An Interview with Aaron Frazer
On soul, style, and dressing like yourself.
“I think the difference between your clothes fitting you vs you fitting your clothes is a big one.”
Aaron Frazer is a Brooklyn-based, Baltimore-raised soul singer, drummer, and songwriter whose music — whether solo or as part of Durand Jones & The Indications — blends vintage sensibility with something personal and fresh.
I recently saw him at one of the funnest gigs I’ve ever been to, a night where Durand Jones & The Indications played their own tracks and some of Aaron’s solo work. No one in the room was standing still.
Frazer’s solo debut Introducing… was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, and he’s since become one of the most recognisable voices in contemporary soul. But what’s always stood out to me — beyond the falsetto, beyond the grooves — is his eye for clothing. I’ve read a number of interviews with him over the years, but always wished someone would ask him more about that side of things. So, ahead of the release of Flowers — the new Durand Jones & The Indications album, out 27 June — I took the chance to speak with Aaron about vintage shopping, white socks, hip-hop, and what makes great style.
Photo by bulova
As well as being a big fan of your music, your style is always something that I’ve liked about you. Have clothes always been important to you?
I appreciate that. I think they have been on some level. Growing up, my dad worked for a menswear company, and it was fun going into the shop with him, seeing all the different colored shirts and ties. But I didn’t really start looking for the mid-century vintage stuff till I got to college.
Credit bblowlvegas
I think your style shows just how timeless the mid-century look is. Was it your love of soul music that got you into that era?
Soul music and classic rock for sure, but also blues. In high school I fell in love with acoustic blues (pre-war through the 60s) and I’d encourage everyone to take a look at some of the bluesmen throughout those decades, because their style was amazing. When I started looking in thrift stores and vintage shops I also found the added bonus that a lot of mid-century clothes, especially 50s stuff, was cropped. I’m on the shorter side and finding clothes that actually fit drew me more into that style.
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I think it’s really cool to see how hip-hop has influenced you both musically and sartorially. What tips do you think people could learn from looking at artists of that genre?
Interesting question, and I think the answer varies a lot based on what era and what style you’re looking at. Hip-hop has now been around for half a century, is basically fused with pop music at this point, and has fractured into countless sub-genres. There’s no one cohesive look to hip-hop, and there hasn’t been for a long time. But from its inception hip-hop has innovated. It took existing tools like the turntable, and existing songs on vinyl records, repurposed and re-contextualized them to create something new but rooted in familiarity. Hip-hop is still driving much of the cutting edge of fashion (and slang and American culture at large), but most relevant to me, I’d look at Tyler, The Creator. He’s built a great brand with Le Fleur that takes its cues from classic ivy and continental style and fuses it with more youthful energy that can fit within streetwear.
Who are some of your own personal style icons that influence the way you dress?
Elvis, Gene Vincent, the rockabilly greats, the entire cast of Goodfellas, Miles Davis, people on the street, pictures of people’s grandparents, friends — the list is long and ever-expanding. Honestly, a lot of the photos that are most inspiring to me feature people who weren’t identified. Articles about car clubs in California, immigrants in London, kids living in NYC in the 70s in a Time magazine spread. It’s so crazy how well people dressed that you can find endless photos of incredible outfits, and it’s just random people. So random that you’ll never know who these people were. It’s remarkable to us now, but commonplace then.
Photo by sandyaltamirano_!
I’m very pleased that you’re also a devotee of the white socks and loafers look. Do you have a favourite pair of loafers you’re wearing at the moment?
Yeah, white socks are definitely my daily go-to. I probably started with that back in 2017? I remember my bandmate at the time telling me he thought it looked strange wearing black shoes, white socks and black pants, but it feels natural to have a break in colour at the ankle. As for loafers, Weejuns are always the go-to for me. I’m still rocking a pair I got in maybe 2019? I went to replace them last year because they have TONS of miles on them, but somehow, I think they’ve changed fit, because I now find myself between sizes. I sort of wonder if it’s a result of Weejuns becoming increasingly common in the streetwear world. But still I think GH Bass is the best you can find for the price.
Photo by Fabianfioto
I know you wear a lot of vintage pieces. Whilst you’ve been touring, where have been some of the best cities for picking up clothing?
Ya know these days I don’t have as much luck in the vintage shops. I have better luck arranging meetups here and there with collectors I’ve met online. A lot of vintage shops these days tend to have more 80s through Y2K pieces. And it’s understandable — the stuff I look for is 60–70 years old at this point! It’s getting more scarce every year.
With that being said, Tokyo is a place where you can still find incredible vintage of every era in impeccable condition. Japan’s collecting culture is pretty unrivaled, regardless of what your collecting focus is.
Are there any pieces in particular that you’re always on the lookout for?
Cropped jackets, particularly car club or hot rod stuff but also the classic rockabilly gabardine Ricky jackets. That stuff usually fits great without alteration and I can wear it while sitting at a drum set or singing up front or just going about my day.
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What’s at the top of your list at the moment?
Right now actually it’s been about the basics — 1940s–60s solid colour gabardine or rayon shirts, loop collar, bonus points for the flap pockets. It’s interesting that in a way the simple, solid colour mid-century pieces can be harder to find today than stuff with interesting prints and patterns. But it makes sense! That stuff got used the most and thereby destroyed faster. The more specific pieces survived with less wear.
Do you have any current favourite brands?
Needles is a great Japanese brand that fuses some classic elements with drapey Japanese sensibilities. Bode, Scott Fraser, Goody Vault, Brute, Colbo, Todd Snyder — all doing super cool things.
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To end on, what bit of advice would you give someone wanting to improve their style?
I know this is gonna sound cliché as hell, but feeling confident in what you’re wearing is as important as what you’re wearing. I’d encourage anyone to get their pants and shirts tailored, because I think that step used to be a given for many people, and now it’s not done nearly as much except with suits, for weddings etc. But the difference between your clothes fitting you vs. you fitting your clothes is a big one. Well-fitting clothes shouldn’t be reserved for special occasions.
But just as important as all that, if you’re around people who make you feel self-conscious about what you enjoy wearing, find a different crowd! Be yourself — you deserve to feel good in whatever way you choose to express yourself through clothes.
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It’s always a pleasure talking to someone who not only knows their references but wears them with ease. Aaron’s approach to clothing is grounded in the same things that make his music so powerful: an appreciation for history, an eye for detail, and a real sense of self.
His latest album Into the Blue is out now — the perfect summer companion, full of groove, warmth, and soul. Go give it a spin if you haven’t already. And Flower Moon, the new Durand Jones & The Indications album, drops 27 June.
Big thanks to Aaron for taking the time to sit down with me.