Fred Roberts made an immediate impact with “Runaway”, a 2023 debut single that elevated him into next-up conversations at a comprehensive pace. His debut EP, “Sound of My Youth”, was released earlier this year, and cemented his position as an exciting name within the indie-leaning pop space with his anthemic and crowd-pleasing sound. Live highlights of a continually breakthrough year include a support slot with Kylie Minogue in the summer, and a headline outing at Omera last week, whilst Roberts returned with the first new music since his EP in early October, sharing “Get It Over With”. Wonderland connected with the emerging star to discuss his discography, supporting Kylie Minogue, and his latest single.

Listen to “Get It Over With”…

Read the interview…

Hey Fred! How’s your year been?
Heyy !! It’s probably been the best year of my life so far aha. I feel like I’ve achieved and experienced a lot of things I’d been dreaming of for a while and feel very lucky to be where I am in my career. I’ve lived way more freely this year and played some very cool shows across the country and Europe.

How did you first find your way into writing music? What is your musical origins?
This is a weird one because I’ve been singing for way longer than I have been writing music. I always viewed the art of writing music as supernatural and just something I couldn’t do. It took a lot of trial and error at the piano to even form the basis of my first song and even then it wasn’t very good. In terms of my musical origins; it started with learning the piano at age 6 and then I joined the choir in secondary school which was how I learnt how to sing. After a few years of hiding behind other people’s voices I think I finally got the courage to sing in front of my mum and that’s when I started taking it a little bit more seriously.

How has your background and experiences shaped the music you want to make?
My music is shaped by everything I’ve lived through or absorbed, whether that’s something I’ve heard, seen, or felt. When I write lyrics, it’s usually because I’ve already scribbled down messy thoughts in the moment. Then it’s a process of shaping those raw, scattered pieces into something that fits together in a song.

What is the core of your sonic influence?
It’s a mix of what I grew up with and what I’ve discovered along the way. My dad introduced me to bands like The Smiths, and I think their way of weaving stories into songs has definitely stuck with me. But working with my producer Andrew Wells has been huge, too. Early on, my songs were mostly piano demos, but through him, I started experimenting more with guitar and chasing that bigger, anthemic sound. Around the same time, I became obsessed with bands like The Killers and The Vaccines, which really shaped where my music has gone.

What is your creative process?
I usually start with a feeling or an experience I can’t get out of my head. I’m always writing on my notes app and so when I get into the studio there are many themes and memories I can pull from. Most of my tracks are influenced heavily by the guitar and that’s where I normally start; trying to find chord patterns I haven’t used before and then forming melodies over the top of that !

Your debut single “Runaway” captured the hearts of many. Did you expect to have such a big impact with an inaugural single?
Not at all! I believed in the song and hoped people would connect with the story, but I wasn’t expecting how far it would go. It even made the top 50 on German radio, which led to festivals and radio tours over there—it was a pretty surreal time. I’d spent two years developing my sound, so to see people click with “Runaway” right away was really special.

Now that “Sound of My Youth” has been out for a while, how do you reflect on it?
It’s like looking back at snapshots of a specific part of my life. Those songs capture moments of heartbreak, self-discovery, and figuring out who I was during my late teens. I feel like I’ve changed a lot since then – the music I’m making now feels more grounded, and I’m writing from a place of confidence I didn’t have back then.

How was the EP conceptualised and created?
Initially, I wasn’t planning to make an EP – it kind of came together naturally. I always write songs with a central story in mind, and after “Runaway” was released, it became clear which tracks fit into the narrative. The title track was actually the last one I wrote. It brought the collection together, offering an uplifting close to a period filled with mistakes and lessons.

What does it represent to you?
It’s a snapshot of my journey – learning and finding my way through those years. It’s both a farewell to that chapter and a foundation for what’s next. It captures the struggle of navigating a first love and questioning your identity and everything in between.

Congratulations on your latest single “Get It Over With”! What’s the thought and feeling behind this one?
“GIOW” is definitely a big departure from the EP. It’s the first song where I actually call someone out for the way they behaved and highlights the frustration of being stuck in a relationship you know isn’t what you should be in. It’s about realising all of this but as I admit in the chorus, you’ll go back to them at the call of your name.

You supported Kylie at Hyde Park — how was that?
One of the craziest days of my life. It was my first festival of this summer and really set the bar quite high. Kylie has always been such a huge icon to me and I’ve heard her music for as long as I can remember, so to be supporting her was a dream come true. I was able to invite my family and friends along and we all watched her set in the evening which was really special.

Are you a natural live performer, or have you grown into it?
Definitely not a natural! In the beginning, I barely moved on stage. But over time, I’ve loosened up and embraced the fact that the audience just wants to have a good time. It’s been a journey, but now performing feels much more instinctive and fun.

You played Omera last week! How was it?
So wild! I was so so excited to be playing a headline show again. I’ve just been on tour with Griff which was incredible but [it’s good] to being back in the room with my fans. A live performance from me is a bit of everything really. There are the tracks that you can cry to and then those where we are screaming all the lyrics and jumping around like “Runaway”. My aim with my live set is that there is something for everyone and I love to put a focus on creating dynamic in the set. Also just a load of yapping from me trying to explain what the songs are about lol.

Looking ahead to 2025, what’s on the cards? And what are your longer-term ambitions?
There’s a ton of music I’m sitting on that I’m itching to share. Lately, I’ve been inspired by the live instrumentation on albums like Coldplay’s Parachutes and the way Lizzy McAlpine writes lyrics. The new songs feel raw and personal, which is exactly where I want to go next. Long term, I just want to keep connecting with people and making music that feels honest and true to me.