Friko, a duo formed by vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger in 2019, has received critical acclaim from outlets such as Pitchfork, SPIN, Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Paste. Several tracks from their latest album have appeared on multiple "Best of 2024" lists, including those from Vulture/New York Magazine, NPR Music, AV Club, and Paste, which named “Where We’ve Been” the top song of the year so far. The album also reached the Top 10 on the NACC Top 200 college radio chart and received airplay on stations like SiriusXMU, WXRT, and KUTX. Before touring with Royel Otis, Friko performed at major festivals including Lollapalooza, the Newport Folk Festival, and Fuji Rock. Drawing inspiration from Romantic-era classical music and art rock, their sound blends the rebellious energy of post-punk, the refinement of chamber pop, and the avant-garde spirit of experimental rock.