Moosic: Do you have a story behind your artist name?
Rhiannon Raine: My college roommate and I used to read tarot cards all the time. One night we did a really cryptic reading about a creative project we were supposed to start, which we decided was this band. Calling it The Fool’s Agenda is a nod to that reading, and the fact that we had no idea what we were doing when we started it.
Tell us a bit about your music journey. How has it shaped you?
I’ve been writing songs for as long as I can remember. I grew up playing guitar, violin, and piano, and had a band in high school where it was just those instruments and vocals – no bass, drums, nothing electric. Just friends who loved to make art together, and there was something really sacred about that. Starting this band while I was in college has changed me in ways I didn’t realize it would – I’ve had to learn how to run a business, how to market myself, market my friends, and be intimate with strangers in a way I’m still learning to be comfortable with. It was a big change from busking in the park with two or three friends for spare change before Instagram was really even a thing. It’s made me much more resilient, more extroverted in some ways and more introverted in others. I’ve gone from feeling isolated and misunderstood and writing from that place, to understanding that no matter how I’m feeling, somebody else out there feels the same way.
How would you describe your sound to someone unfamiliar with it?
We’ve been playing with the term “grunge pop” recently, and I feel like that’s a good descriptor. We’re a little grungy, a little bluesy, a little punk, with fun choruses I like to get the audience singing along to. I call it music for fairies in combat boots.
What drew you to the genre /instruments you’re playing right now?
Gut instinct. We started as a much different project than we are now – think store-brand Fleetwood Mac. We never had one conversation about intentionally changing our direction to our current sound, but we’ve had lineup changes and lots of conversations about trying to put our finger on what our current sound is. It’s truly just the midpoint of all of our influences coming together.
What inspires you to write music?
Life? That’s such a cop-out answer, but it’s true! Everything that moved me from the time I was little, I had to write about it. Lyrics and poetry feel so much more authentic to me than free-writing prose about it; the creative liberties you can use to evoke the specific emotion you felt in others is its own type of magic. Like freezing time, or bringing something back to life.
Would you tell us about your current project, album/EP, or song you’re promoting?
Our newest single “Dumb (Take Me Out)” is one of my favorite songs we’ve ever written. It’s making fun of the people in this industry who peacock so hard and don’t focus enough on what we’re actually here for – the music, and community. It’s also making fun of myself, for getting caught up in the past with people who act like that and think that’s the way to become a “rockstar.” Music becomes a lot more fun when you realize nobody here is cool, so you don’t have to pretend. You make a lot more friends that way, too.
What do you want listeners to take away from listening to your music?
That it’s okay to be exactly who you are! The world would be a boring, lonely place without freaks and geeks and weirdos and fae creatures (and Fools!).
Who are your top three artists right now? If that’s not a fair question, what’s your favorite song right now?
Oof, that’s hard. Recently I’ve been loving modern grunge bands like The Jins and Return to Dust, and I think Sofia Isella is unbelievable – “Doll People” is a masterpiece.
What’s the easiest way for fans to connect with you?
You can check The Fool’s Agenda out on Instagram (@thefoolsagenda), and I’ve been trying to post more frequently on TikTok so you can find me on there at @rhiannon.raine! You can listen to our music anywhere you stream.
Homepage: https://www.thefoolsagenda.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefoolsagenda
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefoolsagenda
Bandcamp: https://thefoolsagenda.bandcamp.com/
What’s next for you?
Our new album drops in October! After that, we’ve got some plans in the works…but I’ll have to keep you hanging for now.
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
We’ll be opening for Pearl at Warehouse XI on August 15th, and playing a bunch of shows leading up to, around, and after the album release. Hit us up on Instagram to find out where and when and come hang with us at the next show!
Bio:
The Fool’s Agenda are a grunge-pop band known for sharp lyricism, high-energy live shows, and a sound that hits somewhere between a throwback and a breakdown. Led by powerhouse vocalist Rhiannon Raine, the Salem (MA) quartet blend gritty alt-rock riffs, bluesy grooves, and catchy pop hooks to create music that is both bratty and bold; it’s unapologetic, emotionally raw, and dangerously fun.
Since forming after the pandemic, The Fool’s Agenda have sold out Boston-area venues like The Middle East Upstairs and The Jungle, performed at regional festivals such as The Big E in West Springfield and Veterans Rock Music Festival on Cape Cod, and built a passionate fanbase across their native Massachusetts.
Fit for a playlist alongside Olivia Rodrigo, Meg and Dia, Paramore, and The Pretty Reckless, The Fool’s Agenda’s bold and engaging sound converges in a melting pot of messy glitter and beat up Chucks, creating a cathartic space for those who grew up screaming in their bedrooms and haven’t stopped since.
After the release of a string of singles, including March’s “Monsters,” May’s “Feel So High” and August’s “Dumb (Take Me Out),” The Fool’s Agenda are set to release their sophomore album this October. Fool around and find out.
