You know when you stumble upon an extremely talented musician on social media, and you find yourself rushing to Spotify, hoping that you can add their music to your playlist? Well, I’ve found an artist that inspired me to do just that. Of course, I’m talking about Italian vocalist/guitarist Freddy Even, and luck would have it that my search wasn’t in vain – his latest single, ‘All I Want,’ offered everything I was looking for.
Though ‘All I Want’ was released last December, Freddy Even is no stranger to sharing his dulcet voice and talents with a guitar. Freddy’s Instagram account serves as a wonderfully versatile stage upon which he has lent his skills to beautiful covers of several songs, including Adele’s ‘Skyfall,’ The Beatles’ ‘Blackbird,’ and John Mayer’s ‘Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.’
It’s no secret that Freddy Even can add a sweet, unique flair to the songs of other artists, but the question is, can he bring the same mellifluous magic to an original single? Let’s find out!
All I Want
‘All I Want’ opens with an alluring dreaminess, complete with velvety, romantic string work and a relaxed drumbeat that laves the rhythm of the track with a beguiling tranquillity. The suave beat that the instrumental harmonies create gently lights the way for Even’s pillow-soft vocals. His vocal delivery is truly delightful; it delicately amplifies the sultriness of the melody with a blend of debonair breathiness and smooth timbres.
You can quite easily get lost in the rhythmic back-and-forth between the vocals and the instrumentation. It’s as if the two are caught in a cool coquetry, a flirtation that doesn’t speak to passionate love but rather a slow-burning lure. This hypnotic tone bleeds into the lyrics that precede the chorus: ‘Cause I’ve given my heart as well as my time / Before I assume you’re a killer full-time.’ After hearing a line like that, you can feel how the melody of the song, while still seductive, is teeming with a specific type of ache that we have all felt at some point in our lives. It’s the ache of being helplessly drawn to a love that you know isn’t right for you, and Freddy Even conveys that feeling marvellously.
When the chorus energises the track’s texture, this message becomes crystal clear. The chorus is short, likening it to a burst of buried passion, but that only makes the sudden surge of spirit —both from the vocals and the instrumentals—all the more captivating and authentic. After all, haven’t we all had moments when we wanted to fight against the power that a less-than-ideal lover had over us, even if we knew we didn’t have the energy to resist for long?
With the emotions of the track locked into a push-and-pull that snaked around every verse and chorus, you just know that Freddy has felt every note within his single. That’s why it wasn’t surprising at all to find out that he wrote ‘All I Want’ in a matter of minutes; the man crafts his music straight from his heart.
As the track progresses, not only do you hear the depth of Freddy’s heartache, but you also hear the range of his vocal talent. He hits those high notes seamlessly, and he knows exactly when to show off his voice’s rich roughness. Combined with that pattering piano, his delivery carries an intriguing blend of power and vulnerability.
Toward the single’s close, the electric guitar takes the spotlight as it imbues the track with a final wail of verve and melancholy, accented by the weighted beat of the drums. The track ends with one last confessional lyric from Freddy and a breakneck halt from the guitar that could knock the air out of your lungs.
Overall, I think it’s fair to say that Freddy has answered my question; he can indeed bring the same magic to an original single!
Credit: Simon Fiorentino Nakamura
ALT: Italian vocalist and guitarist Freddy Even poses with his foot on top of a guitar amp.
Freddy Even
From a very young age, Freddy Even’s life has been enwrapped in music, being the son of a pianist and organist, both of whom encouraged his virtuosic creativity. After having been enthralled by televised Mozart concerts and blues performances, it wasn’t long before Freddy found an instrument in his hands. By the time he was five years old, Freddy was playing the violin, and not even a decade later, he was sharpening his talents with the electric guitar.
By the time he was sixteen years old, he discovered a deep love for composing, inspired by the kaleidoscope of emotions that enriched The Beatles’ music. From that point on, any time he wanted to express his thoughts and feelings, he would retreat to his room and put pen to page.
For Freddy Even, it is of the utmost importance that people can completely relate to his music’s message when they hear it. In this way, he isn’t just creating his own stories through his music; he is creating soundscapes in which all of our experiences belong. So, with that in mind, what’s your story? Freddy’s new single is waiting to be a part of it.
‘All I Want’ is available to listen to via several major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer!
Till next time.