Some songs need time to find their moment. Lava Cadabra’s debut single, Freedom, began as a quarantine jam in January 2021—born out of restlessness and cabin fever—but now emerges in full color as the perfect anthem for late-night drives and spontaneous dance parties. Far from being a dusty pandemic relic, the track has aged into something sharper: an escape fantasy with purpose, shaped by reflection and refined by time.
The project is led by singer/multi-instrumentalist RJ Bartley, whose DIY ethic powers every layer of the song—from the writing and arrangement to the final mastering. With drummer Will Jones anchoring the groove, Freedom pulses with late-’70s FM-radio energy, nodding to the likes of The Knack and Billy Idol while maintaining a clean, modern edge. It’s not just retro for retro’s sake; it’s a deliberate throwback to a time when rebellion was loud, bright, and fun.
One of the track’s most compelling moments comes in the second verse. The instruments drop out, the energy momentarily dips, and Bartley delivers the line: “I want to live off the grid, where nobody knows my name.” In a song filled with shout-along choruses and stadium-ready handclaps, this moment of raw yearning cuts through—reminding us that joy and frustration often share the same melody.
Lava Cadabra doesn’t just borrow from the past—it reshapes it. From the crisp guitar riffs that land somewhere between Cheap Trick and The Strokes, to the clap-along percussion that conjures up ‘80s arena shows, Freedom is carefully constructed to feel effortless. Every “whoa-oh” lands like a communal exhale. This is music engineered not just to be heard, but felt—in kitchens, in cars, in bedrooms with the volume just a little too loud.
With follow-up single Hey You on deck for September 2025 and a full album in progress, Bartley is building more than a catalog—he’s crafting a vibe. The visuals teased so far hint at a sun-drenched world where rules bend and the main character is always you. Lava Cadabra doesn’t just invite listeners in; it hands them the keys and says, “Go wherever you want.”
As Freedom finally steps into the light, it offers more than nostalgia. It’s a reminder that music still has the power to pull us out of the noise—and into ourselves. The grid can wait. The chorus is already calling.