The debut single ‘LUNGS’ from Freyja Elsy - an epic, yet introspective look at the end of a relationship.

“This gave me goosebumps that haven’t subsided since I first heard it … Off-the-scale evocative” 
- Adam Walton BBC Radio Wales

Freyja Elsy is an independent singer songwriter and composer with a nomadic past and a sound that pushes into the future. Creating songs with a keen ear whilst pursuing music education, she found herself within the vibrant, engaging Cardiff scene. Through both outside musical influence and internal personal conflict she started to establish a clear identity, forging a path forward to create ‘Lungs’, her first single.

Based around very real, very intimate voice recordings, ‘Lungs’ starts small and reserved, fragile in its form and structure. The track slowly unfolds and develops into rising crescendos alongside uncompromising percussion. A mixture of glitchy synthesisers and rising strings interweave around Elsy’s voice, which sits unwavering and steadfast. Her bold lyrics are strong in the face of a contrasting anguish found in the recordings nestled within the music.  

With other musical endeavours in the form of collaborations within the band Blue Amber, alongside orchestral compositions performed by members of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and thematic interludes created for commercial use - this single is her first, strikeout release and sets the course for a prolific career ahead.

LYRICS:

“Okay, I’m gonna voicenote because um… I think it’s probably just easier just to brain splurge rather than type because there’s just so much… stuff that doesn’t seem very logical in my head and I can’t string it together in a sentence...Um, and also...there’s people who aren’t here today so I can be quiet and just talk for a bit…”

Chorus:

I’ve tried so hard
Time and time again
Maybe this time 
It won’t feel so bad
But I know, I know, 
I’ve heard every love song under the sun
And I know, he knows, 
He’s the same.

“I think I’m struggling with the idea of… don’t… don’t throw away what’s not broken, but at the same time … it’s not okay...anymore? It’s not been okay for a while, and I think it all came out.”

Verse 1:

Over there, to your left, there’s a girl
She’s remembering what it’s like to be alive:
She’s searching, again and again for love. 
She’s searching, again and again for love. 

Chorus: 

I’ve tried so hard
Time and time again
Maybe this time 
It won’t feel so bad
But I know, I know, 
I’ve heard every love song under the sun
And I know, he knows, 
He’s the same.

“And there were really, really good times...and… I, I… I feel really heartbroken and I can’t… I don’t think I can do this to myself anymore.”

Verse 2:

What about the gifts he left? 
The oil lamp did wonders for your lungs. 
And the names, he gave you, to try:
You could be everything, anyone, he wanted and more. 

Chorus: 

I’ve tried so hard
Time and time again
Maybe this time 
It won’t feel so bad
But I know, I know, 
I’ve heard every love song under the sun
And I know, he knows, 
He’s the same.

“He thinks that I’m just gonna… Just carry on as usual… I think. ‘Cause he’s so used to me putting him first, he’s not used to… not getting what he wants.”

Chorus: 

I’ve tried so hard
Time and time again
Maybe this time 
It won’t feel so bad
But I know, I know, 
I’ve heard every love song under the sun
And I know, he knows, 
He’s the same.

Lungs

Cosmovisions

Rocklands Workshopped is a collection of remixes of songs from the Blue Amber album Rockland's Workshop.

The Great British Sitcom (for Jozef Raczka) (Freyja Elsy Remix)

Lavernock Loops was commissioned by UPROAR for a studio recording conducted by UPROAR's Artistic Director Michael Rafferty, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 during lockdown in 2021. 

