Freddie Lewis finds magnetism in minimalism on "He'll Never Be Alone"

Over the last few years Freddie Lewis has gained recognition as a celebrated figure within the UK queer music scene, completing his first full band headline tour in 2024; his very own cabaret in collaboration with local artists. Now on his 25th birthday he's delighting fans with another treat, latest cut "He'll Never Be Alone".

“I wrote this song to me, past me, basically just telling him it’s all going to be fine," Lewis explains. "It's me saying to myself that once you sort out your relationship with yourself, you won’t ever really be alone; you’ll be able to accept all parts of yourself and love them and hold them all. It’s a sweet song. It means so much to me."

The single opens with modestly dry and sparse instrumentation, instilling profound magnetism in its minimalism. Rejecting the modern demand for overstimulation, Lewis instead creates the captivating hook for listeners to clutch onto in the track's extensive reflective lyricism. “So, what I’m free again / and the blank pages terrifying / don’t you skip the dark parts" he sings, reminding himself to welcome the unknown and accept the discomfort of inevitable lows as a transitory phase towards the highs. All the while, a docile acoustic guitar accompanies his soothing vocals which are mesmerising in their unblemished texture.

As the track develops, the drums quickly establish themselves without feeling imposing, and discrete, scattered piano embellishments are interspersed with Lewis' tranquil tone to add sophisticated warmth to the song. A climactic electric guitar solo steadily ebbs and flows, blending into an atmospheric, misty string section. “There is a guy six months from here / he’s got your eyes but not your fear / There is a guy six months from now / he don’t ask why / he just asks how." In its cyclical and introspective lyricism, Lewis' words are delivered with a tender, introverted flair.

Pitched somewhere between soul and indie pop, the blurred shades of jazz that echo in Lewis' music invoke the likes of Olivia Dean and Arlo Parks. With “He’ll Never Be Alone”, Freddie Lewis manages to make the interminable stillness of January feel like the perfect time to look inwards and explore the beauty within ourselves.