The Freedom Affair is a warm hug for your soul. It’s a female-fronted powerhouse inspired by the traditions of the soul music’s past with an enduring message that looks toward the future. Three dynamic, awe-inspiring singers – Seyko Groves, Paula Saunders, and Shon Ruffin – share lead and background vocal duties, blending refined harmonies while backed by an airtight band that meets every musical moment with taste, precision, and a deep pocket.
Riding the success of their debut album, Freedom is Love, the band has reemerged with an impressive arsenal of new music conceived in the wake of the Covid pandemic. A series of four stand-alone singles recorded straight to tape in their Kansas City studio will roll out over 2024 to prelude their sophomore album releasing in early 2025. Each single encapsulating a different sound and theme, the series highlights the band’s range and proficient songwriting prowess: a perfect course between their first and second full length offerings that reintroduces fans to the majesty that this collective of artists produces.
The magic that The Freedom Affair captures in the studio is exponentially magnified when they take the stage. Their live performances have proven to be soul-stirring, transformative events moving audiences physically and emotionally, even to the point of joy, tears, and elation. Crowds rave about the fireworks this group brings to the stage, and the band is poised to continue bringing their brand of inspired soul to new crowds across the world.
Today Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of their latest single “Love is Love” ahead of its official release on June 26th. It’s no coincidence that the band is releasing the song during Pride Month as it’s a celebration of love “in any form it manifests.” With bright, breezy horns and angelic three-part harmonies, the song is a work of feel-good soul music that connects with the theme of inclusivity in a universal way. Indeed, there is something deeply positive about this tune that feels like it could lift you up on a magic carpet ride of warmth and love. Musically, it brings to mind the hippie-era movement of the mid-60s that leaned into the flower child sunny vibe of loving all as well as the disco soul that did the same thing for the dancefloor in the 70s. The combination of tight, almost orchestral soul musicianship and supremely gorgeous harmonies is a remind that The Freedom Affair is an act to watch.
Bandmember Dave Brick describes the inspiration behind the tune:
“‘Love is Love’ is a silky-smooth, mid-tempo number made for two-stepping layered with unified vocals and harmonies that embody the song’s theme of inclusivity. It’s a gorgeous song that invites listeners to sing along and sway with its warmth and innocence. We’re proud to celebrate love in any form it manifests, and it’s only fitting that we release this tune in June for Pride Month.”
LISTEN:
