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by Kk on 8/8/23Amazing. Didn’t over sell tickets and prices were very reasonable. Concert for the memories
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It all started with Carlos - a construction worker Fred met after a show in Atlanta. It was one of those chance encounters that's difficult to describe if you weren't there. Fred's video clips from the evening do some of the job; Carlos' voice - a joyous Southern drawl proclaiming "I want you to see me, friend! We gon' make it through" - does the rest.
Now, Carlos runs as a motif throughout Fred's music. "He basically already was a song," says Fred, better known as London-based producer Fred again.., "I just had to play chords."
This began Fred's process of transforming momentary snippets by setting them to music. He was compiling a diary, of sorts. Over time, the diary grew as Fred, 27, gathered clips from nights out, stored voice notes, and combed through social media - seeking out musical moments in the everyday ephemera of life.
The first few times Fred lifted art from others - the poem that forms the base of woozy club stomper 'Kyle (I Found You)', or the haunting monologue about living with depression that leads 'Sabrina (I Am A Party)' - he felt terrible. This didn't feel like a consenting collaboration. But gradually he came to terms with it, helped by the overwhelming support and gratitude he received when he showed his songs to the people whose work he'd interpolated. He doesn't put out anything without strict approval.
Actual Life offers a glimpse into how Fred sees - or rather, how he hears - the world, and the people who bring it to life around him. He doesn't write about experiences; he takes experiences and turns them into songs.
He's wildly gregarious, laughs a lot, optimistic to the last. This all transfers. Over the past five years, he's brought this inescapable charisma to his work with everyone from FKA twigs to Stefflon Don, BTS, Jayda G, Romy and Burna Boy. It helped draw UK drill rapper Headie One out of his comfort zone, on the pair's collaborative mixtape GANG, to dazzling effect. He's also, to state it more plainly, wildly successful: in 2019 he spent 15 weeks (just shy of 30%) of the year at number one in the charts.
Fred says he doesn't believe in talent. He's thought about it a lot, he says. Perhaps he's right. Or perhaps being surrounded day-to-day by so many extraordinarily talented musicians (and more than a decade of mentorship from Brian Eno) has coloured his view. Either way, this belief has blinded him to his unique talent for seeing the music in passing moments - and his ability to capture the emotion of those instances so vividly in notes of his own. He writes pop music in the purest sense: songs that could be about anyone, but will mean something to everyone.
Soon, however, his own spontaneous, spooling solo project, Actual Life, would take on a heavier, deeply personal significance. Fred had been collating sounds and making songs for a while, with no real aim or end goal other than making music and experimenting with this new way of working. Mostly, he was pouring everyday joy and love into these songs. But the spiralling illness of a close friend gave his project a new focus. And, with huge and unexpected tragedy, gave the project an end date too. Loss and pain are a part of life, so they became a part of Actual Life too.
Fred's lyrics hang in the tension between euphoria and the worry that one day it might end. Even songs written before the deterioration of his friend's illness took on a new shape through the prism of the pair's experience together. Rapturous piano chords, rich synths, and driving kick drums exalt a deeper sorrow. One track on the album, titled 'Me (Quiet Evenings)', features only Fred's voice. Set in the suffocating environs of a hospital ICU, the track takes the album's centre point and provides its rawest, most vulnerable moment.
When Fred talks, he'll often break out mid-conversation to sing a handful of notes, or tinkle a two-note riff on the piano, to punctuate or emphasise his point. He lets the music add another layer of emotion, or fill in the gaps. Actual Life is Fred's own journey through joy and grief. But his songs - which revolve around dance, longing, lingering touch - all communicate something more universally felt too. Something that lets the listener know they're not facing this alone.
Amazing. Didn’t over sell tickets and prices were very reasonable. Concert for the memories
This was one of the best shows of my life. As far as EDM goes, there are some pretty stagnant performers but Fred Again.. is dynamic and moves around the stage. The performance is full of energy and I'm so sad it ended. The price was also unbeatable for seeing Fred Again.. and I'm hoping to see him again, sadly I think I will have to pay more next time.
vibes were immaculate, and stage set up was the best.
The best experience of my life I have been eating to see Fred for literally a year and he did not disappoint, the show was iconic
This was the best concert I’ve been to in my life. I’ve never left a review before, but this deserved one. Absolutely unreal. I’d overpay for this concert again in a heartbeat
He put on an amazing, full two hour, set. Would see him again. Only complaint is the sound system at Aragon, or the acoustics due to the size and shape, is really bad. It’s always been like that at Aragon though.
One of the best shows ever. Even better than his lolla set!
Absolutely incredible experience. Energy was insane, crowd was amazing, please do this again
High energy, super emotional- this is what music is supposed to be, something that makes you feel.
I vowed to my brother last November, as Fred Again.. had just released some new music, that in 2023 we would make it to a Fred Again.. concert. I thought I had accomplished that by going to see him at Lollapalooza. BUT to then have a popup after-show announced, get through a (at one point) 13,000 person queue to buy tickets, and to attend the show at the Aragon...wow: Mission Accomplished. Fred is on a completely different level than any artist I have ever listened to live/recorded. The Aragon fit his set perfectly, and he obviously crushed it. Hands down the best show that I have had the pleasure of seeing in person, certainly one I would have been kicking myself had my brother and I missed out. Go see Fred live! Trust me.
Cannot stress this enough, the Fred again lolla aftershow was the best night of my life. I have never felt so much joy at once. The bass hitting my chest just led my body to have a mind of its own and I truly danced like no one was watching. Fred again and again and again PLEASE. I actually believe no one has ever been as happy as I was at this show, it’s just not possible. There is no amount of money to keep me from any future Fred shows, period.
The venue was great, the sound was great, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I saw deadmau5 at the Aragon and left happy but a bit underwhelmed last year. My hopes weren’t high for the Fred set after the frankly terrible performance at Lolla the day before. But oh man, everything from the lighting design, to the sound, crowd, transitions, vocalist, openers, etc we’re absolutely perfect. Fred’s easily one of the most talented producers out right now and I’d be so mad if I had missed this set
The show was incredible. The crowd was vibing and it was not over sold although sold out. 11/10
It was truly incredible. His set at Lolla was good, but there were issues with his mic and there were so many college kids talking throughout the set so it was hard to hear at times. Being able to go to the aftershow and see Fred really in his element, especially playing a bunch of unreleased songs, was next level. Fred is known for doing aftershows, and I've always wanted to go to one, and it did not disappoint. 10/10!
Absolutely insane experience. The best show I’ve ever experienced
Unreleased songs. All his most popular, played live and remixed was truly wonderful to witness. Best set of the festival.
Sure, would love to stand and watch a dude bop behind a turntable. Or I could go to any bar downtown and see the same kind of performance for less money.
I think the tickets were over sold. I was in the back of the first floor and was pushed back towards the door. I went upstairs and it was a much more pleasurable experience.
Just amazing. It’s a thing to listen to it on Spotify, it’s another one to see him play live