The Lumineers' Jeremiah Fraites Explores a New Creative Craving: 'It's Definitely a Passion of Mine' (Exclusive)

"'Piano Piano 2' serves as a sort of resume to any potential directors that would ever want some cool instrumental type stuff for their movie," the musician explains

The Lumineers' Jeremiah Fraites has long loved a good movie.

"I especially love the ones with storylines that include tragedy and heartbreak and joy, with a hint of sadness spiked with a little bit of hope and optimism," says Fraites, 38, in an interview with PEOPLE. "Movies that come to mind are movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or The Shawshank Redemption. I would love to score a movie such as that."

Granted, Fraites seems to already have his hands full as the co-founder/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist of The Lumineers, best known for their hits such as "Ho Hey," "Ophelia" and "Stubborn Love." Fraites also splits his personal time between homes in Italy and Colorado.

Fraites is also becoming increasingly known as a solo artist of instrumental albums such as Piano Piano and Piano Piano 2, and just released the deluxe edition of Piano Piano 2. It’s his second solo album in a row to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Albums Chart. Nevertheless, scoring an album is definitely on his professional and creative bucket list.

"Piano Piano 2 serves as a sort of resume or calling card to any potential directors in the industry that would ever want some cool instrumental type of stuff for their movie," explains Fraites, who was born and raised in New Jersey. "It’s definitely a passion of mine to do someday."

For now, however, Fraites is basking in the success of Piano Piano 2.

"Even if you're up against the 10-second attention span of the generation of 2020, there's always going to be people that listen to the whole album front-to-back on vinyl or listens to it on their streaming service front-to-back," Fraites explains. "I'm going to cater to that person because I still believe in the album, and I still believe in that kind of vibe."

It's a similar vibe that has been sewn throughout the tapestry of The Lumineers for many years. "I approach these Piano Piano instrumental records the same way that I approach writing Lumineers albums," says Fraites, who will celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Lumineers next year alongside longtime bandmate Wesley Schultz. "I think that we've always been fans of making albums. It's always been important to make an album, so you have a sequence that means something."

Related: Five Things to Know About The Lumineers

In terms of Piano Piano 2, Fraites says he created music on multiple pianos in multiple locations, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston to Denver to the Catskill Mountains. "You have to cater to that piano," says Fraites. "That's what I love about these instrumental records."

But there are other sounds also featured on Piano Piano 2 — sounds that he says he would never want to miss experiencing.

"There is this sense of noise in the background," concludes Fraites. "On the song ‘Ghosts,’ you can hear this fantastic cellist named Rubin Kodheli who takes these deep gaspy breaths and at first, I thought we needed to get rid of those. But then, I realized that's the humanity of it."

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