Freya Skye on ‘Bad Taste,’ ‘Zombies 5,’ Junior Eurovision, Julia Michaels, and Upcoming Debut Album

Zach Sang Show

Freya Skye joins the Zach Sang Show to discuss her evolution from a Disney star to an independent artist. She shares details about her creat

Key takeaways

Freya has written approximately 40 songs for her upcoming debut album.
She worked closely with Julia Michaels to define the 'sonic palette' for her new music.
The music video for 'Bad Taste' utilized Prada perfume to help channel a specific character energy.
Freya performed at Junior Eurovision in Armenia despite being hospitalized with a virus during the event.
Her dog, Ruby (a Cavapoo), has become a vital part of her touring life for grounding and comfort.

Main topics

Music video aesthetics and storytelling
The creative process of songwriting and album production
Challenges of acting in the Zombies franchise

Notable quotes

I want to make music that people want to like run around their room with a hairbrush in their hand too.

Conclusion

The episode provides an intimate look at the resilience and passion re

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:05) Hello, beautiful human. I'm Zach. That's Dan. And that is Freya Sky. Hi. By the way, you're not really a grown-up, though. But do you feel grown-up? You have to. Speaker 1 (0:15) A little bit. I mean, honestly, it's such a mixture. Like, when me and my best friend are together, I'm like, oh, this is, we're so embarrassing together, but I love that. And then sometimes when I'm at work and, like, I have an opinion, which is the best part of it, then I'm like, oh, gosh, I'm saying what I want. I'm like, okay, I'm really acting. And when I put on my Baccarat Rouge, I'm like, yeah, this is grown up. Speaker 2 (0:37) By the way, scents play some sort of a role in channeling something larger, bringing on a personality and energy? Speaker 1 (0:44) 1,000%. I even have this thing with roles or even music videos. If I'm ever playing a character for anything, I'll have a different scent for it. Speaker 2 (0:52) Really? Speaker 1 (0:52) Which is kind of weird because then I associate that scent with whatever time that was from, which is a good or a bad thing. Speaker 2 (0:59) Bad taste music video? Speaker 1 (1:00) Yeah, Bad Taste music video, I wore a Prada perfume. It felt kind of strong. I sound like such a loser right now. I hate myself. I wore a Prada thing. It was quite intense. But I love when someone says I smell good. It's my favorite compliment. Speaker 2 (1:17) Can you explain how you attach a scent to whatever you're doing? What was in the Bad Taste story of that music video? Which, by the way, is great. Thank you. I'm so Speaker 1 (1:27) glad you saw it. I'm so glad you guys got it. I got to Speaker 2 (1:29) say, like, the art of a great music video has been lost. And you are holding on to it. A few people out there hold on to it. Just, like, don't lose it because it does matter. Speaker 1 (1:39) That's very kind, but not at all. I mean, I just love, like, growing up, I was always watching music videos that felt like mini movies. I loved the more storytelling. I love when you've gone through the three and a half minute song and you're like, wait, like, there are so many details and parts and moments. And when we were talking about the Bad Taste video, I was like. I had a really clear vision. I was like, I want to tell a story. I want it to feel like that mini movie and you're watching a love story kind of unravel at the same time. And I'm really happy with how it turned out because I've had a really difficult journey trying to like establish how I want my videos and even just like aesthetic and everything else to be like, that's really hard to find. But Bad Taste feels like a step in like a direction I'm actually excited about. Is it Speaker 2 (2:21) hard to find or hard to communicate to the right collaborator? Speaker 1 (2:23) A bit of both. Actually, that's such a great point because... Well, I think it's difficult. Like watching people, it's so hard to be like, what is someone not doing? You feel like everything's being done and you never want to like copy or replicate what other people are doing. You want to find your own lane because that's what people are going to like. And also you want to be authentic to yourself at the same time. And I think Bad Taste was the first time I was like, actually, I feel like I'm trying way too hard like to be something. So I was like, I'm just going to do what I want to do. And it might not be like on paper cool where it's like I look super like. cool when I'm doing all this stuff but like that's what I loved watching growing up and I just am like I'm not cool you know what I mean and I love that but Speaker 2 (3:03) that's exactly what you need to be is exactly who you are Speaker 1 (3:06) it's thanks not Speaker 2 (3:09) cool by the way I just gotta go on record by being exactly who you are authentically yourself you are then cool I mean that Speaker 1 (3:16) well a lot of my favorite artists like Audrey Hobart for example I will speak about her till my lungs give out I love her she is in my opinion, one of the coolest artists doing it right now. And she is so authentically herself. Without a doubt. Speaker 2 (3:31) But by the way, every great artist has always like, whether it's like... like overly obvious in the art or like deep within at it's like very very core it is authentically them like it is like dude that's like the this is a common thread to like any great artist that's ever been on our show oh Speaker 1 (3:50) my gosh not even but I like I am the least nonchalant