Since the beginning of time, people have been finding ways to cope with the sting of heartbreak. Some people pour their heart into their art; some people find a voice for their pain in the art of others. However you cope, I think we can all agree that occasionally we just need someone to tell us that it’s all going to be alright. Today, the person who is filling those shoes is Ell Freeman, who has just released his single ‘It’s Ok.’
‘It’s Ok’ strikes the perfect balance between melancholic and uplifting, acting as a safe space in which you can immerse yourself in post-breakup loneliness without compromising your hope for a brighter future. This song does something very special in that it does an amazing job of helping you shift that weight off your chest, the parts of you that want to cling to anger or feigned indifference. Instead, it encourages you to feel, and the way in which it’s constructed reminds you that feeling what you’re feeling doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Let’s get into it!
It’s Ok
Leading us into this comforting track, we’re immediately awash with some gorgeous string work, complete with a gentle interplay between tempos and dynamics. Specifically, the melody speaks to this soft liveliness, mirroring a mending heart that beats in delicate, quiet flutters. Here, the guitar serves as a pair of familiar crutches, kindly guiding Ell Freeman’s tender timbre.
His vocal performance is captivating, especially as it evolves. During the first few lyrics, you can truly tell that the inspiration for the track emerged from a sudden flood of tears. Every word is sung with a type of cracked-glass vulnerability that you can only get from feeling like you’re about to break, and because of that, you’ll hang on to every note. However, it’s not just Freeman’s authenticity that makes his delivery so hooking. As his voice settles into his sorrow, it finds its honeyed strength, and it really sounds like you can hear him start to find hope as every lyric glides by.
Beautifully crafted, this is also the point where you’ll hear the swell of the instrumental harmonies, and even though the track becomes much brighter from here, there isn’t one element that sounds out of place. It’s a natural evolution, a breath of fresh air, something that emphasises how freeing it can be to let your pain spill forth.
Alongside this burst of hopeful warmth, another thing that I love about this song is the lyrics, especially lines like, ‘Baby it’s ok / It’s gonna be ok / It’s good to let it out.’ I don’t know whether it’s the compassionate way in which Freeman delivers these lyrics or whether it’s the short gusts of impassioned guitar and drums that follow them, but every line feels so soothing. This song doesn’t need to be teeming with poetic complexity; what it needs is to simply tell you to keep your chin up, just like how a friend would. That’s why this song works for me.
As the track continues, made glistening with cheery instrumental harmonies, it’s impossible to feel the same way that you did at the start of it. This song brings the sunlight to sadness, and you’ll become overwhelmed with a freshly burnished, positive perspective.
Somewhere in the vibrant guitar riffs, the cloud-brightening drums, and the buoyant vocal performance, you’ll find yourself smiling. This feeling will light the trail to the song’s close, in which the melody will nestle back into its initial, intimate composition. You’ll hear nothing but that marriage between Freeman’s vocals and the guitar, and although it mirrors the intro almost identically, you’ll hear something new. You’ll hear the power of letting yourself feel. It’s more than beautiful. It’s OK.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/ellfreerocks/
ALT: Evocative songwriter Ell Freeman performs on stage while playing his guitar.
Ell Freeman
One thing that I don’t think we need to debate is that you can tell Ell Freeman’s style simply oozes decades of life experience; his sonic signature has such a hearthbound authenticity to it that you know every lyric is lived in. That said, Freeman’s musical journey is surprisingly only in its infancy.
Despite composing original music since his childhood, it wasn’t until the release of his 2023 single, ‘Music Only Knows,’ that Ell Freeman started sharing his incredibly emotive manner of storytelling with the world. But what this means for the neuroscientist-turned-performer and his fans is that there is a lengthy catalogue of thoughtfully penned songs on the horizon.
What’s more, within this catalogue exists a world of unbridled creativity and exploration. That’s right, Ell Freeman won’t restrict himself to the indie-pop and rock genres; his catchy melodies have found their way into a vast array of genres, including folk, soul-funk, and even bossa nova.
Alongside Freeman’s love of genre exploration, performances across London and even Maringá have also seen to it that his style is perfect for both the times when you want to listen to heart-rending songs alone and the times when you want to belt out colourful celebrations of a new love found.
Garnering praise from Music Victory, Chalkpit Music, The Hubb, and Folk Rock Alchemist, Ell Freeman’s flair has clearly turned heads. The question is, has he turned yours?
‘It’s Ok’ is available to listen to across all major streaming platforms!
Till next time!