"Free Yourself" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware, released on 19 July 2022. It was written by Ware, Clarence Coffee Jr. and the song's producer Stuart Price.

"Free Yourself"
Single by Jessie Ware
Released	19 July 2022 (2022-07-19)
Genre	Italo disco house dance-pop
Length	3:54
Label	PMR EMI Records
Songwriter(s)	Jessie Ware Stuart Price Clarence Coffee Jr.
Producer(s)	Stuart Price
Jessie Ware singles chronology
"Kiss of Life" (2021) "Free Yourself" (2022)
Music video
"Free Yourself" on YouTube

Background and release

"Free Yourself" is Ware's first single since the 2021 release of the extended Platinum Pleasure Edition of her most recent album What's Your Pleasure?.

During her headline set on The Park stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2022, the song was debuted. It was later premiered on 19 July 2022 as the "Hottest Record in the World" on BBC Radio 1's Future Sounds show.[1]

In a statement released to the press following the song's release, Ware said that this track "is the beginning of a new era" and that she's "so excited for people to have this song for the end of their summer; to dance, to feel no inhibitions, and to feel joyful because that's how I've been feeling recently being able to tour again and being able to sing again".[2]

Four remixes of the single were subsequently released. The first was by Paul Woolford and was released on 12 August 2022.[3] The second was by Eats Everything and was released on 19 August.[4] The third was by the Alias and was released on 16 September.[5] The fourth was by Melanie C and was released on 3 November.[6]

Production and composition

"Free Yourself"

Accompanied by diva house instrumentals, Ware addresses the listener in "Free Yourself" telling them not to worry about & stay strong through life's uncertainty.

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A predominantly Italo disco-house track, "Free Yourself" is produced by Stuart Price and co-written by Ware, Price and Clarence Coffee Jr. of the production team the Monsters & Strangerz.[7] In an interview with Clara Amfo following the song's premiere on BBC Radio 1, Ware mentioned how she was initially hesitant to work with Price due to "being in a bubble with James Ford" (who she had worked with previously for What's Your Pleasure?).[1]

Strong keyboard stabs reminiscent of the diva house[7] genre start off the song, before building up and being accompanied with a selection of strings, brass instruments and drums, all acting as a background to Ware's vocals. The refrain of the song urges the listener to "hold steady through life's turbulence": "Keep on moving up that mountain top [...] If it feels so good then baby, baby don't you".[8]

Music video

The music video for the single was released on 8 August 2022 at 5pm GMT. It was directed by Vicky Lawton, who had previously directed the videos for previous singles "Save A Kiss" and "What's Your Pleasure?".[9] The video sees Ware sport an "extravagant ruby red dress",[10] leading a congregation of dancers at a stately home through a ritualistic lecture of self-love and appreciation.[11]

In an interview with Little Black Book, Lawton described the video as "very '70s rock 'n' roll, but with a pinch of the occult thrown in. Knowing I’d want to make the tone provocative, I needed to ensure there was the class and sophistication in the visuals to keep it chic. That meant keeping mystery and intrigue at the forefront, using references of decadence, silhouettes to tease and a heavenly glow throughout." Rob Jarvis was the director of photography for the shoot and Lawton described working with him as a "delightful experience".[12]

Critical reception

George Griffiths from the Official Charts Company said the single "bursts out of What's Your Pleasure's [sic] shadow, as it should do" and that "this is a track clearly inspired by several motifs; CeCe Peniston, Erotica-era Madonna ('Deeper and Deeper' especially) and Studio 54 as the rent ran out and they were closing the shutters for the final time".[7]

Wren Graves from Consequence said that the song "opens with marching keyboards that add an air of drama before the beat drops",[13] whilst Tomás Mier from Rolling Stone described the lyrics as "sexy" and the chorus as "infectious [and] funky".[14] Pitchfork's Eric Torres calls the single "a sauntering floorfiller [...] eventually spinning out into a delirious breakdown in its last minute".[8]

Track listings

Digital download[15]

1. Free Yourself – 3:58

Digital download - Paul Woolford Remix[16]

1. Free Yourself (Paul Woolford Remix) – 3:01
2. Free Yourself – 3:59

Digital download - Eats Everything Remix[17]

1. Free Yourself (Eats Everything Remix) – 4:03
2. Free Yourself (Paul Woolford Remix) – 3:01
3. Free Yourself – 3:58

Digital download - The Alias Remix[18]

1. Free Yourself (The Alias Remix) - 3:12
2. Free Yourself – 3:58
3. Free Yourself (Eats Everything Remix) – 4:03
4. Free Yourself (Paul Woolford Remix) – 3:01

Digital download - Melanie C Remix[19]

1. Free Yourself (Melanie C Remix) - 5:11

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from YouTube.[20]

• Jessie Ware – vocals, songwriter
• Stuart Price – producer, songwriter, recording engineer, mixer, background vocals, piano, bass, guitar, keyboards, drums
• Clarence Coffee Jr – background vocals, songwriter
• Stuart Hawkes – mastering engineer
• Atlantic Horns – horns

Charts

References