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Premiere: Greg Freeman – “Colorado” Acoustic ft. Merce Lemon (Video)
Published: January 10, 2025

Photo by Justin Gordon.

Greg Freeman first caught my ear during SXSW 2024, when I stumbled across a set from his band at Cheer Up Charlie’s one afternoon, and have been following along ever since. The Burlington, Vermont based songwriter presents a unique and genre-defying style of rock music that refuses to be placed inside of any single genre box.

Instead, the arrangements pair with the lyrics to build upon emotions and metaphors, creating a distorted world that is Greg Freeman’s own, but may call to mind artists like Jason Molina, Modest Mouse, Wilco, and other genre-bending, highly respected musicians.

Freeman’s 2022 debut album, I Looked Out, was recently given a re-release on Canvasback, and pressed to vinyl for the first time. This comes in advance of what is looking to be a big year for the songwriter, who is currently en route to London for a run of shows, including a sold out show on Jan 14th at Servant Jazz Headquarters. On January 25th, he plays a full band show at Union Pool in NYC with Ekko Astral.

The re-release includes a new acoustic version of “Long Distance Driver”, plus a bonus release of the acoustic “Colorado” video premiering here today. Both feature Pittsburgh songwriter Merce Lemon.

Enjoy the video below, and read on for a Q&A with Greg from just before he left for London.

Greg Freeman – “Colorado” Acoustic with Merce Lemon

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2jSQVsJu-RI

I Looked Out (2022)

Q&A with Greg Freeman: I Looked Out Reissue & More

Extra Chill: Been a fan since SXSW – I’m the guy who asked you about Phish from Vermont and the idea of being genre-less (at Cheer Up Charlies). Thanks for your time, I really dig the tunes! 

Greg Freeman: Hey dude! Thanks so much for the questions. Sorry if they are short. Im crunching before leaving for London on Friday. 

EC: What went into the decision to re-release I Looked Out, rather than going straight to a second album? 

GF: My label Canvasback loves the record. They wanted it to have a proper vinyl release and I agreed! 

EC: How does it feel to come from a DIY scene and start breaking into more widespread recognition? 

GF: I don’t know what widespread recognition means when it comes to the internet. Everyone has widespread recognition these days, or the illusion of it. DIY culture has always had its own way of forming widespread connections. But it’s based in friendship and community rather than algorithms, record sales, online followers etc. 

EC: How did you connect with Merce Lemon? What’s your favorite part about working with her? 

GF: I’m obsessed with her new album. We met in the scene a few years ago. She’s got great sensibilities as a songwriter. One of the best out there. 

EC: Your songs are raw and genre-defying, despite many listeners trying to categorize them. You’ve touched on this before with Paste, but I’d love to hear more about your thoughts on genre. Do you find it creatively limiting, or do you think it can help shape an audience? 

GF: Some people find a home in genre. It feels like these days, every aesthetic and self-designation consumes itself, becomes a caricature of itself, and becomes cheesy or unbelievable. I find more of a home in tradition or lineage. The lineage of songwriters who I admire. You can guess who they are. 

EC: Can you share any details about the second album? 

GF: Theres 10 songs like the last one. Might sound a little different to people, but I’m not totally sure how it will be perceived. I think the songwriting is better. 

EC: On a scale of 1-10, how chill is Greg Freeman, and why? 

GF: Extremely chill about some things, extremely unchill about others.

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