"Free"
Single by Broods
from the album Conscious
Released1 April 2016 (2016-04-01)
Genre
Length3:43
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Joel Little
Broods singles chronology
"Four Walls"
(2015)
"Free"
(2016)
"1000×"
(2016)

"Free" is a song by New Zealand indie pop duo Broods from their second studio album, Conscious (2016). It premiered via BBC Radio 1 on 30 March 2016 before being officially released to digital retailers via Capitol Records, Dryden Street, and Universal Music Australia on 1 April 2016 as the album's lead single.[1][2] The song was serviced to American modern rock radio on 12 April 2016 through Capitol Records as the duo's third North American single.[3]

Composition

"Free" is a midtempo anthem about having the freedom to express oneself. The song was written by duo members Caleb and Georgia Nott alongside its producer, Joel Little. A synthwave song with industrial elements,[4] it features prominent synth instrumentation and a rhythmic backbeat evoking a war drum; industry professionals have described the production as "menacing and liberating" as well as more evolved than their previous songs.[5][6] Georgia Nott explained to Triple J that the song's thematic content arose out of a desire to produce "more mature" songs that deviate from the topic of love and address real issues in people's lives.[5]

Commercial reception

"Free" debuted at number 30 on the New Zealand Singles Chart dated 11 April 2016 and peaked at number 21.[7][8] It also debuted at number one on the New Zealand Artists chart ranking tracks performed by local artists.[9] In Australia, the song entered the ARIA Top 50 singles chart at number 35 on the chart dated 17 April 2016 and has since peaked at number 30.[10][11]

In the United States, "Free" entered the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart at number 47 on the chart dated 23 April 2016, their second entry on the chart.[12] "Free" ranked as the most-added song on alternative radio for the week ending 16 April 2016, with 14 Mediabase-monitored stations.[13] Despite this, it did not reach the Billboard Alternative Songs chart ranking airplay on the format for another two weeks, whereupon it debuted at number 38 on the chart dated 7 May 2016. It has since peaked at 26.[14]

Music video

An accompanying music video was directed by Jessie Hill and premiered on 31 March 2016.[15]

Chart performance

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 30
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 21
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 47

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[16] Platinum 70,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[17] Gold 7,500*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide 1 April 2016 Digital download
[2][18][19]
United States 12 April 2016 Modern rock radio Capitol [3]

References

  1. "BBC Radio 1 - Annie Mac, Huw Stevens sits in for Annie". BBC Radio 1. British Broadcasting Corporation. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Free - Single by Broods". iTunes Store (New Zealand). Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. 1 2 "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  4. Wehner, Cyclone (1 April 2016). "BROODS Chat Latest Single 'Free' & When We Can Expect A New Album". Music Feeds. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Hear: Broods are back with new single 'Free', talk album #2". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  6. "Broods Announces New Music". Capitol Records. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  7. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Broods – Free". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  9. "Top 20 New Zealand Singles Chart". Official New Zealand Music Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  10. "Discography Broods". australian-charts.com (Hung Medien). Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Broods – Free". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Broods Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  13. Cantor, Brian (12 April 2016). "Broods' "Free" Ranks As Alternative Radio's Most Added Song". Headline Planet. Cantortainment. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  14. "Broods - Chart history". Billboard Alternative Songs for Broods. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  15. Apaza, Kevin (31 March 2016). "Broods Premiere New Single "Free": Watch The Full Music Video Now!". Direct Lyrics. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  16. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  17. "New Zealand single certifications – Broods – Free". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  18. "Free - Single by Broods". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  19. "Free - Single by Broods". iTunes Store (UK). Apple Inc. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
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