Freya Ridings Rebuilds Her Confidence and Career After Industry Challenges

British singer-songwriter Freya Ridings has opened up about the personal and professional struggles she faced while working on her latest album, ‘Mother of Pearl’, which is set for release on 29 May. Following the success of her 2017 debut, Ridings experienced severe anxiety and creative exhaustion during the making of her second album, ‘Blood Orange’. Pressured to collaborate with top producers rather than trusted friends, she found herself in male-dominated studios that stifled her creativity and self-confidence. Although the album reached the UK Top 10, it quickly fell from the charts, and she was subsequently dropped by her record label. Compounded by the pandemic, management issues, and a loss of artistic control, Ridings described this period as ‘toxic’ and suffered panic attacks and a breakdown. Determined to regain her voice, she decided to fund her own trip to Los Angeles to work with producer Jen Decilveo, a bold move that reignited her creative spark. Over a year of writing and performing small café shows, Ridings rediscovered her sense of purpose, channelling resilience and empowerment into songs like ‘Euphoria’ and ‘Wild Horse’. With support from her family and a new label, BMG, she produced an album that reflects both strength and renewal. Her third record represents not only a musical evolution but also a personal rebirth, transforming her past vulnerabilities into powerful, self-assured art.