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Free Nationals

{{Short description|American R&B band}}

{{For|their self-titled album|Free Nationals (album){{!}}Free Nationals (album)}}

{{Distinguish|Free National Movement}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Free Nationals

| origin = Los Angeles, California

| genre = {{hlist| R&B | funk | progressive soul }}

| label = {{flatlist|

| associated_acts =

| current_members = *José Ríos

  • Ron "T.Nava" Avant
  • Kelsey Gonzalez
  • Callum Connor

| former_members =

| image = Free Nationals at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival 5 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Free Nationals with Maurice "Mobetta" Brown at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. From left to right: Maurice Brown, Kelsey Gonzales, Callum Connor, Ron "T.Nava" Avant, José Ríos.

| website = {{URL|freenationals.co}}

| years_active = 2010–present

}}

Free Nationals are an American R&B band formed in Los Angeles, California. The group consists of José Ríos (lead guitar, backing vocals), Ron "T.Nava" Avant (keyboard, rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Kelsey Gonzales (bass guitar, bass synth) and Callum Connor (drums, percussion, backing vocals).{{Cite web|date=2019-12-13|title=Free Nationals – 'Free Nationals' album review|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/free-nationals-album-anderson-paak-2585121|access-date=2020-09-26|website=NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs {{!}} NME.COM|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Free Nationals|url=https://genius.com/artists/Free-nationals|access-date=2020-11-01|website=Genius|language=en}} They frequently accompany Anderson .Paak as his backing band.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-15|title=Free Nationals: Free Nationals review – a smooth ride with Anderson .Paak's band|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/dec/15/free-nationals-review-smooth-ride-with-anderson-paak-band|access-date=2020-09-26|website=The Guardian|language=en}}

History

Guitarist José Ríos and keyboardist Ron Avant met Anderson .Paak while studying at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California in the late 2000s.{{Cite web|last=Crameri|first=Nick|date=2019-12-11|title=Free Nationals - Free Nationals — Sungenre Review|url=https://sungenre.com/review/free-nationals-free-nationals/|access-date=2020-11-02|website=Sungenre|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|title=No longer "wearing all black, standing in the back": Free Nationals step out|url=http://pilerats.com/written/get-to-know/the-free-nationals-album-feature-2019/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=PILERATS}} Bassist Kelsey Gonzalez and drummer Callum Connor joined them soon after and they formed the Free Nationals. The band went on to produce for Anderson and frequently tour with him. The idea for their name came from their mentor Shafiq Huisayn. Free Nationals is a term which means the first settlers of America before Columbus came, the people indigenous to the land. They took their own interpretation of this, being 'indigenous to the music' by paying homage to the influential musicians before them.{{Cite web|title=Anderson's Pack: Meet the Free Nationals|url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2017/03/free-nationals-anderson-paak-interview|access-date=2020-10-22|website=Complex|language=en}}

Their performance with Paak at his NPR Tiny Desk Concert in August 2016 is possibly their most significant appearance to date.{{Cite web|title=Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals: Tiny Desk Concert|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/08/12/489769830/anderson-paak-the-free-nationals-tiny-desk-concert|access-date=2020-10-29|website=NPR.org|language=en}} The YouTube video has amassed over 104 million views so far, making it the 3rd most popular video in the Tiny Desk series.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-20|title=The Free Nationals Are Joined By Anderson .Paak And Others For Their Tiny Desk Set|url=https://uproxx.com/music/free-nationals-tiny-desk-anderson-paak/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=UPROXX|language=en-US}}

The band released their debut single "Beauty & Essex" featuring Daniel Caesar and Unknown Mortal Orchestra on October 9, 2018.{{Cite web|last=Prevost|first=Dinorah|date=2018-10-14|title=Intro: The Free Nationals bring you Beauty & Essex, England|url=https://medium.com/@lehomebodi/intro-the-free-nationals-bring-you-beauty-essex-england-d88793b797e6|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Medium|language=en}} Their second single "Time" featuring Mac Miller and Kali Uchis, released on June 12, 2019, was the first official posthumous song from Miller since his death in September 2018.{{Citation|title=Free Nationals: Time - Music Streaming - Listen on Deezer|url=https://www.deezer.com/en/album/99352722|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-10-24}}{{Cite magazine|title=Free Nationals Announce 'Time' Featuring Mac Miller|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8515249/free-nationals-announce-time-featuring-mac-miller|access-date=2020-10-24|magazine=Billboard|language=en}} On December 13, 2019, they released their self-titled debut album through OBE and Empire Distribution.{{Cite web|title=Free Nationals Drop Self-Titled Studio Album|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/12/free-nationals-self-titled-debut-album-stream|access-date=2020-09-27|website=Complex|language=en}} It was nominated for Best Progressive R&B album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Musical style and influence

Their music has been described as having a "future retro, funky and soulful sound".{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|date=n.d.|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/free-nationals-mn0003833049/biography|title=Free Nationals: Biography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=January 23, 2021}}{{cite web|last=Fletcher|first=Harry|date=December 13, 2019|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/free-nationals-album-review-2019-a4312771.html|title=Free Nationals - Free Nationals review: Sublime quartet are brimming with boundless potential|website=Evening Standard|accessdate=January 23, 2021}}{{Citation|title=Free Nationals – Juno Records|url=https://www.juno.co.uk/artists/Free+Nationals/|language=en|access-date=2020-11-29}} The band state that they 'stay indigenous to the funk' by paying tribute to their inspirations who include legendary musicians Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Herbie Hancock and Al Green.{{Cite web|title=Free Nationals|url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/4596e2d3KmYzAeVenjCxfj|access-date=2020-10-22|website=Spotify|language=en}}

