We often don’t realize what we’re looking for is right in front of us. 

For The High Freqs, this just might have been the case.

The quintet of Adam Baker (guitar/vocals), Topher Beyer (guitar/vocals), Chris Olry (bass), Amy Laatsch (keyboard), and Isaiah Laatsch (drums) are far from strangers and are also well-known on the local music scene.

After years of playing together and filling in for each other’s bands when needed, they are now all one unit.

“We knew that we needed to get together,” Beyer said. “We started playing each other’s music so much that we decided, ‘Why don’t we just play something new?’ ”

The High Freqs will unveil five new songs during an album release show for their debut EP, Kairos, on Friday, June 7, at E Brewing Company in South Whitley.

Musical family tree

Tracing the path the musicians took to become The High Freqs can become a tangled mess.

First, there was Adam Baker & The Heartache, which consisted of Baker and Olry, with Isaiah Laasch filling in when needed. Then, there’s The Paper Heart, which included Beyer and the husband-and-wife duo of Amy and Isaiah Laasch, with Olry filling in from time to time.

Beyer also had the band El Camino Hot Tub, which morphed into Minivan Hot Tub that included Baker and Isaiah Laasch. 

There is also the band Last Plane Home, which took a decade off before reforming with Beyer, Olry, and Isaiah Laatsch.

“It was one of those things where we’re all friends, and with various versions of my band, The Heartache, they would fill in when somebody was out,” Baker said. “And when The Paper Heart, which was Topher’s old band, would have somebody out, Chris or I would fill in. There was a lot of, ‘Hey, I’ll fill in and help out here and there.’ 

“We got to a point with both bands where people weren’t able to commit to it anymore. So, basically, the bands were at a point where it was time to make a change. It kind of made sense that we all just started playing together.”

While doing a podcast together, Baker, Beyer, and Olry came up with the name The High Freqs but did not put much more thought into it.

“We just got so busy that that kind of got put to the side and nothing was done with it,” Baker said. “When we decided The Paper Heart and The Heartache were at the end of their roads, we decided to put the remaining pieces together.”

Getting the word out

With the band in place, they did not waste much time, releasing their first single, “Norfolk Way,” on Sept. 14 and performing their first show the following night at O’Sullivan’s. They also quickly got the song featured on 99.5/102.3 FM’s ALT Homegrown Showcase.

Speaking of ALT, Baker and Beyer were actually on their way to be interviewed for an upcoming spot in the radio station’s ALT Homegrown Spotlight when I spoke with them.

“There’s so much new music in the area now that it feels like you have to push to get some presence,” Beyer said.

They have definitely been getting their name out there, which is a huge part of the game.

“The more you’re present, the more people pay attention,” Beyer said. “Then you can start drawing people out to gigs.”

You be the judge

When it comes to the music, their initial descriptions included hashtags for psychedelic folk, but they are not going to pigeonhole themselves.

“Between all of us, the music gets eclectic, which makes it very hard to put a stamp on it saying it fits in this pocket,” Baker said. “I know every band says we don’t want to be stuck in a pocket. There’s definitely some folky stuff on (the EP). There’s also some slightly R&B/hip-hop-tinged drum stuff on one. There’s some that are just straight-ahead rock. It fits across a lot of genres.”

With so much experience in the band, including those of frontman of former bands, The High Freqs let the music lead the way.

“Adam brings a lot of folk stuff to it, then I’m a little more poppy,” Beyer said. “It’s definitely a blend of the two.”

“The whole band is people that write to some degree, and we all have different perspectives and backgrounds on that,” Baker said. “That’s what makes it fun because you’re going to get distinctly different flavors in some of the songs.”

Instead of classifying themselves, the band would actually like to see what you think of them. Luckily, you’ll be able to let them know on June 7 at E Brewing Company when they showcase their new songs, with a full album planned for later in 2024.

“I’m interested to see what other people classify us as,” Beyer said.