The Frightnrs

Formed in Queens, New York, the Frightnrs cultivated a reputation for delivering authentic yet singular renditions of vintage Jamaican rocksteady and early reggae. Their initial recognition on the local scene came through a pair of well-received EPs that secured a recording contract with Daptone Records. The momentum toward a breakthrough with the 2016 album Nothing More to Say was abruptly halted when lead singer Dan Klein succumbed to illness just months ahead of its issuance. The remaining members later commemorated him on 2022’s Always, an effort constructed from leftover vocal recordings Klein had made prior to his passing.

The band’s origins trace to 2010, when Klein, a onetime punk musician who had cultivated an affinity for Jamaican music, encountered Chuck Patel at a social gathering. Their mutual enthusiasm for classic rocksteady became apparent, and Patel took note of Klein’s distinctive voice, capable of shifting fluidly between tenor and an emphatic upper falsetto. Klein assumed lead vocals and guitar duties while Patel handled keyboards; they were soon joined by Patel’s brother Preet on bass and Rich Terrana on drums, establishing the Frightnrs lineup.

Club performances around New York followed, culminating in a 2012 five-song EP produced by Jayson Nugent of the Slackers. A key supporter emerged in Victor “Ticklah” Axelrod, whose prior collaborations included work with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. Axelrod oversaw the Inna Lovers Quarrel EP, which Mad Decent—the imprint established by Diplo—subsequently issued. Gabriel Roth, founder of Daptone Records and a previous associate of Axelrod’s, responded favorably to the material and first arranged a single featuring the group’s interpretation of Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind,” then negotiated terms for a complete album.

During the recording process, Klein’s condition visibly declined, marked by weight loss and mobility issues; he received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Nevertheless, the sessions were finished, and Daptone issued Nothing More to Say in September 2016 to broad critical approval. Klein passed away on June 6, 2016, shortly after attending a Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings performance. An alternate edition titled More to Say Versions appeared in October 2017, consisting of Axelrod’s dub treatments of the original tracks. Honoring Klein’s directive to persist, the surviving members proceeded without immediately naming a replacement vocalist. For Always, the band and Axelrod mined rehearsal tapes and unused takes, preserving Klein’s isolated vocals while crafting fresh instrumental beds and additional material around them.