In Robin Young’s latest single, she sings about being free from all-encompassing, obsessive, possessive love. ‘Free’ is full of a sense of quiet resilience and determination. Over a gentle acoustic strum, Young’s vocal performance and melody are understated, and the song and message feel all the more intimate and personal as a result. At times, her words are hardened; throughout the song, Young’s lyrics are thoughtful and carefully chosen to add both power and authentic feeling: “Go ahead and miss me // You can tell me all about it in your dreams.” More layers and harmonies fill out the song as it grows, beautifully crafted and arranged.
The accompanying video was filmed at the historical landmark, The Wayside Inn Grist Mill in Sudbury, MA. Her travels through the beautiful grounds reinforce the themes of release and freedom.
Young says: “My forthcoming album tells the story of an on-again, off-again relationship that defined my ideas about love when I was younger. The stomp-and-clap rhythm in ‘Free’ is something that my producer, Ryan Gallagher, came up with, and it really cast the song in a whole new light for me. The triumphant sound that the song took on throughout the recording process reflects the years and years that I spent believing that this person had been my soulmate, but ultimately, I realised as I grew older, he didn’t deserve me and never had. The song is just a little bit cheeky, telling him to go ahead and keep fantasising about me, but I won’t be participating anymore. I love this song because it reminds me that I’m finally free of the grief and regret that I once carried with me, having now met the person who I’m actually meant to spend my life with. I hope that ‘Free’ makes other people feel the same sense of being blissfully unencumbered after spending too many years being haunted by someone’s memory.”
A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Young has been working on her debut collection for some years. After writing her first song at the age of just 8 years old, Young stepped away from music during her marriage – a time when emotions seemed to be off-limits. But the songs were always there, waiting to be released. Her debut album takes us back to that time and explores oppressive relationships, heartbreak and subsequent recovery. Look out for the new album and check this out in the meantime.
