In "Music meets Football", we speak to some of our artists about their love of the beautiful game and the teams they support. Our latest feature is with Anna F., founder of indie dance punk quartet Friedberg.
Named after the village in Austria that she grew up in, Friedberg’s songwriter, lead vocalist, guitarist and cowbell player grew up as a fan of one of the most sucessful sides in Austrian football, Rapid Vienna. Formed by Anna (above, bottom left) in 2019 and completed by Emily Linden (guitar, vocals), Cheryl Pinero (bass, vocals) and Laura Williams (drums), the band’s early success came from the single ‘Go Wild’, a runaway hit that featured on the FIFA 2020 soundtrack.
This month saw Friedberg release their long awaited and highly anticipated debut album Hardcore Workout Queen. Previewed by singles including ‘Hello’, ‘My Best Friend’, ‘The Greatest’ and the title track, the London/Berlin-based band have made waves in Europe in the run-up to the release of the record with multiple festival appearances and support slots for the likes of Big Special, Placebo and Hot Chip.
Sport Playlists: What are your earliest memories of watching football growing up, and what made you fall in the love with it?
Anna F: I remember watching a game as a child in the 90s at Rapid Vienna’s peak. It was the final in 1996, which they lost sadly. But I got hooked because the team because they have the famous “Rapid Viertelstunde”, which is the last 15 minutes of the game when the whole Rapid fans start clapping slowly and then speeding it up. Apparently these last 15minutes have been magical for the team in the past, because they turned around many games in those last few minutes.
After becoming a Rapid fan, I also started playing football with my neighbour, who taught me all the tricks and techniques.
SP: What are your earliest memories of attending a Rapid Vienna game?
AF: I actually only went once, as my home village is a bit of a drive from Vienna. The one time I went, I was sitting with the ultras, which are the insane hardcore fans of Rapid. Well, what can I say, someone threw their sausage with mustard on me (Rapid had lost obvs)!
SP: Who were your footballing heroes growing up in Austria – whether it be Rapid players or otherwise?
AF: Andreas Herzog, Didi Kühbauer, Michael Konsel, Andi Heraf and Marek Penksa.
SP: As well as your music career, you’ve also worked as a sports journalist in Germany. Could you tell us a bit more about that – what inspired the decision to pursue that career, any favourite memories?
AF: I always wanted to either become a sports journalist or a musician, so at the time I did both whilst also studying literature at university. I just applied as a volunteer and then they kept me on as a freelancer. We had the broadcasting rights for the German Bundesliga at the time, so I worked across that a lot every weekend.
I also covered other sports. Once they sent me to a boxing fight, even though I had never covered boxing before and honestly had no idea about the rules or anything. I was supposed to be just the assistant of the famous boxing commentator, but then he sent me in the ring to do an interview!
SP: When did you decide to transition from sports journalism to making music full time? Was it something that just happened gradually?
AF: As I said, I already had a band while working as a journalist and I was also studying at the same time, so I kind of thought, that I need to focus on something. And music was always my biggest love, so I decided to focus on that. Strangely, only like three months later I went on tour with Lenny Kravitz, even though I had only released one single at the time.
SP: What’s it been like to see the growth of the Women’s game and its popularity, from where it was when you were growing up, to where it is now?
AF: OMG such a massive difference. I would say it’s gone from 0 to 100, as there was not even Women’s football in Austria at the time. I wanted to play in a Women’s team so badly back then but there was just nothing.
I am so jealous and at the same time super happy for all the kids growing up right now and being able to play in women’s team and also getting the attention they should get.
SP: Who are your favourite players to watch in football right now?
AF: I don’t really have any favourite players at the moment, but I just enjoy watching a good game that isn’t spoiled by too much focus on tactics
SP: You founded your own 5-a-side team a few years ago in Hackney Wick. How fun has it been playing on a regular basis?
AF: It’s the best. It is literally the only time when I can actually switch off my brain completely and just run after that stupid ball. I love it so much.
SP: How important has the crossover between music and football been in your life?
AF: Music and football have always been my biggest loves i think. I just love pushing myself to the limit, so I guess that combines the two as well.
SP: What song do you associate with a cherished footballing memory?
AF: The Rapid Vienna anthem ahaha. It’s actually really bad, but I knew all the words when I was a child.
SP: If you had to pick one Friedberg song for Rapid Vienna to walk out to before kick-off at which song would it be?
‘The Greatest’, or ‘Hardcore Workout Queen’.
SP: Friedberg recently released your debut album Hardcore Workout Queen. How excited are you for everyone to finally get their hands on the album, and what have you learnt about yourself as an individual and Friedberg as a band through the recording process?
AF: I am super excited to finally share what I’ve been working on for so long. I literally can’t wait to go on tour and play it live and tour the world.
What I have learnt: making decisions quicker, don’t overthink (play more football instead haha) and don’t do too many versions of each song, but instead trust that the magic of a first demo can’t be easily recreated.
