With "Reconnection," his deeply intimate and spiritual EP, which metaphorically explores the journey from darkness to light, Portobello Road's very own London artist Charlie Freeman, aka FREE/MAN, is back to impress. Freely and unapologetically, he continues the theme of his previous works in music with the four song EP, "Not Tomorrow," "Bluebird," "Redemption Song," and "Two Witches," to reflect on concepts of faith, love, and rebirth, thereby carrying forward his lifelong mission of creating not only a healing art form for himself but also for his followers.
Around the turning point of his life at 19 years old, when his father's sickness brought him emotional upheaval, Freeman went into music, and it has ever since remained his therapy. He not only took the guitar as an instrument but as a holy friend. From that early spiritual bond came his distinctive style, which is basically acoustic alt-soul with blues honesty and rock uplifting anthems. It is a style that is equally timeless and trendsetting, and on Reconnection, he employs it as a vehicle for the ineffable.
Each of the tracks on the EP serves as an invocation of self-awareness and spiritual awakening. "Not Tomorrow" is characterized by soft acoustic sounds that are vibrant with quiet resolve, whereas "Bluebird" covers the spectrum from sadness to hopefulness, thus freedom and acceptance being its meditated topics. Stripped down and graceful, this is both a love and a farewell from the Bob Marley classic style, as well as a new original of the artist, "Redemption Song". It communicates the raw side of his own recovery journey. With "Two Witches," the artist closes the album with neoteric subject matter, lyrical-tempered mysticism, discussing themes of night and duality, e.g., balancing through music harmony.
The collection is at the very core of its label: Reconnection conveys that, besides music, the protagonist of the narrative is reconnecting with his inner self, purpose, and community. For Freeman, it all started after a significant life event: the abrupt cancellation of his 26-city Chinese tour in early 2020, only a couple of days before he was to leave. Far from withdrawing, he undertook a deep self-exploration. What emerged from that was a fresh artistic approach and the subsequent unveiling of a stunning new period in his career, which led to the release of Reconnection and subsequent works.
Aside from his work in the studio, Freeman, through his creativity, is quite a comprehensive artist. He, together with his partners, owns and runs JBJ Studio, a residential recording facility in London, which he has transformed into not only a creative but also a cultural hub for fellow artists, as well as local community events. Besides that, he is actively involved in the production of The Hook, an emotionally redemptive story about family, and also NEON SOUP, a dreamlike narrative centered on the theme of consciousness, which in some way or another reflects his music.
Reconnection, therefore, is not just an EP but rather a conscious decision of the artist to reveal his innermost thoughts and aspirations. Freeman presents the notion to his audience that they should take time out from their rushed lives and listen to music as a means of reestablishing that precious human bond, which music, in its essence, embodies.
It is the sound that represents a person who has been through dark times, but by some miracle, and most importantly, through his own effort, he has found the light.