Today we’d like to introduce you to Freya Berkhout.
Freya, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Music is in my bones. I started playing piano when I was four and was later enamoured by harmony when I joined a choir at seven. I learned about composing through music camp and having my tiny mind blown by Lord of the Rings. Inspired, I started writing songs when I was eleven.
I thought I would become a singer/songwriter but during my undergrad, I started an experimental pop duo called kyü, which turned my sonic world upside down. I learned synthesis and explored sampling and drum machines, finding my experimental feet and expanding my vocal identity. kyü released two records to critical acclaim, toured nationally in Australia, and won a slew of awards. At 19, overwhelmed and burned out by the industry and on the brink of playing SxSW, we broke up. I was pretty broken, but found my way back to music through scoring films, which felt like a nourishing way to compose again.
From here, it was a bit of a winding journey. I went to film school in Sydney and then moved to London in a new band and keen to cut my composing teeth on UK film and TV. I lived in London for five years, performing live and working on film projects across the UK and Australia. Interested in expanding my sound practice, I completed my Masters in Computational Arts at Goldsmiths, University of London. I learned programming and physical computing and started working on interactive sound for installations and exhibitions.
I wear a lot of hats. I’m a film composer, musician, sound artist, and creative technologist. In 2019, I moved back to Australia, where I started working on more long-form projects. I scored queer magic realist drama The Greenhouse (Netflix ANZ), Rose d’Or winning Audible podcast Pillow Talk, and a host of award-winning short films. In July 2023, I released my debut solo album, Fruit. I wanted to hear my own sonic worlds, and Fruit is an intimate dive into identity and love.
I always knew LA was calling me, and a month ago, I finally moved! I’m excited for the collaborations and creative explorations I’ll find in this sprawling, inspiring city.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. My first band, kyü, burned bright and took me with it! I thought I would never write music again after we broke up. I was scarred by the music industry, and my relationship with my ex-band partner was shot. Finding film scoring nursed me back to musical health, and many years later, I have returned to writing music just for me with my debut solo album, Fruit.
Film music is a challenging career path. It’s a very slow burn and involves a lot of rejection. A quote that’s always resonated with me is “You need thick skin and a soft heart”. I think this is so true. You need to be prepared to miss out on projects you dreamed of and collaborations that seemed perfect for you, but simultaneously protect the beautiful, pure artistic part of yourself and nurture it with love and passion. Keep that inner flame lit.
Engineering and producing my solo album, Fruit, was a long journey. It took me two and a half years, a lot of tunnel vision, and some teary times. Making your own music is such a labor of love, but it has been the most rewarding process for me to dive into and realize my own sonic landscapes. I am so proud of my baby that’s now out in the world, and I can’t wait to start performing it live!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What makes me most special is my voice. As a musician, film composer, sound artist – whatever I’m doing it involves my vocals. I’m known for using vocals as a textural layer in my compositions. Sometimes, they’re right up top, and other times, they’re hidden or pitched down, reversed, chopped up. I love creating work that plays in the uncanny valley: at once familiar and strange. I’m really proud to have honed my own musical voice over two decades of writing music. The vibe is ethereal, atmospheric, and mesmerizing, and I always want to take people on an immersive and profound journey.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe luck is a gift you can leverage by being prepared. I was lucky meeting my ex-band partner Alyx, which became a pivotal creative relationship in my life, opening my eyes to all sorts of artistic experimentation and truly unlocking me musically. Our band, kyü, was lucky because the music we were making at the time was very much in the zeitgeist, which brought quick success.
I’m not sure I’ve had a lot of other luck – good or bad – in more recent times. My life and career lessons in the last decade have been more about continued determination, creating opportunities for my own success, and cultivating nourishing artistic and personal relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.freyaberkhout.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freya.berkhout/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@freya.berkhout
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5tMmFmUuaVgw7bVyAquryw