person I mean we've been in this room for 10 minutes and I've already been like Oh my gosh, why did I say that? Speaker 2 (3:58) That's great. I'm the Speaker 1 (3:59) least nonchalant person ever and I never ever want to try to be nonchalant. Like I love, I want to make music that people want to like run around their room with a hairbrush in their hand too. I want music that you're like, I need to run through a field in a dramatic dress and pretend I'm like being saved by like a person on a horse. Like I just love that feeling. And if I can capture that in any songs for anyone, then that's my goal. But Speaker 2 (4:21) is that the life you're kind of living to a certain degree? Because your reality is rather wild. Speaker 1 (4:26) It's very crazy, but it's like, it's everything I've ever wanted. Like, I can't even put it into words. And every time I talk about it, people are like, okay, here she goes. She's going to ramble about this for 10 minutes now. But like, it's really the life I've actually dreamed of. Like, even the past couple of weeks, I'm working on my album right now. So I'm like in the studio in the mornings and then I'm looking at fabrics for new tour costumes. And then I'm getting to like write a new song and then I'm coming to talk. And like, it's just all my favorite things. It's like everything I imagined from my... from when I was younger is what I feel like is happening now. And it's hard to wrap my head around and something I don't think I've comprehended, but I do take a moment and be like, Oh my gosh, I love this. This is all I've ever wanted to do. Speaker 2 (5:06) Did you see this for yourself? Speaker 1 (5:09) I did, but I don't think I actually thought it would happen. I mean, because when I was five, when I maybe discovered singing properly for the first time and I was putting on shows for my parents and all of that kind of stuff, I was like, yeah, I'm going to be a pop star. But you don't like, I don't think you actually think it. You know what I mean? You believe it, but you don't see it maybe. So the fact that it's kind of all escalated to where it is. I'm like, maybe manifestation, the power of manifestation and believing it too. Like when you say you want to do something, it's believing you actually can. I think maybe I had a bit of delusion when I was younger and that is what has led to that. The belief. Are Speaker 2 (5:47) you kidding? Oh my God. It's like the only reason I exist in this world is that, is that. Speaker 1 (5:56) It's the belief. Oh, it's Speaker 2 (5:57) like this naive energy and belief that like you don't understand really anything. So, you know, without a doubt that you're meant to do something or you're going to do something or this is it. Speaker 1 (6:08) And that's what's so impactful, too. When I see young people in the crowd at my shows and they're like, I've written my first song when I heard, you know, your story about writing music. I'm like, that's exactly what it is. It's the love and the passion. That is where everything starts. I really don't believe that it comes from like. you know, being planted in it or pushed into doing it. I just think some people who I see, like lots of my, like my mom's friends are just starting to have kids now because my parents have me so young and I see them be like performing in the kitchen. I'm like, that's all it is. It's just passion and love for it. Like that's where it all starts. And I think it's having people around you, which I was so lucky to have who nurtured it so much and were willing to like make all the sacrifices because there's obviously a lot of things that come with it that are hard too. Speaker 2 (6:53) Can you share what some of those sacrifices are? Because I feel like a lot of people don't get it. And by the way, like I started my show super young and my parents did the same. Like, dude, my parents drove me everywhere. I mean, like we would go on road trips for hours and hours and hours for like the dumbest little injuries, like all on a quest and search for something so much bigger because I was like delusional about this belief in something. Speaker 1 (7:14) I mean, I think the biggest sacrifice has been with like my family life in terms of, so my parents had me very young. And I was living at my grandparents when I was born, you know, it was like, that was what it was. And then I would like sing in my kitchen and my parents would do anything they could to be like, you know, for my birthday, I asked for singing lessons and they were like, we're going to do everything we can to make sure we can find someone where we can go and we can do this. So they would drive me to every singing lesson and late at night they would go to the shop and buy me costumes for the shows I wanted to put on at the house. And I don't know, they just made every sacrifice and did everything. Every single thing. I think they just saw me with the passion and the love for it and were like we don't really know what this is or what to do with it because also like with like a very normal English family who come from like a very small very very very small town My dad worked in software. My mom worked in marketing like they didn't understand it either So we've all kind of learned it ourselves and with that comes like mistakes and learning things and seeing things that you're like I didn't even know that was a real thing So yeah, honestly, their sacrifices is everything. By Speaker 2 (8:19) the way, they're here with you today. Speaker 1 (8:20) They're here with me today. Honestly, they are my best friends. And call me lame for that. I actually don't care. But I