They say that your debut album is the culmination of your life experiences until that point, and that’s especially true of Vince Freeman’s recent Ghosts, Scars & Glory. A soul-baring set spanning rock, soul, country and blues, the record is informed by a meandering life story. It has seen Vince enjoy brushes with greatness (booking early gigs for Ed Sheeran, competing with Becky Hill on ‘The Voice’, writing for Alicia Keys), battle with devastating long-term health issues, recover and surge to land pan-European hits with Lost Frequencies and Fedde Le Grand, only to then have to once again start from scratch – including supporting his family by running a coffee van at music festivals – following the pandemic.
Vince Freeman
Now Freeman shares a moment with the potential to reach his biggest audience to date: a new version of the album’s most uplifting moment Real Love which features the London Community Gospel Choir.
Already a soul-stirring, joyous highlight of Freeman’s catalogue, Real Love becomes ever more commanding as the London Community Gospel Choir stir its passionate fervour to fever pitch. The interplay between their vocals is something special, with the singer’s ragged, rock-tinged soul the perfect foil to bring out the best in the Choir’s majestic, inspirational power.
Real Love is a paean to a relationship that makes someone feel as if their union makes them feel infinitely stronger than they ever could on their own. Freeman’s opening line “Could I escape from my body?”provides a relatable feeling of how low self-confidence can hinder such a relationship. But in the context of his own story, it becomes much more striking: he suffered extreme pain for six years following two prolapsed discs and serious compression in the base of his spine, and became perennially fearful that he’d never walk again or even hold his son, far less perform. Against all odds, he has since made a miraculous full recovery.
Real Love was written by Freeman with the track’s producer, GoldCrush aka Paul Visser, and this version was further elevated by top tier mixer Ash Howes (Jack Savoretti, Passenger, One Direction).
Freeman says: “I don’t sleep at night very well, I seem to come to life when the rest of the world is sleeping. I finished a recording session one night and came home to get into bed. My wife had fallen asleep with the light on. It was 3am and seeing her asleep gave me a moment that some never have. I was completely content.
‘Even asleep at three in the morning my love, you’re as good as it gets.’
Real Love is a celebration of life! AND It is a thank you for every moment shared!
‘Real Love, Real Touch, Real Hope and no regrets…You and me as good as it gets.’”
This fresh version of Real Love continues the relationship between the two, which started when Vince joined the London Community Gospel Choir for the finale of their Christmas celebration show at The Royal Albert Hall in 2021. Vince joins a list of renowned artists who have collaborated with the Choir, with other globally recognised names including Adele, Elton John, Madonna and P!NK.
Real Love provides a taste of the exceptional quality that sparkles throughout the deeply personal Scars, Ghosts & Glory album. It’s a towering achievement from an artist who has poured everything of himself into his music, made his own luck, overcame life-threatening challenges and been his own best ambassador. Vince has alchemised musical gold by facing the struggles of his past and emerging with a record that can uplift, touch and inspire fans in equal measure.
Recent weeks have seen Freeman enamour new audiences with an expansive UK and Ireland tour as special guest to Scouting For Girls. While he feels like a new artist having just released his debut album, his vast experience in the live space makes him a natural for such tours. After all, long before everything has happened to him – before family, illness and even his experiences on The Voice – he was playing 300 gigs a year, from tiny shows of his own as an unknown artist, later leading to gigs with Van Morrison, Eric Clapton and Paul Weller as well as spotlight moments at the FA Cup Final, the Formula One British Grand Prix, and on race day at Ascot!
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