"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 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

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. ^ 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.
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