Free (Broods song)

2016 single by Broods

"Free"

Single by Broods
from the album  Conscious
Released| 1 April 2016 (2016-04-01)
Genre|

* Synthwave
* industrial

Length| 3:43
Label|

* Capitol
* Universal

Songwriter(s)|

* Caleb Nott
* Georgia Nott
* Joel Little

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

[edit]

"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

[edit]

"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

[edit]

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

## Chart performance

[edit]

Chart (2016)  | Peak
position

|

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

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified 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

[edit]

Country  | Date  | Format  | Label  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Worldwide  | 1 April 2016  | Digital download |

* Capitol
* Dryden Street
* Universal

| [2][18][19]
United States  | 12 April 2016  | Modern rock radio  | Capitol  | [3]

## References

[edit]

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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Broods – Free". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
12. ^ a b "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.

* v
* t
* e

Broods

Studio albums|

* Evergreen
* Conscious
* Don't Feed the Pop Monster

Extended plays|

* Broods

Singles|

* "Bridges"
* "Never Gonna Change"
* "Mother & Father"
* "L.A.F"
* "Four Walls"
* "Free"
* "Heartlines"

Featured singles|

* "1000×"

Related articles|

* Joel Little
* Lorde

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

|

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