Why Was Freya Ridings Treated Like A Naughty Schoolchild In Her Own Music Career?

Freya Ridings performs on stage at Brixton Academy, arms outstretched to a crowd of phone lights, golden confetti frozen mid-air.

In 2017, Freya Ridings exploded onto the music scene with her debut album. Hits like Lost Without You and Castles earned her a Brit Award nomination and dominated the UK Top 40 for 6 months.

Freya Ridings sits small on a studio couch, arms wrapped around herself, as two producers tower over her with their backs turned.

For her second album Blood Orange, she was pushed into masculine-dominated studios with producers she didn’t choose. Her label downsized during the pandemic, key supporters left, and the entire situation turned toxic.

Split image: Freya crying on an Instagram Live call on a phone screen, next to a sold-out venue with fans holding lyric signs.

Blood Orange hit the Top 10 in early 2023 but vanished after just 1 week. Her label dropped her, she broke down on Instagram — but fans rallied, and she sold out a 32-date European tour.

Freya Ridings strides through an airport departure gate, looking back with a smirk, a one-way ticket to LAX visible in her pocket.

Ridings wanted to work with US producer Jen Decilveo, but her manager blocked it and hid Decilveo’s mutual interest. Defying control, she paid for her own ticket to Los Angeles — feeling like a naughty schoolchild.

Freya Ridings plays an upright piano in a sunlit LA café, surrounded by a small, attentive audience and potted plants.

Energised by rebellion, Ridings spent a year in LA writing powerful anthems like Euphoria and Wild Horse, plus heartfelt ballads like RUOK. She road-tested tracks at small café shows, rebuilding herself piece by piece.

Freya Ridings stands on a stadium stage with arms raised, facing a massive crowd of phone lights under a "Mother of Pearl" backdrop.

With new producers, a new label BMG, and a fresh team behind her, the third album Mother of Pearl arrives 29 May. The songs already conquered crowds on her Australian tour with OneRepublic.