Debut full-length record from Outsideness

Outsideness is a brand new collaborative project that forms as a collision of two distinct creative figures. At its centre is Freidrich$, an artist who’ already earned a reputation for existing somewhere between myth and musician; with an almost spectral presence, wrapped in elaborate makeup and ambiguity, his work has consistently leaned toward the abstract, crafting soundscapes that hover between beauty and discomfort. Since the release of his debut EP Big in Japan in October 2024, he’s moved quickly, releasing multiple works that stretch across brooding electronica and fragmented art pop.

It’s from that space that Outsideness takes shape, a project born when Freidrich$ connected with Azalias. Previously known as Aurora, Azalias approaches music from a completely different angle, drawing from pop, hip hop, UK drill, teen pop rap and occasional pop rock influences. Inspired by artists like The Kid LAROI and Tate McRae, her sound presents a contrast to Freidrich$’s more elusive, experimental tendencies.

The collaboration itself began almost casually when the idea of making a single quickly shifted when Freidrich$ suggested expanding it into a full album. Azalias agreed and from that simple exchange, Outsideness arrived. Their debut record titled …From What? feels like the result of that spontaneity, an eleven-track outing that moves between experimentation and intention without drawing a clear line between the two.

The album opens with “Remedy,” their first demo and in many ways, the creative spark for everything that follows, distilling the moment that confirmed the project could work. Its hazy R&B tone casts a sense of emotional exploration that never fully resolves, wrapped up in a delicate soundscape of soft instrumental textures, rattling beats and the engaging interplay between the two vocalists.

The album continues to shift throughout and “Pretend” then follows, shaped around the idea of creating something that carries energy forward. Azalias’ presence becomes particularly clear here, her delivery sitting naturally within the mellow rhythm and playful instrumental elements, resulting in a slick alternative pop jam that builds from laid back aesthetic towards a gripping sound of punching beats and overlapping vocal layers.

“Crazy” takes a different approach, crafted from something initially introduced by Freidrich$, but Azalias transforms it, bending it into a new form that reflects the fluid nature of their collaboration. Above the steady snap of drums and intricate flicker of airy instrumental plucks, her stunning vocals float above while the arrangement jumps into a driving dance-focused scene.

“Different” slows things down, positioned as the album’s ballad to serve up a breezy moment of gentle percussion and alluring vocal performances. According to Freidrich$, “Poltergeist” offers the moment their collaborative vision fully crystallises, offering a track that deftly balances their experimental styles with their penchant for wider pop appeal. Tracks like “Country” touch on ideas of place and emotion, wrapped up in a tender soundscape of strummed guitars, twinkling piano plinks, pulsing beats and restrained vocals carrying moving lyricism.

“Touch Me,” featuring Lil Zay-Zay, strips things back to pure sound and reaction, while “Ends” closes the album without fully resolving it. Eschewing a neat conclusion, it points to the horizon, nodding to the idea that this project is part of an ongoing process rather than a finished statement. Having made their entrance as an exciting new act, Outsideness arrive as a must watch duo with a highly compelling sound and we can’t wait to see what this thrilling collaborative project has in store next.

Listen to …From What? below