halovox
New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"halovox, hailing from the NYC area, delivers their first 14 track full-length of infectious, dancefloor friendly synthpop songs highlighted by singer Frank Freda's earnest singing and lyrics, some of which have already found their way onto area DJ playlists. Check out their powerful and danceable cover version of 'Fly On The Windscreen'. For fans of: Depeche Mode, Melotron, De/Vision. Best tracks: 'Make Me Yours', 'Deception'. Rating - Essential." - Cage23|Industrial Nation - Industrial Nation
"halovox, hailing from the NYC area, delivers their first 14 track full-length of infectious, dancefloor friendly synthpop songs highlighted by singer Frank Freda's earnest singing and lyrics, some of which have already found their way onto area DJ playlists. Check out their powerful and danceable cover version of 'Fly On The Windscreen'. For fans of: Depeche Mode, Melotron, De/Vision. Best tracks: 'Make Me Yours', 'Deception'. Rating - Essential." - Cage23|Industrial Nation - Industrial Nation
Excerpts from review on The Muse's Muse
"The disc is thoroughly enjoyable, even though I can't really perceive of anything groundbreaking here. I genuinely felt how confidently & convincingly these tunes come to life with Frank's guidance. The voice is strong & true and the grooves will get you moving. That's what it's all about."
"As well, they do change the pace a couple times, and even the rest of the tunes each have a great sense of identity behind the beat. The 14 songs in fact play like they would at the dance club, speeding up and slowing down at regular intervals. Right in the middle, they handle the one cover on the disc - that of Depeche Mode's 'Fly On The Windscreen' - and although it's almost identical to the original, halovox comes out slightly ahead with a punchier version."
"Throughout, Frank's voice is branding these songs, just as groups like Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys have done in the past. We haven't had a group like them for a while. A little more musical experimentation and halovox could creep into the void." - Steve Allat|The Muse's Muse - The Muse's Muse
Excerpts from review on The Muse's Muse
"The disc is thoroughly enjoyable, even though I can't really perceive of anything groundbreaking here. I genuinely felt how confidently & convincingly these tunes come to life with Frank's guidance. The voice is strong & true and the grooves will get you moving. That's what it's all about."
"As well, they do change the pace a couple times, and even the rest of the tunes each have a great sense of identity behind the beat. The 14 songs in fact play like they would at the dance club, speeding up and slowing down at regular intervals. Right in the middle, they handle the one cover on the disc - that of Depeche Mode's 'Fly On The Windscreen' - and although it's almost identical to the original, halovox comes out slightly ahead with a punchier version."
"Throughout, Frank's voice is branding these songs, just as groups like Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys have done in the past. We haven't had a group like them for a while. A little more musical experimentation and halovox could creep into the void." - Steve Allat|The Muse's Muse - The Muse's Muse
"The biggest unifying factor is Frank's voice, an impressively resonant baritone that's at its best when singing balls-out. Frank Freda is easily in the upper echelon of current electropop singers."
"'Deception' is an early high point, a compelling dance number with one of the better melodic hooks in attendance. 'Worthy' is one of the bigger surprises, a downtempo ballad featuring Frank's voice at its most mellow. A bigger surprise is that the lyrics work really really well. In the past a song like this would find itself mated to painfully trite lyrics, but this song deftly dodges that trap. 'Retrospect' is another winner, a mid-tempo grinder capping an excellent trifecta of tracks."
"The second half of the album continues a string of solid songs - the simmering 'Waiting, Watching, Wanting' and nice dance tracks in 'Just Like Me' and 'Insecurity'."
"Wrapping up the album are another pair of very strong songs, 'Fresh Out' and 'Disintegration'."
"halovox is a good solo effort for Frank. It's clear that he's progressed musically since his association with Brand New Idol, especially in the lyric department, and BNI fans will be immediately pleased with it."
