Free Range Buddhas started in 2016 as a collaboration between Santa Fe's sultry powerhouse vocalist/songwriter Francesca Jozette and seasoned Seattle rocker Matt McClinton. In the spring of 2017 the duo released a self-titled EP, for which they hired some of Santa Fe's top session players. The Free Range Buddhas EP received many positive reviews and obtained an award for Best Pop album of 2017 from The New Mexico Music Awards. After such a positive reception, the duo decided to expand into a full blown band in 2019. It took a couple of tries to find the perfect players to complete Jozette and McClinton's vision, but the best things in life are often right under one's nose. It dawned on them one day that two of Jozette’s coworkers at her local music store were top notch musicians! Jacob Montiel and Justin Pucila together were like Jerry Garcia, Gabor Szabo, Steven Stills and Lindsey Buckingham, rolled up into one dynamic duo. Naturally they came along as a package deal. Following the arrival of the psychedelic rock twins, Santa Fe School of the Arts graduate, Malachi Roberts on drums completes the ultimate Buddhas lineup. "Free Range Buddhas clearly have great chemistry and there's a real feeling of synergy between each and every member that ensures the music is injected with the necessary spirit and vitality it requires" -Andre Avanessian, Raidoairplay.com
Free Range Buddhas is a psychedelic rock and roll band with chewy space phaser vibes and a sparkly folk-punk mystique. These qualities are showcased in their latest album "Ritual," released March 25th 2022. They have a classic vintage feel, embracing some of their more far-out tendencies while cultivating a modern rock sound that is uniquely their own with a folk-punk underbelly that keeps everything driving and pulsating. The music of Free Range Buddhas pulls folks up out of their chairs and onto the dance floor. They want you to let your freak flag fly and follow the music wherever it takes you! Front woman, Francesca Jozette, writes songs with an essence of mysticism, raw emotion, and tenderly soulful vulnerability. Her lyrics are clever and catchy, and the band's grooves make you want to boogie. Boogie on friends!