As the alt-rap trio prepare to release their second mixtape, we dive into Frozemode‘s world of controlled chaos, genre-bending sounds, and unstoppable ambition. Just make sure you don’t stomp on any children on the way. Check out the latest cover story for our New Music Friday playlist edit, PLAY.
Words: Stephen Ackroyd.
Photos: Nicholas O Donnell.
“I definitely feel that I’m challenging myself in a way I haven’t before,” says Poppy Ajudha confidently as she gets ready to continue her comeback with new music that showcases a different, poppier sound for the singer-songwriter as she embarks on a new era. Having just performed at London Pride, Poppy is on a high as we encounter her, knowing she has a bucket full of pop bangers up her sleeve, beginning with the ebullient joybomb of new single ‘Girl Next Door’.
In the grand tradition of London’s musical alchemists, Frozemode have emerged as the latest mad scientists of sound, concocting a brew so potent it threatens to melt the very speakers it blasts through. “Controlled chaos” is the phrase that keeps bubbling up when discussing the trio, though one suspects the ‘controlled’ part is more aspirational than actual. It’s an apt description for a band that seems to thrive on the unexpected, both in their music and their rapid ascent. In just over a year, they’ve gone from nowhere to everywhere, leaving a trail of electrified audiences and possibly a few singed eyebrows in their wake.
As they prepare to release their helpfully numbered second mixtape, ‘DEMODE 2’ (good admin helps when you’re busy reinventing music), Frozemode are inviting us into their world – a place where genres collide with the force of subatomic particles, energy is the only currency that matters, and the only rule is that there are no rules. It’s less a musical journey and more a rollercoaster designed by a fizzy-pop-fuelled Salvador Dali on a particularly whimsical day.
The Frozemode origin story reads like a cosmic joke that the universe played on unsuspecting listeners, I.V.GATLIN, sounding suspiciously like he’s recounting a fever dream. “I met Cho-Hollo at college, and we started making music under the same name,” he recalls. “At the same time, Lisong, who I already knew from secondary school, was making solo music.”
In a city where aspiring musicians outnumber pigeons, it would have been easy for these parallel tracks to never converge. But Frozemode’s destiny had other plans. It’s as if the musical gods looked down, saw three separate strands of madness, and thought, “You know what would be fun? Let’s braid these together and see what happens.”
“At one point, we realised that the three of us were a sick combination and decided that Lisong should join Frozemode,” I.V. sums up. And just like that, musical history stuttered, tripped, and faceplanted into a new configuration.
What followed was a whirlwind of creativity that shows no signs of slowing. “We’ve been in the studio all the time and couldn’t get enough of it, and it’s led us here,” I.V. adds. That “here” is a testament to Frozemode’s meteoric rise – from college mates to one of London’s most exciting musical prospects. It’s a journey as unpredictable and thrilling as their genre-defying sound, suggesting that for Frozemode, this is only the beginning. Heaven help us all.
If you’re looking for a neat, tidy explanation of what Frozemode is all about, you might want to look elsewhere. Perhaps dig out the template for an unthreatening 90s boy band or a nice, safe indie landfill outfit. This is a band who thrive on contradiction, on the unexpected, on the spaces between genres where most artists fear to tread and only the most intoxicated music critics dare to categorise. When asked to introduce themselves, their response is a perfect encapsulation of the controlled chaos that defines their sound:
“We are Frozemode. Three old schoolmates. We are all vocalists.”
Simple enough, you might think. But then comes the kicker:
“We all share roles but also try to differentiate from each other.”
It’s in this push and pull between unity and individuality that Frozemode’s magic lies. Each member brings something distinctive to the table, creating a sonic Venn diagram where punk, melody, and grime intersect in ways you’ve never quite heard before and, in lesser hands, may never want to hear again (but probably will, because it’s oddly addictive).
