Hudson Freeman has a new album on the way, and he is bringing his wife along for the ride. The guitarist and songwriter announced Doom Country this week, the follow-up to last year’s Is A Folk Artist, with a new single and a tour that crosses continents. The record arrives just five weeks from now, on November 6th, via Mom+Pop.
Freeman’s rise started quietly. Last year, Pitchfork critic-turned-music producer Nick Sylvester wrote about him in a Substack post called “This is the song I shared most last year.” The post centered on a “demo” version of Freeman’s song “If You Know Me” that went viral on Instagram. Sylvester described a lo-fi live performance video shot in a Southern Indiana cornfield, with Freeman’s guitar hiked up high and the bottom three strings visibly vibrating during strums. He noted that the tuning might be esoteric, but either way it completed the hillbilly vibe.
The Viral Video That Started It All
The guitar playing is formidable — virtuosic in a raw, folksy way. The strings are tuned so low that they sound like they are summoning ancient frequencies. Some people referred to this as “country Nirvana,” a comparison that is easy to see why it stuck. The mesmerizing take on the song took off on IG, and the YouTube upload has 134,000 views.
John Mayer is also a fan. He posted footage of himself playing the “If You Know Me” riff.
The Story Behind the Songs
Freeman’s background is unusual for a touring musician. He is the son of evangelical Christian missionaries who moved with his parents from the Dallas suburbs to the Kingdom of Eswatini at age 13. He later fell out of evangelicalism and found his own way to faith. That journey informs the music he now makes.
The songs he writes are scrappy, blustery, and folk-tinged indie rock. “I-40” is the single he released last month for his new label home, Mom+Pop. It sounds a bit like Sufjan Stevens for the Hotline TNT/Horse Jumper Of Love era. The comparison holds up — both artists share a knack for dense, literary lyrics wrapped in catchy hooks.
Ryan Dombal profiled Freeman at Hearing Things in February, calling him “the Indie-Rock Philosopher Who Happened to Go Viral.” Dombal’s piece dug into the backstory behind the songs, noting that guys who were writing for Pitchfork 20 years ago can’t get enough of this kid.
Sophie Brown Joins the Band
The album cover features Freeman’s wife, the poet Sophie Brown. She appears in overalls, standing amongst cows. She also stars in the video for the new single “Fell Ass Backwards,” directed by Aidan Nolan. Unlike Freeman, she does not have her head all bandaged up.
The song itself is a duet. Brown harmonizes throughout, and her presence gives the track a second voice. The lyrics are direct and strange, and they reference faith, secrets, and transcendence.
Tracklist and Tour Dates
Doom Country runs eleven tracks deep. The full tracklist is:
| # | Track |
|---|---|
| 01 | “Left Behind” |
| 02 | “I-40” |
| 03 | “Texas in Flaming Tongues” |
| 04 | “Turning Green” |
| 05 | “Wrong Side” |
| 06 | “Doom Country” |
| 07 | “Fell Ass Backwards” |
| 08 | “Celebration City” |
| 09 | “10.08.22” |
| 10 | “Western” |
| 11 | “Deus Ex Machina” |
The album’s title track, “Doom Country,” sits at track six. It is a fitting centerpiece for a record that blends folk traditions with a modern, noisy edge. The final stretch includes “10.08.22,” a track named after a specific date, and “Deus Ex Machina,” which closes the record on a mysterious note.
Freeman’s tour runs from October through February. It starts in Los Angeles at The Wiltern, where he plays two nights. Then it moves through Nashville, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C., before hitting Philadelphia, Boston, and Columbus. The record release show lands in New York at the Bowery Ballroom on November 6th.
The international leg picks up in February, with stops in Milan, Paris, Utrecht, Cologne, Copenhagen, Berlin, Groningen, Brussels, London, Brighton, Bristol, and Birmingham. That is a substantial run for a young artist.
What the New Single Sounds Like
“Fell Ass Backwards” is the track to start with. It is an excellent slice of noisy, glittering, post-Alex G indie rock. The song samples are available to hear below.
The melody is catchy, and the vocal harmonies carry the emotional weight. It is a song that rewards repeat listens.
A Poet on the Cover
Brown’s role on the album is not just visual. She is the poet whose work appears on the cover, and her presence in the video signals that her perspective shapes the record. The couple’s collaboration is a notable aspect of the project, giving the music a personal edge that sets it apart from the typical solo artist release.
The cover image, with Brown standing amongst cows, is a striking visual. It captures the rural, American landscape that has informed Freeman’s work since those early videos in the cornfield. The pairing of husband and wife on the record is a deliberate choice, and it adds depth to the storytelling.
The Pitchfork Connection
Pitchfork has been tracking Freeman’s career closely. Sylvester’s post introduced him to a wider audience, and Dombal’s profile at Hearing Things dug into the philosophical side of his songwriting. The magazine’s critics have been fans of his work, and their support has helped build momentum.
The viral video was the entry point for many listeners. The YouTube upload has 134,000 views. The combination of a viral clip, a rock star endorsement, and critical attention from Pitchfork has created a unique situation for a young artist.
The Record Release Show
The November 6th release show at the Bowery Ballroom will mark the official arrival of Doom Country. It will be the first time fans can hear the full album live.
The tour dates are a busy stretch, but Freeman seems committed to getting the music in front of audiences around the world. The international run is particularly ambitious.
What This Means for Freeman
Freeman’s trajectory is remarkable. He went from a viral demo in a cornfield to a signed artist with a label release, a supportive rock star, and a dedicated following. The new album is a statement of intent — a collection of songs that blend folk traditions with a modern, noisy edge.
The title Doom Country is evocative. It suggests a dark, rural landscape, and it fits the themes of the songs. The album is a record that rewards close listening, and it will likely appeal to fans of Sufjan Stevens, Alex G, and other indie-rock philosophers.
The single “Fell Ass Backwards” is a strong introduction to the new material. It is a track that captures the spirit of the album — noisy, glittering, and deeply personal. The video, directed by Aidan Nolan, adds another layer of meaning to the song.
Freeman has built a career on his own terms. He moved to Eswatini as a teenager, left evangelicalism, and found his own path. His music reflects that journey — it is scrappy, blustery, and full of heart. He has earned his place in the spotlight, and the new album is a chance to see where he goes next.
The record is due November 6th, and the tour dates are set. Fans should mark their calendars and plan to see him live. The music is worth hearing, and the story behind it is even more compelling.
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
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