mean, sorry, my best friend Liv is at home. She's my best friend. But like where they had me young, they're like cool. Like I don't mean to be that person, but like they're cool. And when my friends call them cool, I'm like, shut up. But I do think they are cool. And I love being around them. They're my favorite people to spend time with. And my dog. And she's here too. Not at the studio, but in LA. Speaker 2 (8:48) By the way, it is, your mom, your sister, like, I almost called your mom your sister because I literally, I thought your mom, and I had met your mom before. Yeah. But like, for some reason, your mom keeps getting younger. So I was like, I didn't, I didn't know. You know what that Speaker 1 (9:02) is. It's like Speaker 2 (9:03) crazy. I mean, I didn't know if it was your mom or like a member of the team. Your mom, your family is very cool. Speaker 1 (9:11) They are. Like, me and my mom get mixed up for siblings. all the time and she loves it. She says she doesn't, she loves it. And me and my dad, this is the worst one. I don't know if this is a weird story to tell. Me and my dad have started getting the like, so where did you guys meet? And I'm like, Speaker 2 (9:26) I feel Speaker 1 (9:27) absolutely sick in my stomach. It's happened maybe four times. So now when I go out, I really overdo the like, dad, where should we go? Dad, that's a great idea. Like I'm trying to overdo that now because it's so embarrassing. It's mortifying. Speaker 2 (9:42) Do you correct them or do you walk away? Speaker 1 (9:44) No, my dad's like, that's my daughter. They're like, where did you meet when she was born from my wife? Like, it's very much that vibe. Speaker 2 (9:51) So crazy. So bad. What do they think of all this? Like, I mean, what is their take on, I watched you sell out so many shows. Your tour has like, and you're going back on the road again. That's already sold out too. That's like, the whole thing is. Speaker 2 (10:08) And a lot of it, I got to say, is because you've been doing this for forever. Like, this is not an overnight thing. Speaker 1 (10:14) Mm-mm. Speaker 2 (10:15) It actually made, like, if you think about it enough, it actually made me emotional. You played so many shows to literally just your parents. Speaker 1 (10:22) Yeah. I mean, it makes me emotional, too, to think about it. And I don't think I spend enough time, like, sitting and thinking back to the whole thing. But yeah, it wasn't an overnight thing at all. And I think the weird thing is it can seem like that when like zombies came out and then we were straight on the Disney tour and it was like, oh, wow, that was an overnight thing. But I think what you don't see, because no one's watching at that point, people aren't engaged and interested, is like the singing lessons and, you know, all of the interviews I would do and the local newspapers I would interview with. The Speaker 2 (10:50) competition Speaker 1 (10:50) series, Speaker 2 (10:50) dude. Oh Speaker 1 (10:51) my gosh. Yeah. Junior Eurovision. Like all of those different things and stepping stones that have just been like. have gotten me to where I am today. And it's those small things too that I think are just as important in shaping me, not even just as work, but like as a person too. Like I think those things have changed me in a good way. Speaker 2 (11:08) Have you not been challenged in your career in ways that like are really massive in the last couple of years? But you've probably drawn on all those experiences to get through it, no? Speaker 1 (11:19) Yes, one million percent. Like for an example, Junior Eurovision was... Very very challenging. It was the most incredible thing I've ever done, but I caught a virus in Armenia So I was in hospital all week and I was having like, you know the the tubes Then like the cameras down my throat and stuff cuz no one knew what was wrong So I did that sick and I remember they were like look Freya We're gonna have to pull you out of the competition. Like we don't think you Speaker 3 (11:45) can do this and Speaker 1 (11:46) I was like Please like I've never I've never begged so hard. I was like, please let me do it and eventually I convinced them But I think it made me realize like how resilient I was. I think it could have been so easy to be like, I'm gonna embarrass myself, like I don't want to do this, but I just loved it and I'd worked so hard in the build-up. I was like, I'm not letting that go to waste. So if this is the worst performance I've ever done and like, you know, it's, you can tell I'm sick, then I was like, I really don't care because it's actually about the people who have worked so hard to get me here and me too. So that was, that was hard. But it's come back in so many ways of, you know, realizing, oh, maybe I can do that. If I could perform like that when I was 13 and sick, then I was like, I've got this. Speaker 2 (12:31) Okay, so most recently, what's the last thing you've had to rise to? Rise to an occasion, meet the challenge head on. Speaker 1 (12:38) Meet the challenge head on. I mean, not to be super sad or weird, but there was a tour I did last year, the Disney tour, that was probably one of the biggest challenges. Speaker 1 (12:53) The being on stage was the most incredible thing I've ever experienced. It was everything I've ever wanted but I think the things that people maybe don't see are the challenges that come off stage. I was a lot younger. I was very, I was 15 doing my first tour that was like happened to be this big tour. There were so many eyes on me. There were so many other people. It was like a huge crew, huge cast. And I think there were