“It’s nicer to be in the world as opposed to in some room with no natural light”: Why Fred again.. prefers writing outside of the studioFred Again.. is likelier to be found beavering away on new music in a cafe than in a studio.
The producer, real name Fred Gibson, gave a rare interview to the legendary YouTube veteran Nardwuar – “one of my absolute heroes” – where they had an in-depth chat about his life in music. He admits that he favours writing in places besides studios as he finds a changing environment more creatively stimulating.

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“There was a coffee shop in central [London],” he says of one of his favourite spots to work. “They’d bring out the extension cord, and I got too comfy to the point where I was plugging in interfaces and a mic… It’s nicer to be in the world as opposed to in some closed off, no natural light room.

“I think the reason why I like writing in places that aren’t studios and out in the world is because you get this constant collage of humanity,” he continues. “This thing just walking by, it’s always moving and changing… I think it just keeps your brain alive and moving versus gradually getting stiller and stiller in the vacuum of a dark room.”
Gibson later discusses his frequent collaborator Four Tet, but more specifically in reference to his former post-rock band Fridge. “I think he’s got this very exploratory, childlike mindset, which makes everything he does have this kind of through line to me,” Gibson says. “I think he could do 20 different bands and it would all have the same sort of Kieren-ness to me.”
He also touches on his work with Brian Eno, who recently introduced him to Underworld. Gibson went to catch their recent show at London’s Alexandra Palace with Skrillex, saying: “Sonny walked in and was like ‘This is the rarest crowd dynamic I’ve seen in years’. Phoneless, present, in it, it was all feeling loose in the best possible way.”
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