No Tribe, No Borders: Fredy V and the Sound of a Connected Diaspora

October 31, 2025

Written by Christopher Joseph (@wolfwarriorchris @Cameradatediaries)

Photography provided by Take Aim Media

We had the chance to catch up with Fredy V, one of the visionaries behind The Foundation, as he continues building momentum from Portugal to Canada and beyond. His new album No Tribe, No I is not just a release. It is a statement about community, identity, and the sound of a global diaspora learning to reconnect.

Fredy’s journey began in collaboration. Musicians from Montreal’s funk and R&B scene got together to experiment, and something clicked. “It started as a hang,” he says, laughing. But those jam sessions turned into a movement. They became The Foundation, a collective rooted in soul and fluent in the many sounds of Black music worldwide.

A major turning point arrived in Praia, Cape Verde at the Atlantic Music Expo. Performing for thousands and connecting with local artists, Fredy recognized a deeper mission in their work. “It showed me where the music actually comes from,” he says. Cape Verdean rhythms like Borna, Batuca, and Funana felt familiar, echoing Haiti, Jamaica, the Washington DC upbringing that shaped him, and the wider Afro Caribbean network of influence. The Foundation reflects that same global map: Haiti, Ghana, Senegal, Trinidad, the Philippines, China, Italy, Canada. A world gathering around groove.

No Tribe, No I is rooted in this discovery. The title captures the balance between collective energy and personal identity. Fredy points to legends like Prince and D Angelo, artists who expanded sound by elevating the artists around them. “You need tribe,” he says. “But you still need to bring your own fire. There is no I without the We.”

Fredy’s path has also been shaped by Montreal and Quebec’s music industry, where Black male artists are often reduced to two stories. Hip hop or pain. His life does not fit either mold. “I am from the DMV. I grew up urban, but I was not the stereotypical story they expect,” he says. His music expands the range of Black identity visible in Canada.

The album unfolds like a map. Freddy breaks down the first three tracks as if they are stages of a journey.

“Didn’t You Know”

This is lift off. The moment you choose possibility over comfort. Fredy captures the excitement of stepping into a new place, hearing new sounds, and trusting that the next chapter will be worth the leap.

“No Tribe, No I”

The heart of the album. A celebration of belonging without losing yourself. It is about meeting the people who expand your identity and discovering the pieces of you that only emerge in community.

“Find Me”

Growth brings distance. Fredy taps into the ache of missing the people who shaped you. “Find Me” makes nostalgia a compass, reminding listeners that roots still matter when you are searching for new soil.

“It is about travel,” he says. “But also staying connected. Even from far away, your tribe is still your tribe.” Much of the writing happened while Fredy moved between Lisbon and Brazil, using technology to keep the band locked in. Distance has only strengthened their chemistry.

That chemistry comes alive on stage. The Foundation treats performance like a craft. Fredy distinguishes their experience from artists who go viral before stepping under live lights. “We are ready,” he says simply.

This summer, that readiness brings The Foundation across Canada. Quebec and Ontario in July. The West Coast in August. The shows welcome every generation. Aunties dancing beside young creatives. Kids absorbing rhythms they will one day pass forward. Fredy is also building new bridges through international collaborations, including a remix with a Cape Verdean artist based in Boston.

He shares a memory from a recent trip back to Washington DC. He walked into a barbershop and heard African music booming from the speakers, while Black American barbers sang every lyric. “When I was younger, that would have felt impossible,” he says. “Now it is normal. People know more about each other. There is more love. More curiosity.” The diaspora is recognizing itself again.

That recognition needs infrastructure. Fredy has built a home base online through bandfoundation.ca, encouraging fans to stay connected and support independent artists through platforms like Bandcamp. It is not just a website. It is a community hub.

As we wrap up, I ask how fans can keep up with him as he moves from city to city, forming new creative tribes everywhere he lands. His answer is simple. “Check the website.”

No Tribe, No I is more than an album title. It is a reminder that identity is strongest when shared. The sound of a global community breathing together again.