Roger Street Friedman

Sure, Roger Street Friedman's Time to Fly doesn't sound a thing like a-Ha's Take on Me. Still, it's hard to resist a video that combines real people and animation in such a whimsical fashion, especially when there's a field of pinwheel flowers and paper airplanes involved.

Time to Fly, the video for which is premiering at USA TODAY, comes from Friedman's album, The Waiting Sky, out Jan. 14. It has a propulsive shuffle groove that takes flight with the fleetly picked lines of Bob Dylan/Levon Helm guitarist Larry Campbell.

The Waiting Sky not only the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter's first album, it's a return to his first love: Though he began his career as a professional musician in his teens, he spent 20 years working outside music before the death of his parents and the birth of his children spurred a change.

"Time to Fly was inspired by the idea that it's never to late to make a change, to take your life in a direction that brings you joy and brings you closer to realizing your dreams," Friedman says. "In the end it's about taking the bull by the horns and doing what you love, whatever that may be. With the video we tried to capture that transitional, dreamlike landscape while delivering the optimistic message of the tune." - USA Today

"Roger Street Friedman’s first album already has the persona, and he is accompanied by some well-known players in a band that is so in-tune to the richness and message of Roger’s songs, it’s as if they have played with him for years. Maybe they have." - No Depression John Apice - (May 2, 2014) - No Depression

Who’s That?: Brooklyn based singer/songwriter Roger Street Freedman spent the last twenty-eight years dabbling in music as a hobby after walking away from a career as a professional musician in his early twenties. The death of his parents and the birth of his first child inspired him to get back into the studio, where he recorded The Waiting Sky, his solo debut.
Fun Fact: Friedman left home at 18 to play bass for the band The Walk.
Author’s Notes: ““Time To Fly” was inspired by the idea that it’s never to late to make a change, to take your life in a direction that brings you joy and brings you closer to realizing your full potential on this earth,” says Friedman. “So it’s certainly autobiographical and about giving myself permission to return to doing the one thing in life that I love to do – making music. In the end it’s about taking the bull by the horns and doing what you love, whatever that may be!” - American Songwriter

Roger Street Friedman Seizes “The Waiting Sky” - CMT Edge - CMT Edge

"If you didn’t have soul going into this show, you surely had soul coming out of it. On Saturday, November 22, The Blind Boys of Alabama, with special guest, Roger Street Friedman, put on a show that will long be remembered." - The Patch

Talk about a late starter.

From a small town in Long Island, Roger Street Friedman had played music as a kid and briefly followed a recording engineer path. However, that went by the board for many years. Fifty in fact. Friedman led a life as a professional and a family man. It was only after the loss of his father and mother, and the birth of his daughter in 2006, that he was drawn back to writing, performing and recording songs.

After issuing his debut, Friedman made the bold decision to pursue music full-time.

That debut, The Waiting Sky received wide-spread acclaim and Friedman began a modest live show circuit in support of that release.

Now we have the follow-up.

Shoot The Moon was released by The Playroom Records in CD and digital formats in January 2017 (vinyl format release just out this week) and contains thirteen beautifully assembled tracks.

The uplifting New Orleans' funk of 'Puffs of Smoke' and 'Shoot The Moon', the bright, crisp vocals of 'Everyday', the clever construction of 'Tidal Wave' and the affectionate, family oriented 'Pour Me Another' are the highlights here. The collection is replete with profound and personal lyrics, crack arrangements and playing, with plenty to attract those who like alt. country, R&B, folk and funk.

The Shoot The Moon sessions were captured on analog equipment with Friedman and longtime companion Felix McTeigue in joint producer and engineer roles. The album boasts cameos by Ari Hest, The Mastersons, Jason Crosby and Amy Helm.

It has taken Roger Street Friedman decades to work through the release of two albums. Such a long gestation period would suggest that the new material would exude passion, skill and a mature sensibility. It does all that in spades. - No Depression