Meet Vocal Powerhouse Vince Freeman

Over the last decade, Vince Freeman has had an exceptional journey — from playing 300 shows a year, working as the promoter breaking globally renowned artists such as Ed Sheeran and Paolo Nutini, performing at events all over the globe, and so much more — the vocal powerhouse is now on the path to release his much-anticipated debut album.

An artist dedicated to his craft and no stranger to relentless hard work, his debut project Scars, Ghosts & Glory is a deeply personal look insight into the world of Vince Freeman, shining a brutally honest light on the life-richly-lived world of the artist.

His inaugural single from the album, ‘Powers’ is out now, a defiant anthem of optimism and empowerment, demonstrating that he does indeed have the power. We caught up with Vince to discuss the new single, his incredible journey so far, and the unconventional story that brought him to now releasing his debut album.

Hey Vince, thanks so much for speaking with us today! How are you, and what are you up to right now?

Thanks for having me. I’m great thanks, spinning a lot of plates at the moment trying not to drop to many!! Right now? Actually I am just about to leave the house to pick up my kids from school, its just 24/7 rock n roll ;).

Huge congratulations on the release of ‘Powers’ and the announcement of your debut album! Are you doing anything to celebrate?

Thanks it’s been quite a journey, and so excited that the world gets to hear the music. I feel like I’m already celebrating to a certain extent because I have made an album that I wouldn’t change a note on. I’m not going to turn down a celebratory glass or two though!

‘Powers’ is an extremely empowering single, super inspiring. What do you hope fans will take away from this track, and the rest of the album?

Powers is about discovering and believing in yourself and realising that everything you need you already have…I hope that the song connects and empowers listeners, and the album…well I just hope that they enjoy it as much I did making it.

The music video is fantastic, too – would you be able to talk us through the creative process behind the making of this beautiful visual?

I love the video, mostly because I got to home! It was filmed in Plymstock, Plymouth where I grew up. I guess the idea was me looking back at my childhood at a moment of awakening. It was a very ambitious project….’So I want fall back into the ocean!!!’ And I feel that most people with the budget and time we had would have run a mile. I feel very grateful to have found an amazing creative team that indulge the crazy in me.

Your debut album, Scars, Ghosts & Glory is coming out next March. It’s a very candid look into your life, and the difficulties you’ve faced over the years. How does it feel to have such a personal body of work out into the world?

It’s feels great! I think in places the songs are brutally honest. That can be uncomfortable, like looking at your soul in the mirror. I’m ok with my scars and ghosts these days and it feels amazing to share my story to whoever might want to listen.

You’ve had a very unique experience within music, from giving opportunities to the likes of Ed Sheeran and Paolo Nutini at the start of their careers, appearing on The Voice, playing 300 gigs a year and so much more. How do you feel these experiences have shaped you as an artist, now you’re fully in the driving seat and releasing your debut album?

Working alongside or with so many incredible artists and creatives over the years it has given me a better understanding of what it takes to do something exceptional. Its rarely just talent. Its the whole package, (the work needed, the attention to detail, the belief, the people you surround yourself with). I wasn’t ready or good enough before….I am now.

During the pandemic you decided to open Coffee Rocks, your own coffee stall that toured festivals and events, when an entertainment lawyer bought coffee from you, leading to now! Tell us a little more about this experience, from steering away from music in the pandemic, which in turn led to a springboard straight into an album?

Well, I didn’t really steer away from music….I just could ‘catch a cold’! The music industry fell apart, writing work dried up completely and live music wasn’t a thing. So after simply realising that my family could lose our house I decided to try and find a new way of making some money to pay the bills. I wasn’t a fairytale business to be honest. It was hard, cold, wet, hot and lonely a lot of the time. It did however stop me from losing everything and for that I am very grateful. The lawyer who I ended up performing at his wedding was one of those ‘you couldn’t write it moments’….wrong place/right time. He offered to make a phone call for me with then started this journey that I am on now.

Let’s take it back to the beginning – what sparked your love for music?

I think I always love music, I was the boy who would walk to school singing to himself making up my own songs! However I grew up in a sporty family and never really considered music until my mum gave me a last minute Christmas present wrapped in a bin liner! It was an acoustic guitar. It was broken but it was mine. I was 21 years old and I didn’t leave my room for 4 days!

If you could organise your dream festival, who would be your three headliners?

Only three?! There are so many… Billy Joel(Writing and Story Telling), Michael Jackson (The Show! & Jeff Buckley (Pure breathtaking talent).

Anyone you’d love to collaborate with?

I would love to collaborate with Marc Ronson. There are also some rap/spoken word artists like Chance and UK artist Jelani Blackman that would be really interesting to work with.

Looking back at Vince 10 years ago, would you give him any advice?

Lose the ego, stop trying to be who you think others want you to be and start telling your own story

Once Scars, Ghosts & Glory is out next Spring, what are your plans for the rest of 2024?

I can’t wait to tour with the band in 2024….The band and SG&Glory is just made for festivals and big stages….after that who knows 😉

Make sure to listen to Vince Freeman’s latest single ‘Powers’ here or below. Scars, Ghosts & Glory is out in March 2024.