Fred Again..'s 'Actual Life 3' Is a Lifetime of Catharsis Crystallized Into One Stellar House Album
Actual Life 3 is here. And with it, Fred again.. attempts a remarkable undertaking. He's not merely releasing music—he's pedaling hope. Fred again.. uplifts listeners by crafting powerful house ballads that address everything from mental illness, unresolved emotional trauma, to the euphoria of a blissful night out. Through all of this, Fred again.. is creating a strong sense of community, and it's nothing short of inspirational. His authenticity permeates everything he does.
In the lead-up to releasing Actual Life 3, Fred again.. has generated a palpable fervor. Whether that’s by hosting concert after-parties from a waffle truck in New York or organizing Fred-led bike rides through London, the music doesn't stop when the record ends; it's an extension of life itself. Being the man of the people he is, for his final single, he asked fans to vote on which track they wanted him to release via social media. As Actual Life 3 dropped worldwide, fans gathered at listening parties powered by little more than a laptop or an aux cord. It was truly a modern-day grassroots campaign.
On the surface, the concept behind Fred's sampling is simple. Now on his third (and potentially final) iteration of the Actual Life series, the mystery is all but gone. We know what Fred again.. and Actual Life 3 are about. Regardless, the music is superb and the energy that builds within the tracks is electric. The way Fred marries the meticulously chosen samples with his beats is immaculate. However, what continues to stand out in his music—and is engrained in the DNA of Actual Life 3—is the powerful messaging behind it all.
Actual Life 3 blesses us with songs like “Nathan (still breathing)” declaring, “But you're not alone, if I'm still breathing, we're still breathing, you and I.” For the song “Delilah (pull me out of this),” Fred took a sample from a friend experiencing an anxiety attack in the middle of a club and turned it into a healing track, which also happens to be a huge banger. In “Clara (the night is dark),” we are greeted by a message encouraging us not to give up with the words “Courage, my soul, and let us journey on, though the night is dark, it won't be very long” echoing throughout.
These songs may not contain much of Fred's actual words, but his message—the story he is choosing to tell—is loud and clear. And that story is full of things we all need to hear.
Listen to Actual Life 3 below:
