Freddie Griggs’ “Everything I Have” – EP Review

Emerging from his quiet hometown to the vibrant streets of Liverpool, Freddie Griggs brings to the scene a warm, rich indie rock sound born for the stage. Despite the challenge of juggling his musical pursuits with university study, with the release of his debut EP ‘Everything I Have’ Freddie Griggs has proved himself to be not only a talented singer and instrumentalist but a skilled and seemingly-natural songwriter.

Freddie describes his sound as if ‘If Nothing But Thieves and Sam Fender had a baby’, influences which are obvious from the first listen in the way that he combines Sam Fender’s raw lyrics and rich, emotional vocals with the dynamic instrumentation of Nothing But Thieves. While fans of either of these artists are bound to enjoy the ‘Everything I Have’ EP, it is also clear to see that Freddie Griggs is far from a carbon copy of his inspirations and demonstrates his potential not only to follow in their footsteps but to diverge and carve out his own path with a sound that, despite the strong influences, is still entirely fresh and his own. 

The ‘Everything I Have’ EP tackles difficult topics and complex emotions surrounding being a young person in the UK in today’s day and age. Freddie shows incredible depth and versatility in his songwriting skills as across these five songs he easily balances the light and the dark, the satirical and the heartfelt, the big picture and the small details, all the while driving home his lyrics with some ingeniously written and executed instrumentals.   

The title track ‘Everything I Have’ kicks the EP into instant action with the punch of a drum beat closely followed by a crunchy guitar riff. With endlessly rich vocals that somehow achieve softness and power simultaneously, Freddie sings with determination about his drive to make it in the music industry, without shying away from his vulnerability and self-doubt. With raw, clever lyricism, he perfectly balances excitement and fear as he explores the double-edged sword that comes with the early days of a career: having everything to lose but also everything to gain. As if the strength in his vocal delivery and lyrics weren’t enough to prove his talent, the song ventures off into an epic guitar solo, mirroring the optimistic tone of the lyrics with a masterful succession of notes that make your heart rise out of your chest.

‘If I Could’ contrasts this energy with vulnerability and melancholy, as Freddie grapples with the conflicting emotions of leaving behind someone with severe mental health issues in order to move away for University. His vocals teeter between reassurance and desperation while the guitar sings with similar emotion. The guitar solo does everything a guitar solo should do, reflecting the song’s meaning and translating it into sound in a way that communicates that which cannot be expressed with lyrics, reviving epic 80s-style guitar playing that masterfully achieves storytelling without words.

For anyone who has mixed feelings about the area they grew up in, ‘Our Town’ is bound to resonate with you. The track transports us back to Freddie’s hometown, a small village in rural Yorkshire with nothing but the rolling hills and the bleak news headlines to keep its youths entertained. The resiliently simmering baseline and drums create a feeling of restlessness that cannot be ignored, while Freddie sings of the disheartening state of the world and his insatiable hunger to get out of this place and start his life: ‘I won’t sit here and dig my grave, I’ll plan to make my great escape’. Despite being written 3 years ago, this song manages to strongly hold its place in the EP among the more recent tracks, vividly capturing the claustrophobia of growing up in a place you can’t wait to leave.

On a similar note, ‘Worthy’ takes a satirical tone in its commentary on the state of the UK, directly calling out the people in power for the injustice and poverty they enable then turn a blind eye to. The clever, heartfelt lyrics are matched with explosive drums and guitars that refuse to be contained, creating a playful yet real anthem of rebellion. 

This burst of energy is brought back down with ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’, which concludes the EP with a sigh of relief. The verses are grounded and down to earth with gentle instrumentations and soft vocals, as Freddie’s lyrics directly address the listener with reassurance and the offer of hope in moments of darkness. As the song explodes into a bright, powerful chorus, it becomes clear that there is in fact light at the end of the tunnel, as Freddie admits ’I’m not saying you won’t get hurt, but life is for living and you’re not the first’. With this the EP concludes on an optimistic note, leaving a lingering impact on the listener while gesturing towards a bright future for Freddie Griggs both as a musician and as a human being.

This EP is a faultless collection of tracks demonstrating rich depths that few even dream of executing this early on in their career, with each song constructing a stronger and stronger image of himself as an artist. With the infectious energy and passion bleeding through the tracks and rubbing off on the listener, it is impossible not to picture these songs being performed live, with anthemic choruses, energetic guitar solos as well as some more intimate moments that make this EP seem tailor-made for the stage. Rightfully so, then, that there isn’t too long to wait until his next show as on the 24th of August you’ll be able to catch him at the Shipping Forecast supporting Empty Space for Big Condo Records – buy tickets HERE!

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