The F16S Anticipate Their New Ep ‘Is It Time To Eat The Rich Yet?’ With Surreal Sultry Single ‘Easy Bake Easy Wake’

The F16’s have been dominating India’s music scene for over a decade, developing their own unique brand of eccentric and danceable alt pop. Deemed an ‘artist to watch’ by Rolling Stone early in their career, The F16’s have held up to the high expectations, becoming a mainstay at major festivals and venues across the country. After two EP’s and a full-length, the four-piece return in 2021 with their EP ‘Is It Time To Eat The Rich Yet?’ and single ‘Easy Bake Easy Wake, out via House Arrest. The project is a paradoxically joyful celebration of the human condition under duress, scored by some of the finest pop music India has to offer.

Carrying on with their own distinct flair for smooth and vibrant alt-pop production, ‘Easy Bake Easy Wake’ is a surreal and sultry summertime jam that fits in perfectly amongst these warming summer days. Tying in with the EP’s overall themes of disillusionment, lyricist Josh Fernandez croons about the contradictory allure of stardom – and the rejection it brings. Meanwhile the rest of the band embrace a heavier and more detailed sound, pushing further towards a maximalist approach. As the song nears the end, it’s shimmering nonchalant funk falls off the rails, down a cliff, and into the chaos below. But somehow, ‘Easy Bake Easy Wake’ remains innately danceable throughout.

‘Is It Time To Eat The Rich Yet?’ reportedly sees the band pushing their sound to the furthest reaches of their influences. When the world was in lockdown the group holed up to write and record their EP, moving in together and bringing Harshan Radhakrishnan’s studio with them. Starting each day of the EPs production listening to Frank Sinatra and classic jazz tracks is an influence that shines through in the nostalgic groove and skilful brass arrangements on songs like ‘Trouble In Paradise’ and ‘The Apocalypse’. Throughout the day the four would listen to a varied mix of genres from psych rock to post-punk to trap music, with artists like Vince Staples and The Strokes on repeat, accounting for the diverse eclecticism of the record.

While the EP continues the Indian quartet’s long-held reputation for crafting escapist, pop leaning indie rock, it also reflects the fact that we can no long remain oblivious to the social, environmental, economic, and political injustice that plague our world. It shouldn’t be surprising that the members of The F16s saw last year as a year for the ‘awakening of the oppressed,’ especially in their native India, where the pandemic managed to further magnify the stark inequalities between the oppressed poor and working classes and the greed, negligence, incompetence of those in power. And as a result, the dreams of a ‘swimming pool and a yacht’ on ‘WKND FRNDS’ is completely shattered — and revealed to be vapid and silly.

Speaking about the single, the band said ”musically speaking, ‘Easy Bake, Easy Wake’ was the one from the EP that took its time in getting done. Sections were being switched out intermittently till we landed on the winning formula. In contrast, the video was a whirlwind from conception to completion. While we felt the need to keep it DIY, we acknowledged that an educated outsider’s perspective and process mattered. Lendrick and Prayoon had previously worked with Josh and his solo project, and their work spoke for itself.

We gathered more friends and pulled a favor or two to find ourselves in the woods near the shore, sprinting in yellow jumpsuits as we batter into each other in chase of metaphorical wealth encased within the confines of a surprisingly convincing golden egg. Let’s just say the band weren’t built for it and were out of commission for a brief moment. Exhausted, yet exhilarated for what was to come.”

‘Easy Bake Easy Wake’ is the second single from The F16’s upcoming EP ‘Is It Time To Eat The Rich Yet?’, set for release October 22.

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.