Freya Ridings is one of those artists I do not listen to casually. Her songs move in, rearrange the furniture, and then reappear weeks later when one line suddenly decides to ruin your day in the best possible way. So yes, Mother of Pearl comes with big expectations, because I have been waiting for this album since Blood Orange.
Pressing play on a new album by an artist you adore comes with its own tiny panic. You want growth, but not distance. Surprise matters, but so does recognition. Mother of Pearl gets that balance right, and hearing Freya sound this open and ready to take up space is a complete joy.
A Freya Ridings Album With Fresh Air In Its Lungs
Starting with ‘Euphoria’ is a brilliant choice. It kicks the door open with something that feels fresher for Freya Ridings, brighter around the edges and more willing to chase a pop rush. Her voice still gets the whole room, but the setting feels new.
That opener instantly changes the temperature of the album. There is lift, colour and confidence, without the feeling that Freya has wandered too far from herself. The voice is still the anchor. The drama is still human. The chorus still knows when to bloom.
Then ‘Wild Horse’ arrives, and that is the one for me. It has movement, grit, lift and a restless heart. The way it opens out feels made for repeat plays, like a song for the car, a train, or a too-fast walk down a street.
There is a bit of final-scene energy to it. Not in a cheesy way, but in that “I need to hear this again right now” way. ‘Wild Horse’ gives the album a pulse I keep going back to.
The Songs That Hit Hardest
Part of the fun is how much room Mother of Pearl gives her. Nobody comes to a Freya Ridings album hoping she will keep things small. Still, this record has bite, colour and momentum, so the drama never feels trapped by its own size.
‘I Have Always Loved You’ brings out the classic ballad side, and it lands because Freya can make direct writing feel huge without adding clutter. She can take a simple phrase and make the whole ceiling lift. That gift is still thrilling here.
Elsewhere, ‘Undefeated’ has the glow of someone deciding not to fold. ‘If This Is A Dream’ gives the album one of its softer pockets. The title track adds the deeper pull, with Mother of Pearl feeling shaped by pressure, grief, love, family and beauty formed the hard way.
The Moments I Keep Going Back To
The best thing about Mother of Pearl is that it sounds like a Freya Ridings album without settling for the safest version of one. ‘Euphoria’ gives it a bright opening spark. ‘Wild Horse’ gives it a runaway centre. Songs like ‘I Have Always Loved You’ and ‘Strength In Me’ remind you why her voice can still stop everything around it.
As a fan, I love that this does not feel like an attempt to remake a past success. Freya has taken the piano-born ache, sky-high vocals, big choruses and bruised honesty, then pushed them into a wider world. That is exactly what I wanted from this chapter.
Most of all, it makes the wait since Blood Orange feel worth every impatient minute. After Freya Ridings announced Mother of Pearl, I hoped this chapter would feel bigger, brighter and more open. It does all of that without losing the ache that made her music hit in the first place.
Follow Freya Ridings on Instagram and listen to Mother of Pearl here.