Songwriting skills: 6.5 (always solid, occasionally addictive)
Recording quality: 8.0 (excellent with just some patchy stridency)
Freshness: 6.0 (ahead of the curve in the current electropop batch)
Vocals: 9.0 (Frank's one of the best)
Lyrics: 6.5 (greatly improved over past efforts)
X-Factor: 5.0 (solid but not genre-redefinining)
Overall score 6.83 - David Vesel|Escape From Noise - Escape From Noise
"The biggest unifying factor is Frank's voice, an impressively resonant baritone that's at its best when singing balls-out. Frank Freda is easily in the upper echelon of current electropop singers."
"'Deception' is an early high point, a compelling dance number with one of the better melodic hooks in attendance. 'Worthy' is one of the bigger surprises, a downtempo ballad featuring Frank's voice at its most mellow. A bigger surprise is that the lyrics work really really well. In the past a song like this would find itself mated to painfully trite lyrics, but this song deftly dodges that trap. 'Retrospect' is another winner, a mid-tempo grinder capping an excellent trifecta of tracks."
"The second half of the album continues a string of solid songs - the simmering 'Waiting, Watching, Wanting' and nice dance tracks in 'Just Like Me' and 'Insecurity'."
"Wrapping up the album are another pair of very strong songs, 'Fresh Out' and 'Disintegration'."
"halovox is a good solo effort for Frank. It's clear that he's progressed musically since his association with Brand New Idol, especially in the lyric department, and BNI fans will be immediately pleased with it."
Songwriting skills: 6.5 (always solid, occasionally addictive)
Recording quality: 8.0 (excellent with just some patchy stridency)
Freshness: 6.0 (ahead of the curve in the current electropop batch)
Vocals: 9.0 (Frank's one of the best)
Lyrics: 6.5 (greatly improved over past efforts)
X-Factor: 5.0 (solid but not genre-redefinining)
Overall score 6.83 - David Vesel|Escape From Noise - Escape From Noise
"A promising synth CD for many moods. halovox brings to its scene a well-put-together mix of everything from danceable, upbeat songs to the more melancholic, brooding ballads. halovox is the brainchild of Frank J. Freda, who has seen his development through various associations with different acts, i.e. Stripped, Deep Freeze, and Brand New Idol. With each endeavor, Frank's creativity with and command over the language that is music, expressed through electronica, has clearly improved to a point where, now, his solo release is sure to delight virtually anyone who has had the privilege of listening to his evolution. I have long awaited a solo CD from Frank, as earlier efforts involved more cover work and persuasion from people who otherwise detracted from Frank's path of influence. halovox's debut CD will not disappoint those who long for the flavor of the memorable 1980's, when electronica was making its way in its own circles. His revisiting his 80's influences is truly a tribute to those who made synthpop just what it is today to so many people. (Five stars)" - Jayson Levine - CD Baby
"A promising synth CD for many moods. halovox brings to its scene a well-put-together mix of everything from danceable, upbeat songs to the more melancholic, brooding ballads. halovox is the brainchild of Frank J. Freda, who has seen his development through various associations with different acts, i.e. Stripped, Deep Freeze, and Brand New Idol. With each endeavor, Frank's creativity with and command over the language that is music, expressed through electronica, has clearly improved to a point where, now, his solo release is sure to delight virtually anyone who has had the privilege of listening to his evolution. I have long awaited a solo CD from Frank, as earlier efforts involved more cover work and persuasion from people who otherwise detracted from Frank's path of influence. halovox's debut CD will not disappoint those who long for the flavor of the memorable 1980's, when electronica was making its way in its own circles. His revisiting his 80's influences is truly a tribute to those who made synthpop just what it is today to so many people. (Five stars)" - Jayson Levine - CD Baby
"halovox allows Freda to show off the full range of his substantial songwriting skills & it's this, along with the edgier sound that grace a number of the 14 tracks to be found here & a nicely solid, beefy production, that keeps interest high throughout the 70 minute duration."
