Roli Frei & the Soulful Desert
It was meant to be a trilogy, the music of “Soulful Desert”, and it finally became one.
That it would take eight years to complete the third work “Strong” was neither planned nor foreseeable. After the success of the albums “Stranger In My House” (1999) and “Floating Awake” (2002), new songs were born but a desert of loneliness wrapped itself around Roli Frei and neither strength nor finances sufficed to go on working. Let’s simply say the timing wasn’t right.
Despite this, Frei still took his music on the road - mainly alone - scribbled, sculpted and fought with his songs, and finally gathered new courage. Lyrics by Nadia Leonti and Regina von Arx, and the musical collaboration with his friend HP Nauta saved him from standstill and writer’s block. Musicians, after all, are not machines but human beings made up of heart and blood – of which Roli Frei has much.
At an age where some acquire their third vehicle, Frei stepped off the path to security and committed himself to his art, even though following one’s passion can bring pain. But the wings of a singing freebird cannot be clipped.
It was around 2006 when Pascal Biedermann (The Moondog Show’s outstanding guitarist) knocked on Roli’s door and offered his help as a producer and organizer. Shortly thereafter, “Friends of Roli Frei” was formed as a group supporting Frei on his way to the new album and beyond.
It wasn’t easy to get back up on his feet but, once standing again, it was a beautiful awakening. The album “Strong”, recorded in January 2010 in the Sound Development Studios under the direction of Pascal Biedermann, shows the singer-songwriter at his best, accompanied by a brilliant crew. (In addition to Biedermann, Leonti and Nauta, the group also included Peter Wagner, Patrick Sommer, Saemi Baur, Andrea Samborski as well as longtime Soulful Desert creative partner Robert Schweizer).
“Strong” was recorded by Darren Hayne who creatively took on the role of co-producer. The sound may have changed since the first two albums, but Frei’s essence is still unmistakable. From the delicate “Swimming Across Your Sea” to the rough “Silent Tears” to the uplifting swells of “Gift in Return”, in all songs what has always characterized Roli Frei is continuously present: emotion, power, sensitivity and freedom of interpretation. Genre is not important here - whether soul, pop, rock, folk or blues. This former member of the legendary Circus who also gave his voice to the Lazy Poker Blues Band and Dolci & The Vitas is not interested in being pinned to any style; he plays and sings what he feels.
2010 brings Roli Frei to 40 years of singing from the stage. With “Strong” the trilogy has now been completed, and new things can begin for the man that Switzerland's established soul and blues authority - Martin Schaefer - once described as “possibly the most gifted Swiss singer in pop, rock, blues and soul”.
Finally!
