively, that sound is called Fredalba.

"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.

Progression
Fredalba Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wanna be a man of progression
A man with no deception in the world
I wanna lose that man of aggression
That man of depression hiding in me

Everyday I find a song
A reason to go on
Empty glass I drink out of

I try to fill it up
Every night before I sleep
I shed a tear and weep
Happy tears but the rage is always near

I wanna be a man of progression
A man with no deception in the world
I wanna lose that man of aggression
That man of depression hiding in me

Light of day the colors bend
Magic light transcends
Before the end I need time
To cross over the line
Jump rope of youth I lost
Maybe there's no proof
Revelations are the truth

I wanna be a man of progression
A man with no deception in the world
I wanna lose that man of aggression
That man of depression hiding in me
I wanna be a man of progression
A man with no deception in the world
I wanna lose that man of aggression
That man of depression hiding in me

Everyday I find a song
A reason to go on
Empty glass I drink out of
I try to fill it up
Every night before I sleep
I shed a tear and weep
Happy tears but the rage is near

I wanna be a man of progression
A man with no deception in the world
I wanna lose that man of aggression
That man of depression hiding in me
I wanna be a man of progression
A man with no deception in the world

I wanna lose that man of aggression
That man of depression hiding in me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fredalba's song "Progression" describe the singer's desire to become a better person, shedding his aggressive and depressed tendencies for a more progressive outlook. He seeks to be honest and genuine, without any deception weighing him down. Even though he finds inspiration in everyday moments and attempts to find happiness, the sadness and anger still loom close by.

The repeated phrasing of "I wanna be a man of progression, a man with no deception in the world" emphasizes the singer's yearning to transform his character for the better. He hopes to become someone who is no longer held back by negative emotions, able to see the beauty in the world and live honestly. The mentions of jumping rope and lost youth hint at the singer struggling to move forward and find his place in the world, but he remains resolute in his desire to progress.

Overall, "Progression" is a song about personal growth and change. The singer acknowledges his flaws but is determined to better himself, seeking inspiration and hope even in the midst of his struggles.

Line by Line Meaning

I wanna be a man of progression
I aspire to be a person who makes consistent progress

A man with no deception in the world
I want to be someone who lives free from dishonesty and deceit

I wanna lose that man of aggression
I hope to transform myself out of a state of hostility and anger

That man of depression hiding in me
I acknowledge the existence of my depressed self even though it is not always visible to others

Everyday I find a song
I discover new sources of inspiration every day

A reason to go on
These discoveries help me to continue living despite difficulties

Empty glass I drink out of
I seek fulfillment in life, but sometimes I feel like I have nothing to offer myself and others

I try to fill it up
However, I never give up and keep trying to find meaning in my existence

Every night before I sleep
At the end of the day, I reflect on my experiences and feelings

I shed a tear and weep
I cry due to emotional release or catharsis

Happy tears but the rage is always near
Even though I may feel positive emotions, my negative emotions are never too far away

Light of day the colors bend
The world looks different during the daytime

Magic light transcends
The light of the sun holds a kind of transcendental power

Before the end I need time
Before the end of my existence, I want to make the most of my time here

To cross over the line
I want to experience the transcendent and move beyond my current state

Jump rope of youth I lost
I can never regain the innocence and freedom I had as a child

Maybe there's no proof
Some things in life can't be proven

Revelations are the truth
However, I believe that epiphanies and realizations hold a kind of truth