JOSH FR3DA bursts out of the gate with his explosive debut, "Turn Him Loose," a genre-blurring, high-octane celebration of self-expression, soul, and absolute audacity. At just under 28 minutes and comprising eight explosive tracks, this is a glittering, guitar-fueled declaration of identity.
The album’s magnetic centerpiece, “Does My Ass Look Good in These Pants?, sets the tone immediately. A tongue-in-cheek banger that bristles with sass and sparkle, it’s half dance-floor anthem, half personal-empowerment manifesto. With a strut right out of Freddie Mercury’s repertoire and the glassy, polished appeal of early aughts country-pop divas, this song challenges listeners to love themselves louder and strut a little harder.
But Turn Him Loose is no glamorous and giggles-filled reading experience. It’s a layered, emotionally tumultuous ride, one that embraces the roughness of identity, the delicacy of vulnerability, and the victory of coming full circle. Tracks like “Openly Open” shimmer with soul and honesty, combining confessional songwriting with a sonic palette that evokes Bonnie Raitt’s bluesy warmth. Meanwhile, “Best We Can” is a smoldering standout, introspective, unvarnished, and highly relatable.
The sound FR3DA is projecting into the universe is different. There, he seamlessly blends country grit, classic rock fire, and alternative blues attitude into a sound that comes across as recognizably nostalgic yet refreshingly new. Try to picture Shania Twain in a leather jacket, or Aerosmith with a rainbow flag. The instrumentation hits hard and grooves deep, with moments that feel just as at home in a smoky dive bar as on an arena stage. For a debut, "Turn Him Loose" is audacious.
Connect with JOSH FR3DA: Instagram