Meet FREE | Songwriter/Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with FREE and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi FREE, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued a creative career because creativity has always been at the core of who I am. From a young age, I gravitated toward visual arts—drawing, designing, and even creating my first comic book back in the fourth grade. In high school, I had the opportunity to study under both a muralist and an automotive engineer/architect, which really expanded the way I thought about design and structure. At the same time, my love for anime, comics, and animation kept fueling my imagination and storytelling.

What’s interesting is that I never initially saw myself as a songwriter, but writing and language arts were always my academic strengths. Over time, I discovered that I could merge that skill with my passion for storytelling, which opened a whole new creative lane for me. For the last 10 years, I’ve been learning how to let all of these influences—visual arts, design, writing, and music—come together in my creative work. So, pursuing a creative career wasn’t just a decision, it was a natural progression of who I’ve always been and the things that inspire me most.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is really about immersion. The foundation of it comes from OWJV, which stands for ‘Other Worldly, Just Visiting’—a term created by my brother, Worst Choice. That phrase perfectly captures what I want people to experience: stepping into a new world, even if only for a moment. For me, art of all forms—music, visuals, writing—becomes its own world with its own language and atmosphere.

That’s where FREE comes in. The ambiguity of FREE as a concept is intentional; it’s about not being bound by categories or labels. The music and songwriting are cinematic, so when it comes to visuals, they demand a film-level depth to match. The writing is layered and complex, but at the same time, it doesn’t require analysis to be enjoyed. Whether someone connects with the sound, the imagery, or just the feeling, they’re still inside the world I’ve created.

What sets me apart is that convergence—bringing together all these disciplines to build universes instead of just single pieces of art. And what I want the world to know is that this isn’t just about me—it’s about creating spaces where others can feel inspired, free, and immersed in something bigger than themselves.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d want them to see a side of the city they’d never find on their own. I gravitate toward hole-in-the-wall spots with incredible food, from a lesser known coney island in Detroit to Atlanta’s lowkey wing spots and hidden gems. I’d mix that with creative spaces—tattoo parlors, art shows, record shops, or underground music venues—places where the culture is raw and alive. The goal is immersion: I don’t just want them to see the city, I want them to feel it. By the time they leave, it shouldn’t feel like a tourist trip—it should feel like they stepped into another world. That’s the energy I bring to everything I do.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I have to give credit to my fiancée and my daughters. They’re my biggest inspirations and constant muses for the creative work I do—everything I create is, in some way, fueled by them. I also have to give recognition to my creative team, OWJV, who continue to push me creatively and keep the vision alive. Most importantly, I want to honor my brother, Worst Choice, who passed away in 2024. He was the co-creator of all things FREE and a huge part of my journey.

Website: https://freenotavailable.com

Instagram: @freenotavailable

Twitter: unavailablefree

Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/ue037C1l99cQQ45UzC

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@owjv?si=9PgDrbDDmBSyf4AW

Image Credits
All photographs shot by Khalil Copeland