EP Review: Freya – Wildest Creatures I’ve Dreamed

North Shore teen Freya serves up her Wildest Creatures I’ve Dreamed.

There is history for Takapuna Grammar in Devonport producing female singer songwriters known by a single name. Alice Jones, who uses her middle name Freya for performing, was the Secondary winner of the Depot Artspace competition for North Shore school songwriters.

Part of the prize was the practical support to cut this five track EP at Depot Sounds Studios. This studio support has helped produce an EP with a powerful sonic palette for her evocative songwriting and captivating singing.

The EP brings together songs that were heard on the Live EP released at the start of the year and unrecorded material. Whereas on previous releases Freya’s gentle voice was accompanied only by her sparse guitar playing here there is a range of additional instruments and ambient sounds. Phoebe Bridgers and dodie are acknowledged, and recognisable, as major influences and the tone of these tracks is a bit darker and sadder than the self description of it as soft pop.

The lyrics are typically in the first person and address another person who is the object of unrequited, and perhaps unknown, desire. In the opening track New Years. Freya sings slowly and quietly to paint a picture of hopelessness and dependence as she waits for a response to her feelings, “All those wasted hours All my tears Spent on wanting you”. The delicate reverb of the guitar playing combines with strings to conjure a feeling of regret or missed opportunity.

The rumbling ambient noises and layered harmonies of Take U Away suit the sad lyrics about the end of a relationship “Take me Away I have no reason to stay” and they undercut the outro of jaunty piano and guitar rhythm.  Tumble. a short two minute piece that offers the resigned promise “I’ll tumble into your arms,” also ends ambiguously, in this case there is a thunder of drums that creates a sense of ongoing emotional turmoil.

The images used in the songs are typically from nature, there are references to sky, stars and birds, and in the final two songs, the sea. In Swim To You, Freya sings “Guide me to your shores” over a picked guitar as she tries to connect with her lover. The variation in the guitar tone and the sound of her sliding up and down the frets adds to the intimacy of the lyrics. The final track, Liquid Honey, uses a simple guitar strum, ghostly vocals and ambient sounds to frame a story about falling for a new love using the image of “…the crashing waves” as “…the sun is setting” to set the scene. The song ends with a lengthy musical coda that reinforces a feeling of calm.

Across these five tracks the intimate lyrics capture the feelings of longing for connection, unrequited love and hope for the future. The music serves the reflective lyrics well and allows the ethereal vocals to command your attention.

It will be great to catch these song at the live at one of the shows in Auckland in July. On the16th Freya plays at The Vic in Devonport, on 21st at Movespace, Dominion Road, Mount Eden, and on 27th at The Thirsty Dog on K Road.

John Bradbury

Watch the 13th Floor MusicTalk interview with Freya here:

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