Take I.V., who introduces himself as the purveyor of “aggressive unhinged punk energy alongside skippy rap flows.” In Frozemode’s world, it’s just another day at the office – clearly a kind of musical Thunderdome where genres enter, battle, and emerge as strange hybrid beasts.
Then there’s Lisong, who “likes to bring a softer, smoother melodic side and can also produce.” You might think it would clash with the punk energy, but here, it serves as a counterpoint, a moment of sweetness in the storm. It’s like finding a marshmallow in your mosh pit – confusing, but oddly satisfying.
Rounding out the trio is Cho-Hollo, who “likes to talk about more gangster shit and push the boundaries with his distinctive tones.” It’s this element that grounds Frozemode in the gritty reality of London’s streets, providing a stark contrast to the more ethereal elements of their sound. The anchor in a storm, albeit an anchor that occasionally breaks free and smashes through the hull, just for a giggle.
This unlikely alchemy of styles and personalities probably shouldn’t work. It really, really shouldn’t. But in Frozemode’s hands, it becomes something thrilling, unpredictable, and utterly compelling. It’s the sound of London in 2024 – diverse, contradictory, and pulsing with possibility. The sound of a musical apocalypse, if we presume we’re all gloriously waiting to party once the end finally comes.
“It’s hella stressful to care about something so much”
I.V.GATLIN
That precarious balance is key to understanding Frozemode’s appeal. They’re not just three individuals making music together; they’re a cohesive unit that draws strength from their differences, like the Power Rangers, basically, just if they were the opposite of stuffy old dinosaurs. Their musical Megazord has quickly translated into a meteoric rise for Frozemode. When asked if being a musician is living up to the hype, I.V.’s response is refreshingly candid: “We are so grateful for where we are right now and what we have achieved. There are so many high points.”
But success, it seems, is a double-edged sword, or in Frozemode’s case, probably a triple-edged boomerang that plays dubstep when thrown. There’s “a constant desire to climb higher,” he adds, “and it’s hella stressful to care about something so much.” You can almost hear the violins playing, if those violins were being played through a distortion pedal while falling down a flight of stairs.
This mix of gratitude and hunger is palpable in their music, particularly in their latest single, ‘MANDEM NAH’. When asked about the track, I.V. describes it as “a playful track that toes the line between rave and road culture in London.” It’s a description that could apply to Frozemode as a whole – a band that seems to exist in the liminal spaces between scenes and sounds, like musical quantum particles existing in multiple states at once. He goes on to explain that the track is “influenced by the NYC hip-hop scene and filled with high energy, cool flows and witty lyrics,” so they’re not shy in giving themselves their own reviews either. Why be a wallflower when you can be a wall-smasher, eh?
Fair play, though – ‘MANDEM NAH’ is more than just a banger. It’s a proper statement of intent, a musical manifesto wrapped in a riddle and deep-fried in audacity. As they explain its place in their upcoming mixtape ‘DEMODE 2’, that much is obvious. “For a long time, we’ve wanted to showcase more and more of our rapping abilities,” I.V. explains, as if they’ve been holding back until now – a terrifying thought, given just how hard they tend to go. “We all grew up on rap, and it’s the genre that we were making first. So ‘MANDEM NAH’ – alongside our other track, ‘KURAMA’ – is a chance for us to be able to solidify that.” One imagines ‘solidifying’ in Frozemode terms involves some form of musical concrete that’s still somehow liquid. And bright green. And somehow also an explosive.
This return to their roots doesn’t mean Frozemode are playing it safe, though. When asked about their vision for ‘DEMODE 2’, they’re characteristically ambitious, in the way that summiting Everest in flip-flops would be ‘a bit of an ask’. “We wanted to continue solidifying the FROZEMODE name by chucking in high-energy, versatile, introspective and fresh-sounding tracks and continue to blend genres, breaking through any boxes,” I.V. lists. Truly, he should be doing his own press releases too.
