Refestramus will be releasing a new music video, “Fox on the Run” only on YouTube at https://youtu.be/fQGJzCQ0qsY this Friday, March 14, at 12PM CT/10 AM PT/5 PM UK time. The cover of the Sweet classic by Chicago’s prog punkers was inspired by the band’s multi-instrumentalist Derek Pavlic for a number of reasons as noted by the group’s wizard/songwriter/drummer Derek Ferguson of his bandmate’s love of the synthesizer sound and that “the song has a great hook.” While the original Sweet original used an ARP Odyessy, Refestramus’ version starts with Apple’s Garageband app on iPad for the synthesizer sound.
In fact, the whole recording other than drums and vocals was recorded on an iPad before being mixed and mastered by Ian Beabout at his studio.
Derek Pavlic played keyboards, guitars, and bass. Craig Cairns sang all the vocals. The recording was engineered and produced by Refestramus’ long-time producer, Colouratura’s Ian Beabout.
Unavailable on streaming digital sites like iTunes or Spotify, Refestramus’ “Fox on the Run” is exclusively on YouTube, and is mainly an A.I. presentation except for Agent M, dancing, running, and making joyful faces to the song, plus band member shots. However Derek Ferguson loves playing with A.I., and turned his bandmates into glam stars, most notably the end of the video with Craig’s face as a fox. He also has an A.I. fox visiting him and Derek Pavlic in the recording studio.
Refestramus is currently working on their third studio album with Crack the Sky’s Rick Witkowski at his Studio L recording studio in Weirton, West Virginia. Ian Beabout is once again in the producer’s chair, aiming for a release shortly before the band plays UK’s HRH Prog Fest, in Yarmouth this fall. The group will be playing the International Pop Overthrow Fest in Chicago this spring. Refestramus was born May 2020 as Derek’s home studio project during the COVID pandemic They released “Decoupage” in 2021, and “Intourist” in 2024.
