Pacific purveyors of hi-tek soul Fat Freddy's Drop are a seven-piece family of musicians who've grown up together in Wellington, New Zealand. Their debut album called Based On A True Story (SK072CD/SK072LP) is forthcoming in summer 2005 via Sonar Kollektiv.

To date Fat Freddy's have gained widespread underground acclaim through limited edition vinyl releases. Championed by the likes of Jazzanova, Nightmares On Wax and most recently Ben Watt who describes their first single "Midnight Marauders" (SB7010) in March 05 Dazed & Confused as "the most delicate and deep dub record of recent times. Superb crisp production and aching vocal ..." Midnight Marauders was released by Sonar Kollektiv in 2002 by Joe Dukie & DJ Fitchie the band's singer and producer pseudonyms.

Freddy's second vinyl release, Hope was released a year later in a beautiful 10" vinyl package, eventually bringing them to the attention of world music pioneer Charlie Gillet who described it as; "Fat Freddy's 10" single (Hope) has sat unplayed on my floor for months. Finally checking it out, I discovered an extraordinary epic, which moves from being a gentle lament supported by muted trumpet, into a more intense section with honking tenor sax, before floating away into space ..."

Eclectic beats DJ Gilles Peterson also championed Hope on his cutting edge WorldWide show, where it was voted into the top of the prestigious WW All Winners end of year chart in 2003. Whilst touring in the UK last year Freddy's recorded a live session at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios. The session was voted one of the best BBC Radio 1 live sessions at Gilles Peterson's 2004 WorldWide Music Awards. A live version of Midnight Marauders taken from the session has subsequently been released on limited edition vinyl. The live show is praised by all who see it, "the live show sparkles with sublime sonics that reminds you just how powerful performance arts can be ... they are really THAT good live ..." Richard Bamford - Undercover Magazine (UK).

The band will be back in Europe in August supporting the release of Based On A True Story, touring throughout Europe and the UK until late September.

In February 2005 the Freddy's released a limited edition Japan only single called "Seconds" on Especial Records under the Joe Dukie & DJ Fitchie moniker. You'll be hearing the Freddy's crew shine through on a number of artist albums and project this year. From a Nextmen 7" single on Tru Thoughts to Recloose's new album Hiatus On The Horizon, Tosca and Bazoo Bajoo's forthcoming albums and Tubbs' forthcoming Good Days, Better Nights album accompanied by Freddy's first ever remix of a track called "5 Day Night" due out in June.

Not to mention the many projects and bands the guys juggle in New Zealand from Warryn Maxwell's now defunct Trinity Roots project to pop reggae band The Black Seeds, Iain Gordon's techno funk outfit Ebb who've released on Transmat in recent years, afro-beat collective Scribes Of Ra, the list goes on ... Fair to say that it's all about "... the love of music" for Fat Freddy's Drop.