Album Review: Freya Ridings, Freya Ridings

It’s been just over four months since Freya Ridings delivered her debut studio EP, but the soulful North Londoner is clearly wasting no time. Building on the success of a string of massive hit singles, she now presents her full-length debut on the crest of an almost overwhelming wave of adulation and expectations.

Of course, many people will have their minds made up about Freya before she even gets a chance to sing the first note. Catapulted to fame via a Love Island song appearance, and a series of viral Instagram videos, it’d be tempting to dismiss her as another likely flash-in-pan BRIT School alum who can belt out a few ballads. But with an impressive live profile stretching across hundreds of gigs, there’s no denying that Freya Ridings is a serious artist, who has put in the daunting hard work – and her debut album proves it.

Comparisons to Florence + The Machine abound – largely due to the fact that they’re both red-haired Londoners with commanding, expressive voices. But while Florence revels in her otherworldly persona, Freya trades in songs and lyrics that are unquestionably, immeasurably human.

The stunning opener ‘Poison’ will hook even the sceptics. Whether expressing herself in a whisper or a powerhouse roar, her vocals are wonderfully captivating, with a deep, emotional resonance. Drum embellishments add an intriguing new dimension to her piano-led sound. Her latest single, the radio-ready pop hit ‘Castles’, also marks a departure from the lovelorn ballads, with its punchy, driving beat and irresistible chorus. ‘Holy Water’ similarly pushes towards a new direction, and finds her aspiring after the pop-soul energy of Hozier – though the gospel element doesn’t fully hit the mark here.

However, torch songs are Freya’s established metier, and from ‘You Mean The World To Me’ to ‘Still Have You’, they’re still here in force. While the likes of ‘Blackout’ isn’t breaking any new musical ground, it remains a spectacular admission of her rawest vulnerabilities. Similarly, ‘Lost Without You’, delving into tear-jerking territory in a way that rivals the best of Adele, still achieves a perfect balance of poignancy and power, a full year since its original release.

The unstated, yet darkly captivating ‘Ultraviolet’, meanwhile, is a standout. It’s a quietly intense, haunting track that signals a mature turn for Freya, as she continues to define herself as an artist. It was the raw power of Freya’s live EPs that first attracted her devout following, and while her full-length debut is lushly produced, the authenticity at the centre of her bedroom-penned songs remains at the heart of her appeal. Whether she’ll achieve the ocean-crossing megastardom of Adele or Florence remains to be seen, but there’s no gainsaying the fact that Freya Ridings is a real, serious, long-term talent. Despite her natural inclination towards the melancholy, the triumph of her debut album is surely something to smile about.

8/10

Out now.