Freelance Whales

Freelance Whales started in Queens, New York, around 2006, with Judah Dadone, Chuck Criss, Kevin Mack, Kevin Naquin, and Jacob Thomas. They built a sound that felt light and layered, often using folk instruments and electronics to create something quietly atmospheric. Their song 'Aeolus' became a touchstone for that approach, a drifting piece named after the Greek wind god that captured their early, delicate style.

They released their first album, 'Weathervanes', in 2009, followed by 'Diluvia' in 2010. Around that time, bassist Kevin Naquin left the band. Their music shifted a bit over the next few years, leaning into more electronic textures on tracks like 'Enzymes' and 'Follow Through', but it kept that airy, detailed quality they were known for. They put out a few more records and live albums into the mid-2010s.