The Forum releases "Somebody to Rely On"
The Forum Releases Nostalgic Single: “Somebody to Rely On”
By Edysmar Diaz-Cruz
It’s been nearly 11 months since The Forum last performed in front of a live audience. The distant, yet vivid memory is so jarring that all four band members remember exactly what day it was: March 11, 2020
It’s the day everything changed, says drummer Ethan Klohr.
Fast forward to the eve of their newest release, and the Forum’s band members celebrate separately in the quiet privacy of their respective rooms. In a pre-pandemic era, they’d be at a release party. But on the evening of January 21, 2020, the four young men contemplate friendships after college, navigating their mid-20s while holding onto the people who keep them grounded.
The title of the single, Somebody to Rely On, is it a reference to friendship or romance?
Jake Farrell -- It's funny because “Somebody To Rely On” is about who we can count on, the people we know who're going to be there further down the line. Even beyond musically, situationally, it was portrayed in the recording of the song: We didn't record the song together. It was sequentially done so we each went in for like a couple of days at a time, and the next person would come in and record their stuff and then the next person would record their stuff. It was kind of like an affirmation that we are like to each other as a band.
Michael Higgins -- We're not in our early 20s, in college, anymore. I think just getting into our mid 20s and having met a lot of people, but also having kind of moved on from a lot of college friendships and relationships, it's been interesting for me to learn who's still going to be in your life, as opposed to the situations you've left behind.
If you could have any musician in the world cover this song, who would you choose?
Jake Farrell: To me, the song for whatever reason sounds like a Bruce Springsteen, something like the E Street Band -- one of those dad rock songs. I feel like they would kill it. I would like to see that.
Michael Higgins: Fleetwood mac is mine. I would love to hear Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks do this song.
Ethan Klohr: That’s a good one. Anything Tom Petty. Or Interpol.
Can you recreate a moment this song would be perfect to play over?
Jake Farrell: For whatever reason, a lot of our music recently has been very John Hughes, the director of like The Breakfast Club and all of those kinds of older 80s. This might be in the middle of the movie where the big climax has happened and the friend group is split apart and then there's drama.
Ethan Klohr: --- It cuts into each individual person walking down the street
Jake Farrell: Yeah! Then they eventually, you know, makeup.
Michael Higgins: The scene in my head is when you go to the beach with friends and you all pile into the car as the sun's going down. Everyone's really gross and some people fall asleep. Somebody is driving, it’s a late summer song. Even though it's not late summer at all.
Ethan Klohr: I picture a night out at a show. Honestly, like a mid tier band is playing in Seattle or at some downtown club. A big group of seven to eight people going all out, arms around each other, vibing to this song.
Do you miss the stage?
Jake Farrell: Yes, it's an experience unlike any other. But it's also an experience that you have to prepare for and adjust your mindset for in a way that's completely different from writing or recording music.
Michael Higgins: I watched live videos of us way more than I would care to admit because I missed it. You know, we think back to our last release, we made sure we all got to Gainesville for the release night and finished our pre-sales for that night, and it was just like a whole different feeling. It's a rush. Thrilling. And rewarding.