Fred Again's Standout 'USB002' Rollout

This past September, artist Fred Again announced his upcoming album USB002. Frederick John Philip Gibson, professionally known as Fred Again, has grown into a globally known producer and DJ over the past decade and continues to expand his presence through pop up shows, collaborations, and creative event production. After his earlier success in 2021 with "Kyle (I Found You)" and "Marea (We’ve Lost Dancing)", both from his first album 'Actual Life (April 14 to December 17 2020)', Gibson gained widespread recognition for his innovative use of sampling and his ability to connect with listeners on a global level. He often takes real life voice recordings and weaves them into his tracks in a way that feels natural and emotional, which has become a defining part of his sound. He went on to release two more 'Actual Life' albums in 2021 and 2022, all of which leaned into downbeat and melancholic tones. Even though the songs are something you can groove to, they also carry a lot of emotion and are able to communicate specific feelings to the listener. Some of my favorite Fred Again tracks come from the 'Actual Life' trilogy because the lyrics feel especially heartfelt and easy to connect with.

In contrast, Gibson released 'USB001' in late 2022, which focused more on high energy, club style tracks. The project features artists like Skrillex, Four Tet, and Baby Keem, and pulls from genres such as drum and bass, UK garage, and electro. I discovered 'USB001' in the summer of 2024 while working as a runner at a music studio. Every time I had to run errands in the muggy New York heat, I would put the album on to hype myself up, and it always worked. That experience is what really turned me into a big fan of Fred Again, and since then I have been paying close attention to his new releases. So when the news about 'USB002' came out, I was genuinely excited.

Fred Again has been able to connect with younger audiences not just because his music is catchy and danceable, but also because of how he uses social media. When he announced the 'USB002' rollout tour, he posted an Instagram video saying there would be ten shows and ten songs, with no information about the venues or song titles. This mysterious approach kept fans engaged and constantly checking for updates. In the days leading up to each show, he would post Instagram stories hinting at where the performance might take place, keeping people invested until the very last minute. While this caused some frustration for fans who missed ticket drops, it also made the shows feel exclusive and highly anticipated.

For those who were able to attend, the shows felt like a once in a lifetime experience. Gibson performed ten sets across the globe, each featuring a large-scale kinetic fabric installation created by Boris Ackett. The visuals made the performances feel immersive and almost psychedelic. One of my favorite moments from the rollout was during his show in Dublin, where the production made it look like a sun was setting over the crowd, with the installation creating a water like illusion above the audience. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before.

I am lucky enough to be attending another one of his shows this February thanks to my lovely mom, who surprised me with tickets for Christmas! I couldn’t be more excited for what is sure to be an unforgettable night.

Batterham, T. (2025). Fred again.. with Skream & Benga in Vancouver. photograph.