Blake Babies’ Freda L. Smith and her personal guide to quit everything
“I am the least qualified person in the world to write a self-help book!” pre-warns the great writer and Blake Babies ex-drummer Freda Love Smith of her new book, suggestively titled “I Quit Everything“, which is about to be released on a US mini-tour on which Freda will also reunite with her two bandmates – John P. Strohm and Juliana Hatfield (both of them are also in the process of releasing albums). This is the second book by Freda, who began her journey into literature mixing two of her favorite subjects: gastronomy and rock in the delicious “Red Velvet Underground“.
The book doesn’t tell the reader that they should quit anything, but simply offers the details of my own experience. It’s possible that reading about my struggles with addictive substances could motivate a reader to examine their own habits, or to take a break like I did, but my intention was to explore my experience, not disseminate advice
Freda L. Smith
However, despite being recognized for being a member of not only the Blake Babies, but equally remarkable bands such as Some Girls, Freda is a teacher who lives with her husband in Evanston, Illinois, the closest suburb to Chicago, living a peaceful life away from social media and, as far as she can, from bad habits too. The bad news for us fans of the Lemonheads and the entire sound to come out of Boston is that Freda has also given up drumming, a story that will be told in her book. In any case, the friendship and admiration continues for her former Blake Babies colleagues. “I love them both dearly and I’m glad that we can still connect over our separate creative pursuits”, she says.
Blake Babies forever
Doing this interview with Freda means 2/3 of a dream come true. The Blake Babies are one of my favorite bands since the Napster days. I still have some CDs recorded with tracks that I picked up on the platform, like the amazing”Girl in a box”. Oh, yes, I said “2/3” because I have also interviewed dear John on more than one occasion. (Juliana Hatfield is missing, but in this case Evan himself promised me that he would find her contact, since he didn’t have one himself, so Juliana, if you or someone very close to you is reading this, please be my 1/3!).
Now speaking from a music critic’s point of view, while the Blake Babies were active, they were sovereign, even though they maintained a low-profile. In addition to the trio, perhaps only one band has managed to remain as integral, productive and creative: Pixies. The Blake Babies were and always will be some sort of dictionary of good songs, those that marked our best moments and, especially, our youth.
I might even quit my record-buying addiction one day after reading Freda’s book – but as long as we get the Blake Babies records and reissues out of the question.
2 5 Things about Freda
RC – “I Quit Everything”. I think the title alone is a great marketing ploy, because there isn’t a person in this world who should never have considered giving it all up. But you probably directed this maxim to a specific group, that is, are you talking to those who want to abandon addictions, bad habits or simply what makes them unhappy?
FS – “I Quit Everything” documents my recent experiment of temporarily giving up alcohol, sugar, cannabis, caffeine, and social media. I was feeling unhealthy and unhappy, in a dark place mentally, and I needed a change, needed to break out of my habitual patterns and take a fresh look at myself and my life. The book doesn’t tell the reader that they should quit anything, but simply offers the details of my own experience. It’s possible that reading about my struggles with addictive substances could motivate a reader to examine their own habits, or to take a break like I did, but my intention was to explore my experience, not disseminate advice. As I write in IQE–it’s not a self-help book. I am the least qualified person in the world to write a self-help book!
RC – Without spoiling “IQE” too much, you are a teacher who goes through music, literature and even gastronomy. Regarding these talents, you could say are you no longer attached to them as well? Tell us what really motivated you to write this book.
FS – I was motivated to do some soul searching, to find a deeper understanding of why I tend to gravitate towards addiction. I explore my own tendencies, alongside some of the social and cultural influences from my childhood and young adulthood that made escape and intoxication seem desirable.
RC – How does it feel to release your new book alongside your former Blake Babies partner, John P. Strohm, who is also releasing a solo album? Do you three from Blake Babies still keep in touch with each other? Aside from the Blake Babies reissues, can we expect any kind of new material, or even a reunion? Who among you is the most reluctant about this “revival”?
FS – I am delighted about the timing of my book’s release this fall, which coincides with the release of John’s wonderful new solo album AND Juliana’s amazing album of ELO covers. I’ll be doing events in Nashville, Evanston, and Bloomington, Indiana with John and will be in Northampton, Massachusetts and New York City with Juliana. I love them both dearly and I’m glad that we can still connect over our separate creative pursuits. I am retired from drumming (you can read about that in IQE!!) so I don’t anticipate any new material or reunion concerts.
RC – Speaking a little about your first book “Red Velvet Underground”. Will there be a “Red Velvet Underground 2” with new recipes? Did you get feedback from chefs and experts on the marvelous foods you create in the book?
FS – I have drifted away from writing about food but it remains a passionate interest of mine, so who knows, maybe I have more to say on the subject! I love when people compliment the recipes in Red Velvet Underground. I have a few friends who regularly make the Spinach and White Bean Stew, and one who loves my roasted chicken recipe enough to call it “Freda Chicken.”
RC – Thanks Freda for not quitting giving us interviews!
FS – Thank you, Marcos!
