Some of the most significant bands in modern culture started small in high school. Bands such as U2, Green Day, and even The Beatles all began their music journey during the later years of school. One band with a strong connection to Franklin, FRENZI, is climbing in popularity among students and peers throughout the Portland community.
The five–member band, FRENZI, began as part of a program called My Voice Music (MVM). Founded in 2008, the organization was created to teach young people how to write, record, and produce music. MVM’s main program, AMPLIFY, has classes for people aged 9 to 24. The organization started as an outreach program to improve youth mental health through music. In 2014, they opened their first youth-centered performance space, where students can practice in open recording studios, access a variety of instruments, and perform at open mic nights. FRENZI connected through MVM’s AMPLIFY: HIGH SCHOOL class. “You sign up, and play music with students from [other] high schools, or even homeschooled [people],” explains V Goetz, lead singer of FRENZI.
AMPLIFY allowed the members to meet once a week to record music in an easy-to-access environment. The joint sessions brought together FRENZI’s five members: lead singer V Goetz, rhythm guitarist Aurelio Giovanetti, bass player Ingrid Christiansen, lead guitarist Ozzy Goetz, and drummer Wolfgang Finlay. While the band members are mainly from Franklin, Christiansen and Finlay attend different schools. MVM programs helped FRENZI come together and make music more easily.
One of the first opportunities to create and perform a song was at Franklin’s 2024 band benefit show, in which various bands performed to spread awareness of the harms happening to children in Gaza, as well as to gain profits for the cause. FRENZI played their song “Goodbye,” an emo song written with the idea of a music video in mind. “We want[ed] to have something for this benefit show,” said Giovanetti. “So [we wrote ‘Goodbye’], and that became our first song.” This performance pushed the band to continue experimenting and creating. FRENZI’s songs draw inspiration from bands such as Filter, Wednesday, and Weezer. They predominantly follow a punk sound, with pop influences.
FRENZI has played at many different venues, including a stage performance at Pickathon, the annual summer music festival in Happy Valley, in 2024 and 2025; PDX Pop Now at the Midtown Beer Garden in 2024; and the Portland Winter Ice Rink in 2025. In addition to these venues, FRENZI performed in MVM’s showcase gala in 2024, and their song “Arizona” was featured on PDX Pop Now’s playlist compilation of local Portland artists, which can be purchased at local music stores such as Music Millennium and Tomorrow Records.
Support from Franklin’s community has helped FRENZI to kickstart their career. As three of the members have attended school at Franklin, fellow students make up a large amount of their fans. With their performance at the benefit show two school years ago, FRENZI introduced themselves to the community. “[The benefit show] originated our fanbase from Franklin,” said Goetz. “When we first made our T-shirts, there were so many people around Franklin wearing [them].” FRENZI’s members have also been recognized in public outside of the Franklin community, especially after their Pickathon stage performances.
As one member has graduated since the band’s initial formation, the group has put their music production on pause. “We all got busy, and we’re not ending it forever, just [taking a] hiatus,” said Goetz. While they were still active, FRENZI met every Thursday at MVM in an open studio room, playing instruments and creating new songs. While the band had easy access to a variety of instruments and technology to aid the creation of their songs, the process was not always easy. Giovanetti explains how songwriting can be a lengthy and frustrating process, “When you first make it, it doesn’t sound great, but then you need to just stick with the idea and keep going with it.” He says, “Eventually it’ll sound like something that you wanted it to sound like at first.” Even with the challenges that may transpire, the group has continued to push boundaries and pursue their musical ideas.
As the summer approaches, FRENZI plans to have a reunion show. While the date is not yet official, fans and those interested can keep up with new announcements through their Instagram account, @Frenzimvm. For students aspiring to start a band, it is important to persist through doubt and perfectionism, as music isn’t always easy or flawless. “We’re still developing [new] songs, and we want to put out an album,” said Goetz. Though the band is currently on a break, the members intend to keep experimenting and creating new music in preparation for their return.
