Colin 
Freya Ridings has announced her new album Mother of Pearl, which is set for release on May 29. The record arrives after four years of writing and recording and marks the next chapter for the singer-songwriter following the success of her 2023 album genre-smashing Blood Orange.
The album brings together songs shaped by personal experiences across the past several years. Themes of grief, love, family and identity run throughout the project, creating a record that reflects the emotional changes Freya has lived through during that time.
For Freya, the writing process became a way of reconnecting with music again. The songs were created during a period that combined joy with emotional vulnerability, and the album captures those contrasting feelings directly. Many of the tracks draw on real stories from her own life, giving the record a deeply personal perspective.
A major difference with this album was Freya’s decision to centre the project around collaboration with female creatives. Producer Jennifer Decilveo became a key partner in the studio, helping shape the direction of the songs and creating a more open environment for the writing process.
Freya has explained that she wanted the record to explore maternal ancestry and the stories passed down through generations of women in her family. The songs therefore reflect not only her own experiences but also those of the women who came before her, connecting family history with present-day emotions.
A record shaped by collaboration
Several creative partnerships helped shape the album during recording sessions in Los Angeles. During this period Freya worked with collaborators including Sam De Jong and Adam Yaron while continuing to develop the sound of the record.
One of those sessions produced the song ‘Mother of Pearl’, which Freya has described as a moment where the creative process came together naturally in the studio.
The album also marks a new professional chapter as Freya begins working with BMG. After spending several years with her previous label, the move represents a fresh stage in her career and a chance to approach new music with renewed perspective.
Freya has also spoken about rediscovering the core reason she began writing songs in the first place. For her, songwriting still begins with a simple moment at the piano, focusing on honest storytelling and emotional connection.
After four years of writing and recording, Mother of Pearl now prepares to reach listeners for the first time. The album reflects a period of personal growth and creative reflection, bringing together the stories and experiences that shaped its creation.
You can listen to ‘Wicker Woman’ and ‘Wild Horse’ now and her next single, ‘I Will Always Love You’, is out this Friday. You can follow Freya Ridings on Instagram.