“We all have dark sides to us, but just embrace that shit and push forward”
I.V.GATLIN
Frozemode’s creative engine never seems to idle. It’s more like a perpetual motion machine fueled by bombast and maybe a few too many energy drinks. “We been making loads of bangers now since we first started, so some of the tracks are a bit older than others,” I.V. explains, offering a peek into their relentless productivity. But don’t mistake quantity for complacency. “We’re always looking ahead. We’ve already got tracks that are ready for a follow-up project.”
When it comes to picking any favourites from their upcoming mixtape, I.V.’s response is pure Frozemode – unpredictable and refreshingly candid. “Genuinely, no. Not right now. My favourite was changing every day,” he admits. It’s the equivalent of trying to nail jelly to a wall – a futile task for a band whose sound refuses to be pinned down, preferring instead to slither away and reform in increasingly bizarre shapes. Yet, as the project nears completion, a rare moment of reflection emerges. “Now that they’re all ready I’m so happy to listen to them all as a project and feel like I’m proud of every song.” It’s a fleeting pause in Frozemode’s whirlwind world, a split-second to admire the view before diving headlong into their next adventure, possibly off a cliff.
It’s an approach that’s served them well on the festival circuit, where their particular brand of musical mayhem finds its natural habitat. Their summer has been, in their words, “hella fun,” filled with memorable moments that showcase their ability to adapt without compromising their core energy. They recount one particularly noteworthy gig: “We did a show at a festival recently which had loads of families in attendance… so there were loads of kids around. We decided to still bring the Frozemode energy with the Modedem behind us, and the reaction was genuinely sick. We just decided not to do the mosh pit at the end of the show, so we didn’t stamp on any kids.” It’s heartwarming to know that even in the throes of a musical revolution, Frozemode still care about not trampling the next generation. How considerate.
That’s the Frozemode appeal, though – they’re raw and uncompromising, yet smart enough to read the room by not injuring any children. It’s a challenging balancing act, sure, but one that extends to their hopes for how listeners will receive ‘DEMODE 2’. “We would like them to have fun but also feel like they have heard something new that they’ve never heard before,” I.V. offers.
“We want them to take away that we all have dark sides to us, but just embrace that shit and push forward.” Maybe he did secretly want to stamp on the kids after all. We won’t ask. It’s probably best not to dig too deep.
As for what’s next, Frozemode show no signs of slowing down, much to the delight of chaos enthusiasts everywhere. Boomtown Fair and Reading & Leeds are still to come in terms of festival season, “then many more shows later in the year, which we’re excited for,” he reveals. And when it comes to new music? “Can’t stop, won’t stop.” One imagines trying to stop Frozemode would be like trying to catch a greased pig while wearing rollerskates – theoretically possible, but inadvisable and likely to end in tears.
But before they unleash their next sonic assault on the world, Frozemode are set to bring their controlled chaos to next month’s Dork’s Night Out Home & Away events. They’ll be storming Manchester’s Deaf Institute on 4th September and London’s Colours Hoxton on 5th September, sharing the bill with the equally electrifying VLURE (get tickets here, ‘FYI’). It’s a pairing that promises to be as incendiary as it is unpredictable – a perfect snapshot of British music in 2024. For those brave enough, it’s a chance to experience their genre-defying mayhem up close and personal. Just remember – no moshing near the children.
Whether they’re tearing up festival stages or adapting their show for family-friendly crowds, Frozemode maintain that raw energy that’s become their hallmark. They’re simultaneously the coolest kids in school and the underdogs you can’t help but root for – a balancing act as precarious and thrilling as their genre-bending sound.
As they continue to evolve and push the boundaries, one thing is certain – it’s a damn sight less predictable with them around. If you’re not on board yet, you might want to catch up. If their journey so far is anything to go by, Frozemode are just getting started, and you won’t want to miss what comes next.” ■
Frozemode’s new single ‘MANDEM NAH’ is out now. Their new mixtape ‘DEMODE 2’ is released on 22nd August 2024. Follow Dork’s PLAY Spotify playlist here.
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