"This is no mean feat for an essentially commercial synthpop artist although Freda helps his cause immensely by adopting an edgier, slightly gutsier sound which makes its mark immediately on the opening double header of 'Make Me Yours' & 'Deception' (the latter track further benefitting from some memorable synthleads) as well as 'Retrospect' & the rhythmically busy 'Save Yourself', all of which make for a most impressive first half although, for me, it's when this harder side is given free reign, as on 'Foolish Slave', that brings out the best in his music."
"Freda is a most talented artist & halovox is a name we're all going to be hearing a lot from on the future (8/10 - Very good)" - Carl Jenkinson|Hard Wired - Hard Wired
"halovox allows Freda to show off the full range of his substantial songwriting skills & it's this, along with the edgier sound that grace a number of the 14 tracks to be found here & a nicely solid, beefy production, that keeps interest high throughout the 70 minute duration."
"This is no mean feat for an essentially commercial synthpop artist although Freda helps his cause immensely by adopting an edgier, slightly gutsier sound which makes its mark immediately on the opening double header of 'Make Me Yours' & 'Deception' (the latter track further benefitting from some memorable synthleads) as well as 'Retrospect' & the rhythmically busy 'Save Yourself', all of which make for a most impressive first half although, for me, it's when this harder side is given free reign, as on 'Foolish Slave', that brings out the best in his music."
"Freda is a most talented artist & halovox is a name we're all going to be hearing a lot from on the future (8/10 - Very good)" - Carl Jenkinson|Hard Wired - Hard Wired
Excerpts from review on WMUC
"Another Depeche Mode-like electropop act to add to your dancefloor repertoire. The songs are erotic, and well produced with catchy synth-backup vocals and oh-so-danceable electro-disco-beat drum machine sequences. The melodic vocals are well delivered and full of the poetic campy romance one expects from the genre. An admirable album recommended for those that just can't get enough of the likes of Fictional, Iris, or Neuropa. Good songs: Make Me Yours, Retrospect, Fly On The Windscreen, Awkward Silence, Slent Whispers (Forever Mix)" - Alex, RPM Director/WMUC University of Maryland - WMUC
Excerpts from review on WMUC
"Another Depeche Mode-like electropop act to add to your dancefloor repertoire. The songs are erotic, and well produced with catchy synth-backup vocals and oh-so-danceable electro-disco-beat drum machine sequences. The melodic vocals are well delivered and full of the poetic campy romance one expects from the genre. An admirable album recommended for those that just can't get enough of the likes of Fictional, Iris, or Neuropa. Good songs: Make Me Yours, Retrospect, Fly On The Windscreen, Awkward Silence, Slent Whispers (Forever Mix)" - Alex, RPM Director/WMUC University of Maryland - WMUC
"halovox offers some very decent minimalist synthpop filtered through a few retro-industrial affectations. The songs are reminiscent of the '80s, while having a few of the modern touches that many of the European synthpop acts employ."
"'Make Me Yours' stands up well against most of the EBM/futurepop dance floor fodder that comes down the pike these days. It could easily win over the Seabound and Beborn Beton fans, as well as being very pleasing to the old school Depeche Mode fetishists. 'Just Like Me' follows in the same vein. 'Foolish Slave' combines more hard samples and sounds to bring a more energetic and less pop edge to the album, giving it some variety."
"The tracks are all very good..." - ReGen Magazine - ReGen Magazine
"halovox offers some very decent minimalist synthpop filtered through a few retro-industrial affectations. The songs are reminiscent of the '80s, while having a few of the modern touches that many of the European synthpop acts employ."
"'Make Me Yours' stands up well against most of the EBM/futurepop dance floor fodder that comes down the pike these days. It could easily win over the Seabound and Beborn Beton fans, as well as being very pleasing to the old school Depeche Mode fetishists. 'Just Like Me' follows in the same vein. 'Foolish Slave' combines more hard samples and sounds to bring a more energetic and less pop edge to the album, giving it some variety."
