Frantic Romantic has etched their name into the curb of the Sunset Strip, not with brash declarations but with steady sparks of authenticity and instinctive showmanship. In this interview, the Hollywood-based outfit opens up about their transition from San Jose to the heart of LA’s most iconic rock corridor, where stages like the Viper Room, the Troubadour and Whisky A Go Go have become part of their regular rotation.
They discuss the electric charge of sharing those rooms with crowds who live for the moment, their evolving Cyberpunk-tinged aesthetic, and the curious scenes and strangers they’ve encountered along the way. From a child’s first gig in Tijuana to run-ins with LA industry figures, it’s clear their rise has been anything but ordinary. For a candid glimpse into a band that thrives on momentum, reflection and chaos in equal measure, read the full interview.
Welcome to A&R Factory, Frantic Romantic, and congratulations on making waves on the Sunset Strip — it’s always a pleasure to speak to artists who are genuinely embedded in the scene they’re shaping.
You’ve made the leap from San Jose to Hollywood and hit iconic venues like the Viper Room and the Troubadour. What’s surprised you most about the live scene since making that move?
Growing up in the Bay Area, it was very common for us all to dunk on Los Angeles and/or Southern California in general. It was often just the culture up there. Having been down here in LA for some time now, I think we can all agree that there is an undercurrent of, for lack of better terms, magic to Los Angeles, and especially to certain parts of Hollywood and its surrounding areas. You feel it when you’re on the Sunset Strip playing a show on a Saturday night, or driving down Highland Avenue early in the morning before rehearsal, or hitting up Canter’s or the Rainbow Room at like 2am after you’ve played a show.
Breaking into the Sunset Strip circuit is no small feat. Has playing these legendary venues changed the energy of your performances or how you approach your setlists?
It’s hard not to geek-out when you see your name on the marquee for a place like Viper Room or Troubadour. I remember being a teenager and dreaming of playing these places. Seeing them in movies, or hearing about them in biographies. There is a definite energy to them. There’s a sense that you’re with a crowd that enjoys being out, and enjoys being a part of this moment you get to share with them.
You’ll soon be hitting the stage at Whisky A Go Go, which has a reputation for hosting acts on the brink of something big. Any nerves, or are you taking it all in stride?
Every individual in the band handles the ritual a bit differently. I tend not to really think about any of it until I’m actually there, and then for the couple of hours before the show, I tend to get really nervous. The moment we go on stage and the set starts, any kind of worry, expectation, really any outside feelings at all just leave me. I think that’s why I enjoy doing shows in the first place… one of the few occasions where I can just be in the moment.
Touring inevitably introduces you to all sorts of characters. Have any encounters with fellow bands, venue staff or scenesters left a lasting impression on you, whether hilarious, strange or unexpectedly wholesome?
There was a show we played in Tijuana, Mexico, once, and after our gig, a dad came up to us with his son, who must’ve been maybe 5 or 6 years old. This was his first concert ever. The kid was really excited and got a copy of our album. We all autographed it, and I leaned down and gave the kid a high five and thanked him for coming out. That really meant the world to me.
As a band based in Hollywood now, do you feel a pressure to match the city’s image, or are you more focused on holding onto your roots and letting the music speak for itself?
There’s never been a conversation between the members of the band to match any image that would make us more Hollywood. We do think visually about music, and narratively, and it’s naturally molded over time into this kind of Retro Future, Cyberpunk aesthetic. For example, I woke up one day compelled to find myself a turquoise leather jacket… so I made it my life’s mission to find one until finally, three months later, I was able to locate one.
Your band name, Frantic Romantic, immediately paints a picture. Where did the moniker come from, and how do you feel it reflects your sound or ethos?
Before 2018, we were Skyway View, which was a project our guitarist, Ruben, had since maybe 2009, and the name had been thought up by a previous member. When I first met Ruben, I was in another band, and he was in Skyway View. I eventually dissolved the band I was in and joined his band. Flashforward to 2018, and the tone and style of our band were already there, but we felt the name no longer fit what we were doing. By that time, it had become clear that Ruben and I had become the two principal members, so the mentality behind the name “Frantic Romantic” was to have a word that described Ruben’s writing with a word that described mine. Ruben, being the romantic one, it was a no-brainer. Me, being the manic one, we eventually settled on “Frantic.”
You mentioned it’s starting to feel like a movie, which definitely tracks with the venues you’re playing and the pace you’re keeping. If you had to pick a scene from your recent tour life that felt completely surreal, what would it be?
Can’t say too much about who is involved with this, but we’ve had our share of people courting the band, whether they be producers, managers, labels, etc. The conversations, as I write this, are ongoing. All I can say is always be careful, and have an entertainment lawyer ready that you can trust. Mark has saved us from a lot of potentially band-killing scenarios. In addition, I’ve met and befriended musicians who I only knew from their actual records, and here they are just in Hollywood and a part of the scene.
Stream Frantic Romantic on Spotify and connect with the artist on Instagram.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast
