Take a dive "Underwater" with the soothing sound of Freak Slug

Whimsical fun characterises everything Freak Slug is about, right down to that strange, playful moniker. Behind the name is Xenya Genovese, a Manchester-based songwriter and performer who loves burying reality in dreamy, colourful soundscapes. Manchester’s rich musical roots provide an ideal sounding board for her musical exploration - citing inspirations as The Hacienda and its dance legacy, as well as the likes of The Smiths and Joy Division. One of Freak Slug’s earliest releases, in fact, is a cover of Joy Division’s "Disorder", and she manages to preserve everything that made the track iconic whilst also totally reinventing it.

Cherry-picking points of influences and implementing them in imaginative ways is what Freak Slug does best, and she nails it on "Underwater". With an upbeat pace kept by a minimalistic percussion section, the track fluctuates between feeling calm and frantic, grounded in Genovese’s liquid vocals. Floating around a world of hazy synths and moments of punctuating bass, "Underwater" occupies a liminal sonic space.

The track joins previously released singles "Alien" on the tracklist of Freak Slug’s forthcoming EP, I’m In Love, setting an enchanting tone for the collection. All three songs nail that balance between sparkly, summery pop and something just removed from reality, a veil casting a shadow of lonely melancholy over what’s otherwise a sun-soaked groove.

"Underwater" aims to “delve into the unknown,” Genovese explains. "It’s a reflection on the journey of self-discovery and spirituality, into the unknown we are never alone and always guided. It’s a song about not wanting to feel like the rest.”

Speaking on what’s to come from the rest of the EP, she shares “I want this EP to empower women and allow them to find the confidence to speak their truth honestly and fearlessly. I’m in Love is unapologetically about being our unique freakish selves.”

Freak Slug is on a mission to inspire complete acceptance, self-expression, and easygoing experimentation. Through her weaving melodies, misty musicianship and a constant tinge of carefree energy, she’s making her dream-pop her mission statement.