"The tracks are all very good..." - ReGen Magazine - ReGen Magazine
"Opening track 'Make Me Yours' has a great shot at dance floor play. A good bass line, laid with a great synth structure. The lyrics fit right into the sound perfectly, not aggressive but full of aggressive passion."
"Track two 'Deception' caught my attention with the lyrics, again a good bass line and lots of passion in the sound structure. It's the lyrics on this track that makes the song."
"'Save Yourself' I think is my favorite the lyrics are GREAT, telling whomever where to get off. The sound is very filling not a driving bass line but soundscapes, loops keep your ears interested."
"Frank has major talent and his writing is very strong and passionate. The production, mastering and overall cd is excellent..." - TV TranZmission - TV TranZmission
"Opening track 'Make Me Yours' has a great shot at dance floor play. A good bass line, laid with a great synth structure. The lyrics fit right into the sound perfectly, not aggressive but full of aggressive passion."
"Track two 'Deception' caught my attention with the lyrics, again a good bass line and lots of passion in the sound structure. It's the lyrics on this track that makes the song."
"'Save Yourself' I think is my favorite the lyrics are GREAT, telling whomever where to get off. The sound is very filling not a driving bass line but soundscapes, loops keep your ears interested."
"Frank has major talent and his writing is very strong and passionate. The production, mastering and overall cd is excellent..." - TV TranZmission - TV TranZmission
"Fans looking for some new solid synthpop will enjoy this album. Those that have really enjoyed Depeche Mode and similar bands should get a hold of the work by this artist."
"Frank's smooth vocals mix well with the music, moving along well with the dance-friendly music..."
"'Awkward Silence' really brings the dreamy, dark and sullen elements as it gradually grows and lilts along with the soft deep vocals layered over the wistful electronics."
"This is a great debut album and provides a nice foundation for halovox to build upon. It flows well and has a good variety while staying true to the genre and influences."
"...a stellar album moving through dance-friendly tracks and breaking for the dreamy ballads in between. (4 out of 5)" - Jacob Bogedahl/Gothic Paradise - Gothic Paradise
"Fans looking for some new solid synthpop will enjoy this album. Those that have really enjoyed Depeche Mode and similar bands should get a hold of the work by this artist."
"Frank's smooth vocals mix well with the music, moving along well with the dance-friendly music..."
"'Awkward Silence' really brings the dreamy, dark and sullen elements as it gradually grows and lilts along with the soft deep vocals layered over the wistful electronics."
"This is a great debut album and provides a nice foundation for halovox to build upon. It flows well and has a good variety while staying true to the genre and influences."
"...a stellar album moving through dance-friendly tracks and breaking for the dreamy ballads in between. (4 out of 5)" - Jacob Bogedahl/Gothic Paradise - Gothic Paradise
"I am very impressed with this album. I really love the new mix of 'Silent Whispers' that closes the album. But, I've loved that song from the first time I heard it, and I've yet to hear a version I don't like."
"Other songs I found particularly outstanding were 'Worthy', the very DM-esque 'Foolish Slave', 'Waiting, Watching, Wanting', 'Just Like Me', and the awesome ballad 'Awkward Silence'. The cover of 'Fly On The Windscreen' is a unusual choice as to a DM track to cover, but it's pulled off really well."
"A collection of very impressive songs... (4.5 Stars out of 5)" - Jason Baker|Synthpop.NET - Synthpop.NET
"I am very impressed with this album. I really love the new mix of 'Silent Whispers' that closes the album. But, I've loved that song from the first time I heard it, and I've yet to hear a version I don't like."
"Other songs I found particularly outstanding were 'Worthy', the very DM-esque 'Foolish Slave', 'Waiting, Watching, Wanting', 'Just Like Me', and the awesome ballad 'Awkward Silence'. The cover of 'Fly On The Windscreen' is a unusual choice as to a DM track to cover, but it's pulled off really well."
