Ajay Bluejay Friese, a 28-year-old actor and singer-songwriter from Victoria, makes a notable appearance in the Kevin Kline new series titled American Classic. Filmed last summer in New York, this eight-episode series features Friese sharing scenes with award-winning actors such as Kevin Kline and Laura Linney.
Friese plays a key role as the boyfriend of the Beans’ daughter — central characters in the show — while also performing musically on screen. He describes the series as
absolutely hilarious but also incredibly heartfelt. At the premiere, I think I teared up like six times watching the first two episodes.
The show premiered streaming on March 1, with new episodes released weekly thereafter.
Plot and Character Dynamics in American Classic
American Classic follows Richard Bean, a self-absorbed Broadway star played by Kevin Kline, who returns to his hometown to rescue his family’s theatre after a public scandal. He chooses to stage Thornton Wilder’s Our Town as a means of revitalizing the theatre. Laura Linney plays Kristen Forrest Bean, Richard’s wife, adding depth to their familial struggles. Friese’s character brings additional emotional layers as Kristen and Richard’s daughter’s boyfriend.
Friese comments on his character:
He’s endearing and slightly embarrassing, and he’s also a singer-songwriter,
reflecting a blend of personal and professional identity that aligns with Friese’s real-life talents.
Collaboration with Hollywood Stars Enhances Friese’s Career
Working with high-profile performers has been an invaluable learning experience for Friese. Throughout filming, he simultaneously developed his music career, releasing “The Road,” the lead single from his upcoming debut album Postcards. Friese shares that Kline and Linney supported his musical endeavors beyond acting.
They helped with the cover art and stuff like that,
he explains.
And Laura Linney is a huge John Denver fan, and John Denver is one of my biggest musical influences.
The camaraderie and mentorship helped shape Friese’s artistic growth on multiple fronts.
Friese describes Kline as setting a playful tone on set:
He kept everything really light and really fun the whole time, and he’s just as funny off screen as he is on screen. He just goes for the joke and commits to it. He also improvises a lot, and that’s something I started to do as well. Sometimes it doesn’t work but sometimes it ends up being the funniest, most natural thing ever. And we can always do more takes.
Friese’s Upcoming Album Marks a Major Artistic Milestone
Despite the excitement surrounding American Classic, Friese’s focus remains on completing and releasing his album Postcards, set for March 13. The artist recorded the album over two years, dividing his time between Vancouver Island and Arizona, where he currently resides.
He reflects on the recording process:
I’ve never worked harder on anything, and I’ve never been prouder of anything,
emphasizing how deeply invested he is in this project. Much of the album was recorded in unique locations such as a studio on a blueberry farm in Saanich, part of Vancouver Island.
Friese also recorded many vocals in an Arizona yurt, appreciating its acoustic qualities:
It’s an amazing space to record because it’s completely dead, no reverberations, and I have no neighbours as well, so I can record at three a.m. at the top of my lungs.
Themes and Style of Postcards Album Reflect Friese’s Personal Journey
The album explores universal emotions framed through Friese’s lens of folk and country music. He explains the thematic focus:
love and longing and heartbreak, but with a hopeful air.
The songs lean heavily on sparse acoustic arrangements, highlighting their folk roots.
Friese hopes the music resonates emotionally:
I hope it connects with people emotionally,
he said.
The songs explore love, longing and being torn between life paths — themes people can see themselves in.
This album is more than a creative side venture; it is an expression of his artistic identity.
Previous Musical Exposure and Local Recognition Complement Acting
American Classic is not Friese’s first screen performance featuring his singing. Earlier, during production of the Netflix series Lost in Space in Vancouver, he performed a folk lullaby version of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds. Remarkably, the rendition earned 80,000 Shazams, an achievement Friese described as both mind-boggling and exciting.
His musical accomplishments have been acknowledged locally as well; in February, a Victoria radio station named him their band of the month. Friese credits his upbringing in Victoria, surrounded by ocean and forest, for influencing his sound and artistic sensibilities.
Growing up around the ocean and he forest definitely draws me towards natural, grounded beauty, and the beauty in the unpolished textures of nature itself,
he said.
Supporting Local Arts and Theatrical Heritage through New Projects
The release of American Classic arrives at a time when audiences are eager for authentic stories and performances that blend humor with heartfelt narratives. With Kevin Kline and Laura Linney heading the cast, the series champions family dynamics, artistic passion, and personal growth set against the backdrop of theatre arts.
Friese’s involvement highlights emerging Canadian talent capable of engaging international viewers. His dual role as actor and musician bridges creative industries and reinforces connections between screen and music.
As episodes continue to stream weekly, viewers can expect an entertaining yet touching portrayal of a family’s attempt to save their home theatre while exploring themes of redemption and reconciliation.
