The ever-busy Fred Again.., fresh off announcing another leg of his highly anticipated USB project tour set for 2026, recently dedicated an hour to a deeply engaging conversation with Instagram. The interview, part of their new long-form series “Ask It Anyway,” follows a launch featuring Tyler, The Creator, and provides an intimate look into the mind of one of music’s most innovative artists.

The ‘USB’ Project & Diversifying Creative Outlets

Fred Again..’s relentless pace of music production is largely fueled by his innovative USB project, a constantly evolving collection of tracks released directly to fans. He explained that this format allows for a different kind of creative freedom. “Having the record like USB where it’s just tunes that I’m making for my USB, it doesn’t need to be some deep album statement always,” he shared. “And then I’ve also got albums, so there’s a few different like avenues I get to put tunes out in. Or like, make an ambient record with Brian [Eno], or something like that.”

This diversification is intentional. From 20 to 28, Fred estimates only 0.0001 percent of his creations saw the light of day. Now, that number has risen to 1 percent – a significant increase reflecting a conscious decision to share more of his work.

Embracing Imperfection & The Power of Daily Practice

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the interview centered around Fred’s approach to overcoming creative roadblocks. He revealed a surprisingly pragmatic philosophy: simply show up, even when inspiration is lacking. “One thing that’s I’m really happy to have learned the lesson of is… Let’s say you feel rubbish one day or one week or one month, and you keep showing up, and you make something that you don’t… you’re showing up for the sake of showing up and just trying to get some ideas down, and you’re not feeling good about it. And you just leave it there, and then in a month’s time or whatever, you’re feeling a bit better and you listen back to some of those ideas and you’re like, ‘Actually, this one is good.’”

He recounted numerous instances where his most beloved tracks emerged from periods of creative struggle. “I’ve now had this enough times where something I truly love has come out of a moment that felt totally unmagical. Something I truly love and I’m really connected to in a way that feels really meaningful, has come out of a moment that didn’t feel that at all. And so then at that point, you’re like, ‘Okay, great, I might as well just keep showing up, then.’”

Did You Know? Fred Again.. collaborated with Brian Eno on an ambient record, showcasing his versatility beyond his signature electronic sound.

Streamlining Production: Less is More

For aspiring producers, Fred offered a surprisingly minimalist piece of advice: focus. “If you are someone who’s more production-based, I would really recommend trying to commit to two synths and five plug-ins that you’re going to use for the next four years and just save yourself all of that headspace and all of that wasted time comparing whether this compressor sounds slightly better than this compressor. Like… fix the chorus. It doesn’t matter whether the [laughs]… I really, really feel this.”

This emphasis on simplicity isn’t about limiting creativity, but rather about removing distractions and focusing on the core elements of a song. What truly matters, according to Fred, is the emotional impact of the music.

The interview also featured a fascinating impromptu challenge where Fred constructed a song fragment in just 13 minutes, starting with a vocal sample and a few pre-selected sounds. While not a finished track, the result demonstrated his remarkable ability to quickly translate ideas into compelling musical sketches.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle for aspiring musicians today?

How important is collaboration in the creative process, and how does Fred Again.. approach working with other artists?

Frequently Asked Questions About Fred Again..’s Creative Process