American Idol’s Fritz Hager releases emotional new track, “Bad Friend”
Indie-rock/pop singer-songwriter Fritz Hager returns with his latest emotional track, “Bad Friend,” a moody and introspective ballad. The song is out now on all digital platforms via 19 Recordings.
“Bad Friend” delves into the complexities of young love and its impact on friendships. “[‘Bad Friend’] is about how young love can ruin friendships,” the American Idol 2022 Top 4 finalist shares. “When we wrote this song, we wanted to explore how confusing love can be at a young age when you don’t have the tools to communicate it. ‘Bad Friend’ is a melancholic look into the past and a kind of apology to the people we hurt.”
The song, written by Fritz alongside Drew Pearson and Ilsey Juber, follows the singer’s previous single, “Two Step,” a critique of the male fantasy versus reality. Juxtaposing catchy hooks with humorous narratives about romantic mishaps, the song showcased his witty storytelling and pop sensibilities.
Fritz is currently working on new music
Fritz describes himself as an “indie guy.” His Texan upbringing fostered his love of music, he went onto study theater at Oklahoma City University, but realized after one semester that he was not the conventional college type.
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“I write for two reasons,” Fritz reflects, “to bring sincerity into the mainstream—making observations about the world, personal struggles, universal struggles—and escapism, which is to simply zone out and have fun. There’s a need for both, and I like finding the balance.”
During his time on American Idol, Fritz released tracks from his self-titled debut EP, which topped the iTunes Charts, and was entirely crowd funded. This success story was quickly followed by his single “Hearts Align,” which reached #5 on the Alternative Charts. He wrapped his Idol career with a performance of the song on Live with Kelly and Ryan.
Fritz has been hard at work in the studio, recording songs that are set to follow the release of “Bad Friend.”
