Hello London is the solo project of Buffalo-based songwriter James Froese. Since 2021, Hello London has released 3 EP’s and 3 full length albums. He has opened for acts such as Sincere Engineer, Fred Mascherino, and Tough Old Bird. In 2025, Hello London released The Shoreline Sessions, a mostly acoustic album that draws influence from early emo bands. I recently reviewed their single, “Crowns,” on the AMS Radio blog.

How long have you been making music, and how did you get into it?

I started my first band at age 9 with a friend of mine and my brother. My parents put me in guitar lessons around that time and I played the standup bass in the orchestra at school. I’ve been playing in bands on and off ever since.

Your project is called Hello London, but you’re based in Buffalo, New York. What does the project name signify to you?

I’ve always considered the best rock music to come from the UK and I have always been fascinated with the Manchester scene from the 90’s. So i used to play in a band called Farewell, Manchester and this name was just a silly play on that old band name.

I like that! Do you record with a full band, or do you play all of the instruments on your recordings?

So far for this project I have played all the instruments myself, although I do have a song set for my next album that features vocals by my wife Joanna.

How would you describe your live show?

I play solo acoustic at this point so it’s pretty intimate and i like to think that I have a sense of humor and can make people laugh in between songs.

Your latest single, “Crowns,” has a strong emo vibe. How does it compare with the rest of your catalog?

Some of my songs lean more towards the emo genre and some of them are more indie rock or alternative. I think the genres can sometimes blend together and bands can kind of skate between the two. So while I think it’s a little emotional I also think it’s pretty similar in feel to songs like The Brink or The World Is Wrong.

Lyrically, the song is about the end of a relationship—and also the end of a dream. What inspired it?

I think I was just inspired by the realities of becoming an adult and realizing that things don’t always work out the way you want them to.

I love the cool psychedelic break toward the end of the song. Did you always know it would be part of the recording?

No, that was a little spur of the moment. I actually had a longer spoken word section in there originally, but I tamed it down because I felt the original version was a little too intense and off topic.

Is “Crowns” part of a larger project, or is it meant to stand alone?

“Crowns” will be included on my upcoming album that will be released in the summer of 2026.

What’s on the horizon for you?

Hopefully to just keep playing shows when time allows, and to keep writing, recording, and hopefully improving my sound.