Luke Frees – Moonshine Queen (2023)
If Nick Cave and The Cure had a child, but he was raised by Jeff Buckley, the chances are highly likely Luke Frees would be that kid. With haunting post-punk sensibilities and heart-breaking vocals woven through his melodies, Frees takes us back to the 1980s but also leaves a tinge of contemporary alternative pop in the sonic tapestry. Described by The Music Asylum as having vocals that you “fall in love with instantly and…that you can never get bored of”, this US-based singer-songwriter intoxicates listeners with a single note. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Moonshine Queen’.
The third of his “single per month” campaign, ‘Moonshine Queen’ adopts a synth-driven old-school post-punk soundscape as compared to the previous campaign songs. Unlike ‘If There Ain’t A Heaven’ and ‘Most Of The Time’, the tune is much more psychedelic with a haunting ambience filling the melody. Interestingly enough, while ‘Moonshine Queen’ is heavily influenced by traditional post-punk, the guitar and drums breathe alternative rock tendencies into the arrangement. Moreover, the vocals dip from the gothic tones of Robert Smith to bolder Thomas York.
While the melodic arrangement can hold its own, it is the lyrical content that sets Luke Frees apart. Influenced by Leonard Cohen when it comes to lyrics, ‘Moonshine Queen’ is an intimate single oozing vulnerability. Delicately exploring human fragility with this innocent and tender song, Luke Frees once again hypnotises us with his music.
“This is a very passionate song and it’s inspired by the feelings of anger and clarity you get after coming out of a relationship that was maybe a little unhealthy. It’s a reaffirmation of my own beliefs and my own intuition because when you’re in a relationship like that, it’s very easy to get swallowed up in your partner’s beliefs and forget your own…last month it was the love song, this month it’s the breakup song.” – Luke Frees on ‘Moonshine Queen’
For more from Luke Frees, check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
