A smooth, funk-fluent R&B band based in Los Angeles,
Free Nationals recorded and performed extensively with Grammy-winning artist
Anderson .Paak before they branched out with a self-titled album in 2019.
Keyboardist Ron Avant (aka T. Nava), drummer Matthew Marisola (aka
Callum Connor), bassist Kelsey Gonzalez, and guitarist José Rios took the name
Free Nationals after working with
Paak. Session-wise, Avant and Rios go back with
Paak to the late 2000s. The whole quartet became integral to the latter's progression on
Malibu, a 2017 breakthrough nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Urban Contemporary Album. The band's distinct identity came into focus with extensive touring in support of
Paak. After two additional albums with
Paak,
Oxnard and
Ventura, and a handful of guest-fronted singles on their own, Avant, Marisola, Gonzalez, and Rios put the finishing touches on the full-length
Free Nationals. Released digitally toward the end of 2019 (with physical editions arriving early the following year), the LP featured appearances from the likes of
Paak,
Daniel Caesar, Syd,
Kali Uchis, and
Mac Miller. It debuted at number three on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. ~ Andy Kellman