Exclusive video premiere of ‘Colorado’ (Acoustic Live) by Vermont’s Greg Freeman, featuring Merce Lemon. Freshly signed to Canvasback/Transgressive Records.

Take the thundering ‘Colorado,’ which bursts forth with a careening, overwhelming energy. Inspired by the maximalist production of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Death of a Ladies’ Man,’ Freeman aimed to pack the song with as many instruments and players as possible—strings, horns, keys, and more. The result is a cathartic, chaotic orchestra that never loses its direction. The experiment paid off. “It’s so hard to convince yourself you’re making a record, but when you have one song you truly believe in, it helps you get there,” he says. “‘Colorado’ is definitely that song for me.”

Though I Looked Out arrived seemingly fully formed, the album is the product of a transitional period for Freeman. When he started writing its songs in 2020, he graduated from the University of Vermont studying religion and anthropology. Unsure of what to do next, he worked in museums, was a bread baker, and even had a stint as a cemetery groundskeeper. While he’d played in bands around Burlington, namely with Lily Seabird and the experimental rock outfit Rockin’ Worms, his own music was sparse and solo. “Before I Looked Out, I had just done everything myself: recording a lot of layered guitars and layered vocals,” he says. With that year’s societal upheaval leading to an abundance of alone time, Freeman decided to double down on writing. He soon came out of isolation with two finished songs: ‘Long Distance Driver’ and ‘Colorado.’

<a href="https://gregfreeman1.bandcamp.com/album/i-looked-out">I Looked Out by Greg Freeman</a>

Headline photo: Justin Gordon

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