Introduce Yourselves: FREE MACHINE

What is the name of your band?

Free Machine

What is the genre of music that you play?

Grunge, 90s Alt Rock

Can you give a brief history of the band of how it came together and where it is today?

Clint (guitar) and Bryan (drums) are school friends who played together in a previous hard rock band called STONECOLLAR. After their eventual end, Clint and Bryan kept jamming together and recording the odd track. They would use YouTube to source vocalists and bassists that fit the sound they were going for.

During the COVID lockdown Clint got back into his classic grunge era music and it was this that was the actual inspiration for the entire Free Machine project. He would go onto use alternate tunings used by Soundgarden and create a library of riffs that he would then jam and compose with Bryan into 6 final tracks that they felt embodied the spirit, vibe and style of the 90s alt rock scene.

When it came to finding the singer however, they wanted a single vocalist that would be able to deliver on all tracks. After posting ads online it was eventually on a Facebook music group page that Glenn Bradford would reply. His demos were exactly what they were after and so Clint would send over the lyrics and vocal suggestions for what he was imagining and Glenn would re-interpret and refine these into what would be the final vocals.

Glenn also helped recruit his former bandmate in Smugg Juggler, Brendan Haupt and a very active bassist on the Cape Town music scene. Brendan had all the necessary chops to add his own stamp on the recordings.

Throughout the entire process the band have only ever met in-person once. A ‘pre-production’ get together to discuss the songs and the recording process they would use. The chemistry between the four is unbelievable and evident on the EP.

What can people expect from your music?

It’s very much a love letter to the 90s alt rock scene. The grungy riffs and melodies are evident all over the album. For the band members, each track is all about the music. There’s no care or thought for radio edits, or what will sell to the modern listener. The 90s is actively making a comeback across many channels, and no music speaks more to the listener than that of the 90s.

What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?

The debut EP, Dead Echoes

Where can people find you on Social Media?

Instagram - @freemachine.band/
Facebook - @thefreemachineband
Youtube - @freemachineband

The debut EP, Dead Echoes, can be found on all listening platforms.

GRUNGE ROCKERS FREE MACHINE UNVEILS POWERFUL NEW SGLE AND LYRIC VIDEO FROM THEIR DEBUT ALBUM

Independent grunge-rock collective Free Machine release their latest single and accompanying lyric video, offering listeners a deeply emotional and sonically rich experience. Born from a shared love of ‘90s alternative rock, the band’s newest track serves as both an homage to their influences and a poignant reflection on personal loss.

Free Machine is more than just a band—it's a passion project crafted by four ex-musicians who left the gig and tour scene behind but never lost their love for creating music. Drawing inspiration from legends like Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam, the band members—Glenn Bradford (vocals, mixing), Clint Jurgens (guitar), Bryan Nicol (drums), and Brendan Haupt (bass)—collaborated remotely to craft their debut EP, proving that distance is no barrier when the vision is clear.

Musically, the new single Black Seasons is “somewhat of the inspired lovechild of Black Hole Sun and Chris Cornell’s solo hit Seasons,” according to the band. The lyrics were influenced by a powerful scene from the film Wind River, where a grieving Native American father learns to cope with the devastating loss of his daughter.

“The song is about the loss of someone very close and the pain we all go through when we experience such an event,” says Free Machine. “But the message is meant to be about how you will hurt, yet keep those memories close, and eventually, you will be able to revisit them with a smile.”

For Free Machine, songwriting begins with the music. “Once I had that intro, it immediately spawned the epic and moody feel that the rest of the song just had to follow,” explains guitarist Clint Jurgens. “The chorus was pretty much served up to me on a platter at that point. The bridge was an exciting challenge—breaking from what had been a steady emotional build, we wanted it to reflect the struggle of letting go, pushing toward the final send-off.”

Unlike most bands launching an album, Free Machine is taking a different approach. “There is no ‘bigger picture’ here,” they say. “No marketing pushes, no endless promo runs, no events or concerts. This is simply about making good music and sharing it with like-minded rock fans.”

Buy / Stream Dead Echoes

Follow Free Machine

Facebook | Instagram

Thanks to Plug Music Agency for all of the details.