Freya Ridings is a talented artist, who was shot into the stratosphere when her single ‘Lost Without You’ was featured on Love Island, subsequently reaching and remaining on the charts for weeks. Her debut album is due to be released later this year. Our music editor got the chance to chat to Ridings ahead of this exciting year of touring and releases.

 

How has it been for you to have ‘Lost Without You’ reach the heights that it did, following its feature on Love Island? Were you expecting the reaction that you got?

 

Even after the song went into the Top 10, it still took a long time for the reality to sink in. I’d been lucky enough to have a few TV syncs before then, even on that same season of Love Island and nothing had sparked. So it really was jaw-dropping to see the amount of people who bought and Shazamed the song even 6 months after the show aired.

 

Your debut album is coming out later this year (May 31st), how has the writing process been for that?

 

Who said,“You have a lifetime to write your first record and a year to write your next?” Because that’s something I can very much relate with. Some of the songs on the album were started nine years ago and some were written just before recording. That’s why a self-titled debut album felt like the most authentic choice because it’s a real saga of the loves and losses of the last decade of my life.

 

Music is often very personal and yet very universal, dealing with themes such as heartbreak, like ‘Lost Without You’. What do you think motivates your music the most?

 

Songwriting and sitting at the piano has always been the thing that anchors me through the storms of my life. At school, I was shunned for being different and the piano room was a safe haven where I could actually sing my truth. Through heartbreak and turmoil, singing how I feel has always healed me in a way nothing else can.  

 

How did you get into writing and creating music like this? What was your journey like to this point?

 

Growing up, I was extremely dyslexic and struggled hugely at school. I always loved music and seeing my Dad writing songs on guitar just because he loved it really inspired me. I couldn’t read music which meant most of my teachers gave up on me. At the time, I was really ashamed but it actually meant I had to write my own songs by ear which is now something I have so much gratitude for.

 

Who would you say are your greatest musical influences?

 

My parents listened to a lot of singer-songwriters when I was growing; Sting, David Gray, Seal, and James Taylor were always their go to records. In my early teens, I started to be obsessed with strong female artists like Taylor Swift, Florence, Beyoncé and Adele who inspired me greatly with their honesty and strength.

 

And who are your guilty pleasures?

 

ABBA and Queen probably, but the pop writing is so exceptional I’m not even sure I feel guilty when listening. They’re truly stunning in their craft songs.

 

The music video for ‘Lost Without You’ was released recently – what was that like for you? What was the inspiration behind the video?

 

Working with the legendary female director Sophie Muller was a dream come true. She’s made some of my favourite music videos of all time, including Annie Lennox and Beyoncé, so when she said she wanted to work with me on Lost Without You, I was stunned. It was shot on the hottest day of last year on river boats in the Thames. Just a magical experience I’ll never forget.  

 

 

If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?

 

Amy Winehouse. She was born in the same area of north London as me and growing up she was a huge influence in terms of her brutally honest songwriting. She was taken too young and it would be an honour to see what she would have created next.   

 

Lastly, what are you most looking forward to in the next year?

 

Releasing the album on May 31st will be a moment that I truly won’t believe ‘til it’s happened. It feels like a strange and beautiful dream that I’ve even got to make it with people I’m so humbled to have worked with on it. Playing Glastonbury is also something that I’m incredibly excited for, as I’ve never even been before!

 

Ridings will be playing Cork, Limerick and Dublin in February and March. Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster. Her debut, self-titled album will be released on May 31st.