Moody, atmospheric songs crafted for late-night drives and quiet reckonings. Freya Magee is a London-based indie singer-songwriter and her debut single, “Duplicity,” is a haunting meditation on the ache of wanting to live every version of life at once. Freya Magee’s songwriting invites listeners into intimate emotional worlds shaped by poetic lyricism and subtle, layered production. Currently working on her debut EP, Freya Magee is poised to carve out a distinct space with her evocative storytelling and immersive sound.
With her debut single, “Duplicity,” out now, we took some time to hear from Freya Magee. Read below to learn more about Freya Magee, the story behind “Duplicity,” and what’s to come.
Hi Freya Magee! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
Born with it! For a while I considered creating a stage name to keep my music separate from my other creative work, but in the end, everything I make is connected. My songs are personal, so it felt right to keep my real name attached to them.
What city are you from and where are you based now?
I’m originally from Melbourne, Australia, but London pulled me until I clicked into place in East London like every other creative.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I’ve always been writing poems and plays, and am a chronic live music goer, but I only picked up the guitar myself in Melbourne’s 2020 lockdown. When I moved to London an impromptu performance at a dinner party led to local gigs, and I was eventually brought into sessions with producer Phil Taylor at Laurel Sound Studios. That’s the magic that happens over here. You’ll just be playing alone in your room, but your ideas are way ahead, floating down the street knocking on the doors of cool creatives who generously show you the way.
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
Growing up as an only child outside of the city meant I spent a lot of time in my imagination. I’d invent stories, plays, and characters, which probably explains why my songwriting feels so narrative-driven. There’s also an introspective stillness that I think comes from those wide open spaces.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I make indie music with a folky feel – moody guitar, soft layered vocals, some lo-fi effects, and confessional lyrics. Though the tracks that I’m working on right now have some grit too.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
ONLY A MILLION. I love storytelling in any form, so I write plays for fringe theatre as well as essays and shorter tales on my Substack. One of my favourite things about London is the brutalist architecture, so I will wander around photographing building corners. I’m also a fairly keen reader and in a virtual book club with one of my favourite musicians, Margaret Glaspy.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
I’m inspired by all kinds of artists that pave the way with creative permission, but the contemporary ones that have specifically influenced my sound and writing are probably Phoebe Bridgers, Aaron Dessner and Lizzy McAlpline.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
Releasing a song into the world is so exciting, but honestly my proudest moment was much earlier, at a little pub on the Isle of Skye while I was travelling. The bartender, not knowing anything about me, pointed out an old guitar in the corner and asked if I wanted to play something. I was so nervous, but I sang one of my own songs for the first time in front of strangers. And when the whole pub cheered and asked for more, it gave me the confidence to start playing gigs in London.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
I’ve been a total sponge in the studio, at performances, and meeting artists, so my notebook is full of notes both technical and philosophical. But, I think the most valuable things have been introspective – honing in on what exactly that I offer and how to articulate that sonically, lyrically, visually and performatively.
Now onto your release, ‘Duplicity.’ What inspired this song? What is ‘Duplicity’ about?
Lyrically, it began as a scattering of experiences, but as I kept writing, what came forward was this sense of contrast and juxtaposition within myself. I’ve always felt pulled in different directions, even moving from Melbourne to London and splitting my time across a corporate job and my artistry. The song is about that ache of wanting to live out every possibility.
What was the creative process like when making ‘Duplicity?’ How long did it take to complete ‘Duplicity?’
Everything felt so exhilarating and new. Being the first song that I’ve had produced, it was necessary to embark on a wide exploration to find my sound, so we had many reference playlists and discussions until we hit the edges of what I wanted to create. It’s also a bit of an odd song in terms of its theatrical journey, so we spent time finding the right points to build to as well.
What is your favorite lyric in ‘Duplicity’ and why?
‘My hair’s dark on the left but I’m blonde on the right, cos I can never decide, I’ll tell everyone it’s to represent the fact that I embrace both sides of my sellout artist life.’ It’s the lyric that I end up talking about the most as I’m wearing it everyday, and the perfect symbol for the song’s contradictions. I’ve had to rewrite it since I was red on the left and blonde on the right though!
What is the ‘print of a girl with a house on her back’ that you sing about in the ‘Duplicity?’
There’s a painter in Hobart, Australia, called Sarah Elliot, who paints surrealist illustrations that all seem like little narratives. I bought this print called ‘Moving House’ of a girl carrying a house like a backpack, and it became the object that made every house home, as well as a reminder for me to travel light and stay nimble.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from ‘Duplicity?’
I poured a lot of myself into the song, but something that I live by is that ‘the art knows more than you do’ so once it’s in the hands of the audience, any messages to discover are far beyond me!
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I’m releasing two more singles, ‘Forget Yourself Not’ and ‘Over there,’ later this year, and working towards my first EP. I also have a live set coming up on Thursday, 7th August at The Amersham Arms in London. Tickets here: eventbrite.com/e/amersham-live-tickets-1424231357329?aff=oddtdtcreator
Where can we follow you on social media?
You can follow my nonsense in short and long form at:
Instagram: instagram.com/freyamagee
TikTok: tiktok.com/@freya.magee
Substack: freyamagee.substack.com
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
