Words: Linn Branson
18-year-old Connar Ridd from Essex is a prime example of how talent, determination, a few lucky breaks and a winning personality can help realise your dreams.
Now better known to his burgeoning fanbase as simply FREAK, this time just 10 months ago he was working part-time in a local Chelmsford Co-op while studying at college, in between which he was holed up in his bedroom beavering away at the tracks which would go on to form his first EP, 'What Happened?'
Then in early February he approached Little Indie, which resulted in our Introducing feature, and in turn was picked up by John Kennedy on Radio X after our post - who was so impressed he played two FREAK tracks on the same show - Phil Taggart at Radio One, and piqued the interest of labels, A&Rs and general media folk.
Armed with a set of explosive, hi-energy songs that walk the tightrope between raucous Nirvana-style riffs and indelible pop melodies, he has in the last months gone on to tour with Sundara Karma, play festivals such as Reading & Leeds over the summer, and last Friday released visceral new single ‘Nowhere’ via FREAK Recordings, with an accompanying video shot during his support tour with Sundara Karma.
‘Nowhere’ distils the bottled-up discontentment and teen angst into three minutes of fuzz-laden riffs and frenetic percussion. Speaking about the video, Ridd says: "Touring with Sundara Karma was insane, the shows and crowds were sick. 'Nowhere', a track about where my life is going, seemed to really connect with the crowds.”
FREAK joins Bad Sounds for two live shows next month.
November
29 LONDON Camden Assembly
30 BRISTOL Exchange
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