ifitbeyourwill S05E09 • Avery Friedman

What happens when lifelong musical appreciation finally transforms into creation? In this candid conversation, Brooklyn-based musician Avery Friedman reveals the surprisingly recent journey that led to her debut album "New Thing," set for April 2025 release.From her earliest memories singing alto in her Ohio school choir to becoming a devoted music fan and reviewer in college, Friedman's path to making her own music was marked by one significant obstacle: debilitating performance anxiety. Despite loving harmony and understanding music deeply, she couldn't imagine herself as the performer rather than the audience. "I was a goalie in soccer," she reflects, "so it's not like I was totally averse to being in the spotlight in some way, but I was really, really scared."The turning point came just two years ago when Friedman decided she had to try songwriting or risk permanent regret. That first attempt—simply playing chords and humming melodies—unlocked something profound: "How have I waited 26 years to do this?" Her creative process quickly evolved, typically beginning with guitar chord progressions that express her emotional state before weaving in melodies and lyrics that help process overwhelming feelings.What makes Friedman's story so compelling is how she conquered the anxiety that had kept her voice hidden for so long. Through supportive relationships and deliberate mindset work, she gradually found confidence to share her music publicly. Now with two singles already released—"Flower Fell" and "Phone Booth"—and a full album on the horizon (available on vinyl and tape following the digital release), Friedman embodies what's possible when creative fear is finally confronted.Discover how a late-blooming musical journey can produce work that feels both naturally inevitable and remarkably brave. Listen to Avery Friedman's singles now and mark your calendars for "New Thing" in April 2025—because sometimes the most authentic voices are the ones that take the longest to emerge.Send us Fan MailSupport the showlinktr.ee/colleyc