Members

  • José Ríos – lead guitars, backing vocals{{Cite web|title=Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals Ride The Wave|url=https://nationofbillions.com/anderson-paak-the-free-nationals-ride-the-wave|access-date=2020-12-20|website=A Nation of Billions}}
  • Ron "T.Nava" Avant – keyboards, synthesizers, talkbox, rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals{{Cite web|title=Ron Avant|url=https://www.mi.edu/artist-career-services/success-stories/ron-avant/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=Musicians Institute Hollywood|language=en-US}}
  • Kelsey Gonzalez – bass guitar, bass synth, backing vocals{{Cite web|title=Kelsey Gonzales and Jose Rios of Anderson .Paak and The Free Nationals – Orange Amps|url=https://orangeamps.com/artist/kelsey-gonzales-and-jose-rios-of-anderson-paak-and-the-free-nationals/|access-date=2020-12-21|website=orangeamps.com}}
  • Callum Connor – DJ, drums, percussion, backing vocals{{Cite web|title=Drummerszone - Callum Connor|url=https://drummerszone.com/artists/callum-connor/15319/profile/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=Drummerszone.com}}

Discography

= Studio albums =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! style="width:12em;" | Title

! style="width:19em;" | Details

scope="row"|Free Nationals

|

= Singles =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+List of singles, with selected chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| NZ
Hot
{{Cite web|title=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|url=https://nztop40.co.nz/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=The Official NZ Music Chart|language=en}}

  • "Gangsta": {{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2024-03-01|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=March 4, 2024|access-date=March 1, 2024}}
scope="row"| "Beauty & Essex"
{{small|(featuring Daniel Caesar and Unknown Mortal Orchestra)}}{{Citation|title=Beauty & Essex (feat. Daniel Caesar & Unknown Mortal Orchestra)|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/2HZuNcdyDP2IA2T7MtTWcv|language=en|access-date=2020-10-23}}

| 2018

| —

| rowspan="5"| Free Nationals

scope="row"| "Time"
{{small|(with Mac Miller and Kali Uchis)}}{{Citation|title=Time|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5SEQL40XcXX1FUHtiqa8PG|language=en|access-date=2020-10-23}}

| rowspan="4"| 2019

| 22

scope="row"| "On Sight"
{{small|(featuring JID, Kadhja Bonet and Miknna)}}{{Citation|title=On Sight|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1ffElvStUPwXnCwQOzXOUY|language=en|access-date=2020-10-23}}

| —

scope="row"| "Eternal Light"
{{small|(featuring Chronixx)}}{{Citation|title=Eternal Light|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3JSJyzppxZlGxoqawHFgbj|language=en|access-date=2020-10-23}}

| —

scope="row"| "Shibuya"
{{small|(featuring Syd)}}{{Citation|title=Shibuya|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5COwxcrDHpm6t439Cuba4p|language=en|access-date=2020-10-23}}

| —

scope="row"| "Gangsta"
{{small|(featuring A$AP Rocky and Anderson .Paak)}}

| 2024

| 12

| {{Non-album single}}

= Guest appearances =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width:14em;" |Title

! scope="col" style="width:1em;" |Year

! scope="col" style="width:12em;" |Album

scope="row" |"ALLSTAR"{{Citation|title=ALLSTAR|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/6b7DRAlZbBgMt3pYVgmqiX|language=en|access-date=2020-12-21}}

{{small|(Rae Khalil featuring Free Nationals)}}

| rowspan="2" |2020

|FORTHEWORLD

scope="row" |"Photo ID (Free Nationals Remix)"{{Citation|title=Photo ID (Free Nationals Remix)|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0Robm7faeErPlBBv6DQWNg|language=en|access-date=2020-12-21}}

{{small|(Remi Wolf featuring Free Nationals)}}

|We Love Dogs!

scope="row" |"Buddy"{{Citation|title=Buddy (feat. Rae Khalil, Free Nationals, Black Nile & Chris Dave and The Drumhedz)|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/1WzMvvQVJOWC1ptYhu8Fzj|language=en|access-date=2021-07-10}}

{{small|(T.Nava featuring Rae Khalil, Free Nationals, Black Nile & Chris Dave and The Drumhedz)}}

| rowspan="2" |2021

|{{Non-album single}}

scope="row" |"Pretty Lady (Free Nationals Remix)"{{Citation|title=Pretty Lady (Free Nationals Remix)|date=2021-11-05|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1i8tWEV0pIGy8x3DP5uSYu|language=en|access-date=2021-12-02}}

{{small|(Tash Sultana featuring Free Nationals)}}

|{{Non-album single}}

scope="row" |"Strawberry Blush"{{Citation |title=Strawberry Blush (feat. Free Nationals) |date=2022-09-09 |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/7wIZ3CXR08DPLR8G0uk210 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-05}}

{{small|(John Legend featuring Free Nationals)}}

| rowspan="2" |2022

|LEGEND

Awards and nominations

=Grammy Awards=

{{awards table}}

!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

|-

|2021

| Free Nationals

| Best Progressive R&B Album

| {{nominated}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{Cite web|date=2020-11-24|title=2021 GRAMMYs: Complete Nominees List|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2021-grammys-complete-nominees-list|access-date=2020-11-24|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en}}

|-

|}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.freenationals.co/ Official website]
  • [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTN_MfqiSeU Free Nationals documentary]

Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles

Category:American contemporary R&B musical groups