Our first new feature for 2026 features an up and coming band from over the pond called Frida and the Mann. We get to chat with Frida Mann and Adam Cramer for a dip into their music, alongside me giving a review to the new single “Goodbye” that came out at the back end of 2025. I’m also listening to a couple more of their tracks. I’m going to open with the press release first, then I’m going to reverse spin how we usually do things by having the reviews first and then close with the interview piece.
Here is the press on these guys:
Emerging in 2024 from Cleveland, OH, Frida and The Mann blends alternative rock and indie pop into a genre-defying sound that will pull you in from the moment you hit play. From Frida and The Mann’s Inception, the goal was simple, “Make music that people can feel. Be unapologetic. Be raw. Be true.”
Frida and The Mann was formed in mid-2023 by Frida Mann (vocals) Adam Cramer guitars) and Zachary Horstman (drums), while in someone else’s basement, in a small space, with big dreams. Shortly thereafter, Stefan Johnson (bass/vocals) joined to complete the sonic landscape.
Now winners of the 2024 Cleveland Music Awards Best New Artist, they are emerging as one of the most unique sounding musical artists in Cleveland. Their alternative atmospheric poprock sound hits hard as you feel every single turn of the rollercoaster. The songs are organic, real, and straight from their soul.
Their new single ‘Goodbye’, was written, composed and arranged by vocalist Frida Mann, lead guitarist Adam Cramer and drummer Zachary Horstman. It was recorded at Lava Room studios in Independence, OH. When it comes to the meaning behind ‘Goodbye’, Frida and The Mann like to mainly leave it to the audience to interrupt, however, “Goodbye is a song about accepting that relationships will have to end in order to fully accept ourselves. It’s saying goodbye to people who refuse to accept our choices or values and who don’t want to have conversations and instead want us to bend backwards to fit into their box. It’s a song of reclaiming our ability to choose to uncover more.” You’ll need to listen to ‘Goodbye’ for yourself, because you will not be disappointed, and you’ll only want to go through their entire discography once it’s finished.
My Review:
“Goodbye” was released on November 26 2025.
“Goodbye to the loveless humans, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye.
Goodbye to the unfortunate ones…
This is a power pop rocker, a lot of fun and very radio friendly. You know…this is exactly the sort of track I like to drive along to. It has a nicely infectious groove and a powerful vocal/chorus. If it was a drink it would be a fizzy drink with loads of bubbles! I also enjoyed the little instrumental section around 2.30 which then broke into a strong drum beat.
“Dancing in the Sun” was one I liked as I had a listen to their back catalogue. I enjoyed it as it was whimsical, drifting like the clouds and slightly seventies, with the freedom that comes with dancing around the home!
“Let’s Get Carried Away” has gained 8k + listens on Spotify at the moment, it is another pop rocker with a strong melodic hook and chorus. I am sure this will go great live, plenty of bounce and those drums impressed me again with a great beat.
– completing my browse through the catalog I will now move over to my chat with Frida and Adam.
You formed Frida and the Mann in a basement with “a small space and big dreams.” At what point did you stop and think, “Oh… this is actually happening?”
Frida: Is it happening? You never really think it is. That would be pretty cool if it was.
Adam: We all have always had big dreams but for us it comes down to doing what we love, making music that we enjoy, hopefully others do too and any recognition that comes after is pretty cool.
You’ve talked about wanting to “make music that people can feel.” Listening to your music I connected with that ‘feel’ especially on Dancing in the Sun. Can you tell us about that song?
Frida: That song is about dissociation. I coped by fantasizing for many years. It was a drug, and it kept me away from life for a long time.
Adam: I enjoy writing music that takes you on a journey, a movie that has ups and downs, the melodic guitar riffs I write come from emotionally challenging experiences, it’s the only way to let “it” out.
Goodbye is about accepting endings and leaving space for interpretation. Have listeners surprised you with how they hear it?
Frida: People seem to love the song because it gives permission — which I know I needed too. Nothing new or shocking from people, really. Quite the opposite. We’re all dealing with the same things, more or less.
“Goodbye” feels it could be intimate but also has this open room/crowd appeal. When you’re writing, do you imagine headphones at 2am or a crowd singing along?
Frida: I think about a crowd singing it back after it’s done. But the writing process itself is about feeling into what’s happening in life at that time. There’s no agenda to make a hook pop — although maybe there should be!
Adam: I hum the chorus all the time, it’s catchy! After it was recorded I definitely imagined the crowd singing right along with us for sure.
When I was listening to your music, you reminded me of Fairground Attraction. Do you think about lineage or influence while writing?
Frida: I think influences are always there subconsciously. What I love is that every band member brings a different style, and somehow it works.
Adam: It’s really just who we are, we come from so many different backgrounds and many different influences and it accumulates into what you hear now but our sound is definitely evolving and developing pretty fast. We are excited for our next batch of songs.
Looking ahead to 2026 — what’s next for Frida and the Mann?
Frida: Festivals, opening for some cool bands, and writing, writing, writing.
Adam: We have our next release, “Monsters“, coming out on January 30 with a music video to accompany it. We have another release planned for February and March but in general for 2026 definitely lots of writing, recording more songs, music videos to go along, really expanding regionally, and hopefully nationally as musical artists.
Fun question: a broken-down tour bus, a small abandoned house, a fire, food, and electricity. What book and film get you through the night?
Frida: Book: “The Giver,” I loved it as a kid, so it would feel comforting. Film: Before You Go.
Adam: Book-”The Hobbit.” Movie- The Big Lebowski.”
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You can stream music from Frida and the Mann here
Instagram @fridaandthemann
By Lorraine Foley
