A striking and deeply resonant work of art, HUDSON FREEMAN delivers one of the most compelling DIY indie records of the year with Is A Folk Artist, out May 29 on Mendel Records.
The record blends the intimacy of bedroom pop with the atmospheric introspection of slowcore and post-emo, offering a sound that is as sonically adventurous as it is emotionally raw. Hudson’s songs are full of lush folk arrangements punctuated by unexpected sonic twists and “WTF” moments; thematically steeped in the contradictions of modern identity, digital disconnection, and faith.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Alex G, Sufjan Stevens, Pedro the Lion, Hotline TNT, and Duster, Freeman’s music expertly captures the emotional turbulence of Gen Z adulthood, where friendships dissolve as easily as they form.
One of the album’s standout moments, “Dean,” highlights Hudson’s lyrically poignant and sonically bold songwriting. With brooding folk melodies intertwined with Deftones-esque grunge, “Dean” captures a sense of isolation in the in-between. Elsewhere, Is A Folk Artist finds Freeman tackling a religious upbringing, grappling with moral absolutism, and navigating a search for belonging in an age of digital exile.