A Chat with Bobby Freemont (23.10.24)
Bobby Freemont first gained recognition as a record producer, amassing over 50 million streams and collaborating with Grammy-nominated and Juno-winning artists. Now, stepping into a solo career, we see him brace the indie music scene with his unapologetic and resonating music as he invites listeners to a place where longing, hope, and vulnerability coexist. We speak with the multi-talented artist about his new single ‘Hurt No More’ and more below.
OSR: ‘Hurt No More’ addresses themes of loss and depression. Can you share what inspired you to write this particular song and how it reflects your personal experiences?
Freemont: “Hurt No More” came from a really dark time in my life. I lost somebody I cared about, and for a long time, that tragedy weighed heavily on me and everyone else who loved her. The song was almost a way for me to come to terms with everything, and see things through her eyes so I could understand why she did what she did, and build empathy through that—the grief is there, but also a sense of acceptance that I think we were all fighting for.
OSR: Your music often intertwines raw emotion with dreamy soundscapes. How do you approach the balance between lyrical depth and the sonic elements in your tracks?
Freemont: For me, the music and the lyrics have to be in conversation with each other. I love having these raw, almost naked lyrics sitting on top of a dreamy or surreal soundscape, it kind of creates this push and pull that feels real to me. It’s like life, where things are often beautiful and painful at the same time. I try not to overthink the balance; it’s more about making sure both the words and the sound tell an interesting story together.
OSR: You’ve described the track as an intimate portrayal of heartache. What do you hope listeners take away from ‘Hurt No More’ in terms of their own experiences with loss?
Freemont: I don’t know if I described the song that way. I think other people have. I just hope it helps people feel less alone in what they’re going through. When you’re in the middle of loss or depression, it’s easy to feel like no one else could possibly understand. But music can make you feel seen. If someone listens to my music and feels like I’m putting words to their feelings, then I’ve done what I set out to do.
OSR: In what ways do you think your music serves as a form of therapy, both for you and your listeners, especially when dealing with heavy topics like grief?
Freemont: Writing and making music is definitely therapeutic for me—it’s like processing things I don’t always have the words for otherwise. Before I started writing, I used to bottle everything up. But that catches up with you. Writing is the only healthy way I know how to make sense of things. And I think for listeners, the connection they can have with a song can provide that same release. We all have things we’re carrying, and music has this way of giving you a moment to breathe with it, or even let some of it go.
OSR: Your debut EP received critical acclaim for its storytelling. How has your songwriting evolved since then, and what can fans expect from your upcoming album, The Death Of Bobby Freemont?
Freemont: I think I’ve become more fearless in my writing since the EP. Back then, I was still holding onto some of what I thought I should say. Now, I’ve let that go. The Death Of Bobby Freemont is a concept album that dives even deeper into those vulnerable places, and it’s much rawer. It’s about really confronting who I am, without hiding behind anything. Conceptually, it dives into the idea of mortality and how we face different kinds of death throughout life—whether it’s the death of delusion, relationships, ego, fear or physical death. After losing people close to me, I went through a quarter-life crisis, and music helped me out of it. At first, I was obsessed with leaving a legacy, but over time, as I accepted the nature of death through writing, I realized that all we really have are moments. The album represents that journey, and it plays out as conversations with myself at different stages of my life: past, present, and future. Fans can expect something more personal, more reflective, and honestly more experimental in terms of sound too.
OSR: Can you walk us through your creative process when crafting a song like ‘Hurt No More’? Do you start with lyrics, melodies, or a particular mood?
Freemont: It really depends, but with ‘Hurt No More’, it started with a mood. Stephen was playing around with some chords that felt heavy but also had this hopefulness to them. The lyrics came pretty quickly. I don’t always have a formula—I let the song lead the way.
OSR: The production of ‘Hurt No More’ has a haunting quality. Who did you collaborate with in the production process, and how did their input shape the final sound?
Freemont: Stephen Kerr is my co-exec producer, sound engineer and main collaborator on everything I’ve made over the past couple of years. ‘Hurt No More’ is the first song we ever made together and I think the haunting vibe just came by chance, but it allowed him to understand me better as a person and formed the basis for everything that came after. As we’ve gone from basically strangers to collaborators to brothers, he’s done a masterful job of understanding me as a person and the story I’m trying to tell. None of this would be possible without him.
OSR: Your upcoming album has garnered a lot of anticipation. How do you feel about the evolution of your artistry leading up to this significant release?
Freemont: Honestly, it’s surreal. I’ve grown a lot as an artist and as a person in the time leading up to this album. I’ve had to face some uncomfortable truths about myself, and that’s all part of the evolution. I used to be limited by perfectionism, constantly questioning every detail, but I’ve learned how to use that to my advantage. With all the obsession we’ve poured into this album, I really feel like we’ve finally created something perfect—or at least perfect for me. The recent hype around it is humbling, but more than anything, I’m just excited to share something that feels like an honest reflection of where I am right now.
OSR: Mental health is an increasingly important topic in music. How do you hope your music contributes to the conversation around mental health and the silent struggles people face?
Freemont: I think if my music can create space for people to talk about what they’re going through, then that’s everything. Mental health is often such a quiet struggle, and people sometimes feel like they can’t talk about it or that no one will get it. My hope is that by being open about my own experiences in music, I can make others feel understood and maybe even help start those conversations by giving them the courage to reach out to people close to them.
OSR: What’s next for you after the release of The Death Of Bobby Freemont? Are there any exciting projects or collaborations on the horizon that you can share with us?
Freemont: I’ve got a few things in the works, but nothing I want to officially announce yet. There are some collaborations I’m really excited about and some new concepts I’m exploring creatively. For now, I’m focused on giving everything I’ve got to this album.
Many thanks to Bobby Freemont for speaking with us. Find out more about Bobby Freemont on his Instagram and Spotify.