"A collection of very impressive songs... (4.5 Stars out of 5)" - Jason Baker|Synthpop.NET - Synthpop.NET
Discography
2012 "Everybody Lies"
2004 "halovox" debut CD
Photos
Bio
halovox features intelligent, emotional lyrics and melodic modern music that sounds new yet nostalgically familiar to fans of 80s New Wave and synthpop. What sets halovox apart from other electronic bands is the songwriting and vocals of its creator, Frank J. Freda.
From the mid to late 90s Frank began writing songs. He placed several demo songs on mp3.com under the band name "Deep Freeze". A friend and coworker asked Frank for a tape of his music to share with Kris Heireth of Brand New Idol.
In October of 1999, brothers Kris and Tim Heireth were going to produce Frank's synthpop ballad "Silent Whispers". While working on the song the threesome hit it off and Frank was asked to join their band. Frank joined Brand New Idol and became their lead vocalist and also contributed to the band as a synth player and songwriting partner.
Brand New Idol's debut CD "Still Beautiful Falling Apart" was released in November of 2001 and received high praise. All of the songs on the album charted in the top 5 on the New Wave and Darkwave charts on mp3.com. The Electrogarden Network Community voted Brand New Idol "Unsigned Artist of the Year" and "Still Beautiful Falling Apart" was voted "Album of the Year" for 2001.
In early 2002, Frank was invited to collaborate with good friend Ross Beall on his Simulator project. Frank wrote lyrics and provided guest vocals on Simulator's debut CD "Enter The Unknown" which was released by Cohaagen in the spring of 2002. The CD was positively reviewed and led to several 2002 Electrogarden Network Community Awards nominations.
Throughout 2002, Brand New Idol played live shows in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island. In late 2002, Frank left Brand New Idol to create a project that would take full advantage of his talents and halovox was born. Heavily inspired by artists such as Depeche Mode, Camouflage, Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, Ministry and Nine Inch Nails Frank set out to create a sound that would honor these influences and also break new ground.
The first official halovox production was a 2003 remix of A Different Drum artist The Echoing Green. halovox contributed "Fall Awake (Catcher in the Rye Mix)" which appeared on the "Fall Awake" single.
halovox released 4 songs over the internet in 2003 that were very well received. Among them, "Deception" received airplay in clubs around the world and gained major support from DJ Tim Cody, host of Subculture Live on the world famous WLIR on Long Island. Those first four songs plus an additional nine original compositions and a breathtaking cover of the Depeche Mode classic "Fly On The Windscreen" made up the 14 track debut halovox self-titled CD released in the summer of 2004. In support of this release, halovox played numerous dates in the New York, Long Island and New Jersey region.
In 2004, A Different Drum requested another remix, this time for Provision. halovox remixed "Each Second Suffering" which appeared on a limited edition bonus disc bundled with the Provision album "Visualize".
Then in 2005, "Retrospect" by halovox was invited to appear on A Different Drum's massive 6 CD "State of Synthpop" collection. Also in 2005, "Deception" appeared on WSVNRadio Hall of Fame compilation Volume 15.
halovox also participated in some high profile shows, opening for Freezepop at the 2005 New York Synthpop Festival and APB at Subculture in December of 2006.
After a hiatus from 2007 to 2009, halovox began playing live shows again in 2010 and songs were being written and refined for the second album.
In January 2012 halovox released their highly anticipated second album "Everybody Lies".
The album contains 12 new songs that feature the trademark halovox sound of intelligent and emotional lyrics coupled with danceable electronica that ranges in style from synthpop to industrial.
Featuring live show favorites "Everybody Lies", "Mask", "Stalker", "It's Not Me It's You" and "iGod" the new album showcases the ongoing evolution of halovox.
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