The Bad Penny (beta)

The most intriguing performance at this year’s edition of Treefort Music Fest could very well come courtesy Toronto’s Debby Friday on Day One. The experimental hip-hop extraordinaire will play Wednesday, March 22, when the five-day music extravaganza gets underway.

Signed to Sub Pop Records, Friday’s performance will be extra-thrilling given that she’s releasing a new studio album, Good Luck, two days after her Treefort gig.

We approached Friday for our ongoing series profiling international Treefort artists because she lives in Toronto. But we came to discover that Friday is an even more worldly artist than we initially thought. Born in Nigeria and raised Montreal, she then moved to Vancouver and eventually wound up in Toronto.

The Bad Penny’s conversation with Friday — one of many Treefort performers playing in Idaho for the first time — went a little something like this:

[Go here for a primer on this series of Treefort Music Fest previews. Check back for new profiles of international artists playing the festival every day leading up to the fest’s kickoff on Wednesday, March 22.]

Artist: Debby Friday
From: Toronto
Genre: experimental hip-hop
Treefort info: Playing Wednesday, March 22, at Neurolux at 11 p.m.
Website: DebbyFriday.com

Why did you decide to play Treefort Fest this year?

DEBBIE FRIDAY: Why not?

What excites you the most about participating in it?

FRIDAY: I love music, and I’ve never been to Idaho, so checking out all the acts and the city itself.

Is this your first time playing Treefort? If so, how did your booking come about? If not, why did you choose to return?

FRIDAY: It’s my first time, yes.

Did you face any challenges or headaches in securing a visa to come here?

FRIDAY: Honestly, no. It was a bit of a time crunch, but it went smoothly, thank goodness. 

What expectations do you have for your experience here and at Treefort?

FRIDAY: Girls just wanna have fun. 

How would you describe your state of mind going into Treefort?

FRIDAY: One word: READY! 

What other artists on the Treefort lineup are you excited to see? Are you friends with any of them?

FRIDAY: 700 Bliss, Leikeli47, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Ani DiFranco, so many. DJ Haram is a friend. Love her. I always call her “Pisces Princess.”

What do you enjoy most about performing at music festivals in general?

FRIDAY: The vibe. It’s always a surge of electricity, and I love connecting with people like this. 

What can Treefort attendees expect from your performance?

FRIDAY: ENERGY.

For more coverage of international artists playing Treefort, check out our recent conversations with:

• Mexico’s Son Rompe Pera
• Ireland’s Modernlove
• Montréal’s Thanya Iyer
• Mexico City’s Petite Amie
• Vancouver’s Mauvey
• Italy’s Dumbo Gets Mad
• Brazil’s BIKE
• Chile’s Sistemas Inestables
• British Columbia’s Mother Sun
• Norway’s Orions Belte
• Treefort Co-Founder and Festival Director Eric Gilbert

This entry was posted on 03/11/2023 at 8:34 am and is filed under Interviews with tags Debby Friday, Treefort. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.