A proud Northerner and free spirit with ambitious goals, Xenya Genovese, the Manchester multi-instrumentalist, artist, producer, and singer known as Freak Slug, is currently concluding her Australia & NZ Big Candle Tour. Genovese shares her thoughts from a café in Wellington, following her SXSW Sydney experience.
Welcomed with a friendly "Mate," I feel at ease as Genovese's vibrant energy comes through the screen, leading us into an open discussion about capturing the chaos of life.
Her debut album, "I Blow Out Big Candles," propelled by the viral hit "Radio," pays tribute to alternative indie rock, brimming with a call-out attitude and youthful spirit that resonates in her music. The album reflects a pivotal moment in her life, revealing her struggles and experiences candidly. Composed during life’s ebb and flow, in various settings from gigs to clubs and even behind toilet doors, Genovese’s work encapsulates the essence of youth and emotional highs and lows, enhanced by its DIY style and modern take on 90s sounds.
A year after her debut, her upcoming EP, "A Loose Tooth and a Short Skirt," represents Genovese's exploration of a transitional phase between two realms. Embracing her Mancunian accent, she infuses genre-blending artistry with a touch of sarcastic humor.
Ahead of its November 7th release, I spoke with Genovese, aka Freak Slug, about cutting through superficiality, expressing anger through music, and embracing one’s body.
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You are undoubtedly a creative force; a versatile artist, multi-instrumentalist, and painter who studied fine arts at university. How do you find your creative inspiration?
I find inspiration through music and my emotions. Music is my primary means of expressing what I feel; I tend not to share my feelings with others. I enjoy helping others express their emotions instead.
It’s about processing my experiences and feelings. I channel a lot of my anger into my music, which fuels much of my artistic expression—the element of fire.
Why do you choose music as your primary outlet for creativity?
It’s more immediate. Given my emotional needs, music directly helps me process what I’m feeling. Music is therapeutic. For my own life's journey, I select chords that resonate with me, and nothing is quite as healing as music. It provides a deeper satisfaction for me than painting does. Maybe someday, when I’m calmer and older, I’ll return to painting, as that might feel appropriate then. For now, I have a lot of energy and emotions because I’m still young and figuring things out.
Absolutely. With anger, that physicality is essential.
When I perform, I can express a lot of anger on stage; it’s my moment to unleash it. It’s the only legal space for me to fully let go. While on tour, time for exercise is limited—though I practice yoga a lot—the only outlet to purge my anger is through performing. The stage is the only place I can go all out physically.
Music has nurtured your psyche and soul before anyone witnessed it. How does music serve as a means of self-liberation? Is it cathartic?
It has always served that purpose; now I’m simply sharing it with more people. I’ve always used music to work through my experiences. Initially, it was often driven by sadness, but my approach has remained consistent over the past 10, 12, or even 15 years.
Transitioning from being an artist to a touring musician, what insights have you gained about the creative process?
I strive to create music that I would enjoy listening to. At the beginning of Freak Slug, I didn't anticipate the pathway it would take, which threw me off a bit. Now, I’m more grounded. Initially, I wasn’t fully present; I hadn’t connected with myself wholly at that time in life. As you mature, your awareness grows, and you become more in tune with your soul. I was just a free spirit, and I still am, but now it’s a free spirit with intention. Back then, I was somewhat reckless and carefree. It felt less deliberate. Now, I understand what I want from my art; I know what I aim to achieve and am determined to make it happen.
You maintain that spontaneous, instinctive nature in your lyrics, yet the final product is more polished. You’ve also indicated that you waited to release an album until you had a substantial audience, so you were aware of what resonated.
Exactly. I wanted to ensure I seized the right opportunity. I recognized the timing was perfect for me to unveil an album. I’m glad I did it when I did; it created momentum, and I’ve already penned the next album, which I hope to release in the spring.
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It’s been almost a year since "I Blow Out Big Candles" debuted. How
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Xenya Genovese, a proud Northerner and free spirit with grand aspirations, is the Manchester-based multi-instrumentalist, artist, producer, and singer who is more commonly recognized.