Diving into the rise of Fred Again..

Few DJs have risen to prominence as quickly and noticeably as Fred Again over the last few years. Although the London-born EDM phenomenon has been active on the music scene since 2010, he’s gone from being a respected producer, often in the background of bigger songs, with small accredited footnotes, to iconic Boiler Room sets and now a sellout show in front of over 72,000 people in Los Angeles.

Superstar DJs is a term coined in the 90s and is a moniker reserved for a few names that have been able to carry the weight and justification of having such a title. Fatboy Slim, Calvin Harris, David Guetta, and Tiesto would have a strong case, but of all the current names on the scene, Fred Again is creating more hysteria and buzz than many of these names. So, what’s the big deal? Here are some of the factors that set him apart from the rest of the crowd, in our opinion, at least.

Fan Communication & Engagement

Fred Again’s fans have a close tie with him; his often intimate gigs bring a different vibe than the sort of sets we’ve become accustomed to from big DJs. While not to besmirch them too much, there can be a disconnect between their fans and the electronic high horses of booths they sit themselves in for hours at a time. 

Multiple videos show just how at one with his fans he is, and while we’re not saying he’s the first DJ to do this, his energy and vibe help him connect with his audience. Unlike artists who release big tour date lists, he often keeps his lips sealed on shows and posts about them at the last minute on social media. 

Many in traditional music industry circles still underrate the power of social media, preferring to follow the conventional marketing approaches of TV and radio. Music is not the only entertainment industry that has channeled this newfound platform. 

Earlier this year, Fred Again made a surprise headline performance and performed a secret set at EDC Las Vegas. While Sin City might seem more of a gambling destination and is famed for its sprawling casinos, the rise of digital platforms has meant that there’s been more of a multi-faceted approach to entertainment in Vegas, particularly over the last five years or so. 

With more cash casino games emerging online, it means that instead of showcasing itself as a gambling capital, it’s now diversifying the local economy so that it’s not as reliant on casino games. 

While Fred Again has successfully cultivated this market, many in the business have yet to take advantage of these platforms as effectively as casino gaming companies have since the early 2000s.

2018-Onwards

If we’re exploring Fred Again’s rise, the seminal breakthrough moment for his career was undoubtedly his joint writing credit on George Ezra’s smash hit song Shotgun. It culminated in another couple of notable credits on pop songs between 2018 and 2022 and a raft of Brit Award and Ivor Novello Award nominations. The latter is a prestigious award he was nominated for again earlier this year, too.

His first two studio albums, Actual Life (April 14 – December 17, 2020) and Actual Life 2 (February 2—October 15, 2021) in 2021, helped generate some serious noise on the underground scene, particularly in London. It was the third album, Actual Life 3 (January 1—September 9, 2022), released in 2022 that garnered the most acclaim, winning him the award for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2024 Grammys.

Throughout this cluster of albums, his Boiler Room set from July 2022 was one of the most watched on their channel, and as of July 2024, it has over 35 million views. All of these components played a role in pushing him into the position he’s in now. His 2023 was more similar, generating huge noise at Glastonbury and taking his tour show across Australia and New Zealand. Culminating in a sellout show at the LA Memorial Coliseum, the sort of audience reserved for very few musical acts shows just how huge the young man from London has become. 

Final Thoughts

Who knows where Fred Again will go from here? A headline set at Glastonbury seems imminent, and perhaps a big stadium show in the UK. While 2025 might be a bit too soon for the precocious talent, if he continues on his trajectory, there’s nothing to say he won’t be there within the next three or four years.

The world is his oyster at the moment. As he continues becoming one of the most recognizable artists in EDM, he is flying the flag for the genre while maintaining a close bond and connection with his fans. 

It’s been a unique rise as he first came to fame on a joint writing credit of a big song before making an even bigger name for himself on the underground scene, which is usually something DJs do in reverse. Of course, it helped having Brian Eno as a next-door neighbor, too, but there’s no denying that he’s special.