Scored for string quartet, alto flute, clarinet, horn and percussion. Score and parts available to purchase here:

 https://composersedition.com/rob-fokkens-lavernock-loops/

Lavernock Loops

You're no one's friend but your own
I tried to reach out
But every touch leaves me cold
You locked me out

Took what you wanted
Not what you needed
I was blindsided 
To your faults

Coat my skin in salt
I want it to
Burn
'Cause nothing hurts like you

Coat my skin in salt
I want it to
Burn
'Cause nothing hurts like you

You're no one's friend but your own
I tried to reach out
But every touch leaves me cold
You locked me out

Took what you wanted
Not what you needed
I was blindsided 
To it all

Coat my skin in salt
I want it to
Burn
'Cause nothing hurts like you

Coat my skin in salt
I want it to
Burn
'Cause nothing hurts like you

✦

Written and produced by Annie Rew Shaw (Austel)
Mixed by Jess Camilleri
Mastered by Katie Tavini
Artwork by John Williams

https://linktr.ee/austel

Salt (Single Version)

Powerful mantra for the blessings of the Divine Mother
Sarva Mangala Maangalye
Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike
Sharanye Tryambake Gauri
Naaraayani Namostute

Meaning:
Salutations to you Mother Narayani,
The personification of all that is auspicious. 
The mother that protects and fulfils the purpose and desires of all
The counterpart of Lord Shiva 
Oh Mother Narayani, I seek your blessings.

Shakti - Sarva Mangala

My song for February started life four years ago during a photoshoot with Tereza.

The voice note in the intro is me capturing the essential ideas whilst talking to her about how we have to come to terms with losing sparks of inspiration (melodies for me, photographs for her). Ideas will get lost. Mornings shift to afternoons which submit to evenings that fade to night. Memories can disappear. But a new day will come.

The setting we chose, a room that looked over Cardiff during the hours leading to sunset, informed the lyrics. So did her photographs and our discussion of the song on the day and when I sent her a demo a few weeks later. She captured me in the moment of writing, perfectly relaxed as I tested words and phrases, openly making mistakes out loud for her (just as she took photos which didn't work on the way to finding the perfect shot).

I can't always sum up what these moments and memories mean, but I know they are vital to me being the person I am today. I hope you listen to the song and think of people who have helped you discover and integrate truths about yourself, truths that you carry forward into new connections. And you find a moment when someone says "mmmm" in simple agreement and you are understood in a way that sends any anxiety into the distance like streaks of streetlights vanishing into the night.

Night Lights

If you were invited to make a fire down by the river on the shortest, darkest day of the year, would you go?

I did with 3 other people and we took the time to reflect on the year behind us. What did we learn? What did we want to leave behind? What did we want to carry with us?

Old Days is a celebration of that fire and the ideas we shared. A warming, harmony-laden Winter Solstice song that reminds us not to forget the important people and ways of being from the past as we head into the future.

Old Days

Title  track from my solo ep- my world is cold 

Jessie Grace's My World Is Cold EP
credits
released October 6, 2015 

All songs written and performed by Jessie Grace. 
Drums Performed by Andre Atherley AKA DRE404
Bass Performed by Duane Atherley AKA HURCS
Synths/keys/organ Mike Mason 
Strings : Lucy Wilkins 
Produced by Mike Mason & Jessie Grace 
Engineered and Mixed by Cameron Craig 
Mastered by Mandy Parnell 
Recorded @ the Maltbarn in Oxford and Fish Factory London 
Copyright control Maltbarn Recordings 2015
license
all rights reserved

My World Is Cold

From My world is cold EP

Jessie Grace's My World Is Cold EP
credits
released October 6, 2015 

All songs written and performed by Jessie Grace. 
Drums Performed by Andre Atherley AKA DRE404
Bass Performed by Duane Atherley AKA HURCS
Synths/keys/organ Mike Mason 
Strings : Lucy Wilkins 
Produced by Mike Mason & Jessie Grace 
Engineered and Mixed by Cameron Craig 
Mastered by Mandy Parnell 
Recorded @ the Maltbarn in Oxford and Fish Factory London 
Copyright control Maltbarn Recordings 2015
license
all rights reserved

He Spins

“This gave me goosebumps that haven’t subsided since I first heard it … off-the-scale evocative” - BBC's Adam Walton on 'Lungs'

“A classic composer on all levels with an understanding of connection within their creations.” - Circuit Sweet

Cinematic Folktronica, Trip Hop, Electro-Pop
Composer // Producer // Singer-Songwriter based in Cardiff.

Lungs

Freyja Elsy

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✨6Carfeli6🤟

Laura Elsy

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