Freya Arde is an award-winning composer, guitarist and music producer from Germany who has scored a number of feature films including such heavyweight documentaries as Riefenstahl (2024) and Corridors of Power (2023). Her first release as a solo artist goes back a few years, a delightful EP called Spirit Awake (2020) which was enthusiastically covered here on the blog, so it came as welcome news that this year would bring us her first full-length record. E C H O finds the multi-talented Arde exploring deeply personal emotional territory across a lovely set of songs which she has centered around the electric guitar and fleshed out with piano, bass, Moog synthesizer, and the added depth of a talented string quartet.
E C H O is like a diary of finding my inner voice again, connecting with others and seeing my role in the world…
Freya Arde
Arde developed the material over a three-year span which views as a time of growth as well as “healing, getting rid of old patterns and overcoming misconceptions of [herself]”. She also confesses that since she was originally a classical guitarist, it took time to gain the confidence to release the music featuring the electric, but we can be glad she finally did as they came out beautifully and her tender approach to the instrument allows it to emerge as a key narrative voice in the songs. Add in the piano lines, atmospherics, and heart-rending string sections and it all adds up to a gorgeous and deeply affecting album.
E C H O is available now as a digital release direct from the artist. The album was mastered by and features photography by Anne-Laure Etienne, costume design by Teresa Grosser & Alba Diaz, and album artwork by Sandra Winkelmann.
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Links: Bandcamp (digital) | Freya Arde
