Free Under Fire Ignite Rock's Next Chapter with "Givin' My Lovin' A Shot" Ahead of Graffiti In The Garden

Free Under Fire aren't interested in chasing trends. On their latest single, "Givin' My Lovin' A Shot," the Ajax, Ontario rock outfit doubles down on the timeless energy that has defined rock's greatest eras while injecting it with a modern sense of urgency.

Built around soaring guitar work, driving rhythms, and a vocal performance that carries both grit and conviction, the single feels equally suited for late-night highway drives and packed festival stages. It's the kind of track that reminds listeners why loud guitars and honest songwriting continue to resonate long after trends come and go.

The release serves as the first taste of the band's upcoming third studio album, Graffiti In The Garden, arriving September 18. Rather than offering a collection of disconnected songs, the record promises an ambitious exploration of identity, ambition, regret, joy, and the contradictions that shape the human experience. The album's central metaphor, comparing life's permanent emotional marks to graffiti on a beautiful landscape, gives the project an emotional depth that extends well beyond its explosive rock instrumentation.

Free Under Fire have steadily built momentum through standout performances at NXNE, Deerfest, and Roots & Revival, proving that their reputation extends far beyond the studio. That live energy translates effortlessly into "Givin' My Lovin' A Shot," creating a release that feels immediate, confident, and unapologetically authentic.

With "Givin' My Lovin' A Shot" arriving August 13 and Graffiti In The Garden following shortly after, Free Under Fire make a compelling case that rock isn't making a comeback. It never left.

The title Graffiti In The Garden is incredibly visual. What inspired that metaphor, and how does it connect the album's songs into one larger story?

At its core, the title is about juxtaposition. It brings together something often viewed as vulgar with something we instinctively see as sacred. In many ways, it reflects our band's name, Free Under Fire, and the tension between opposing ideas. Carl Jung described the unconscious as a wilderness of creative life, and the title plays with that concept by suggesting an attempt to reclaim agency over our inner world, even if it means disrupting what feels sacred.

There are modern parallels too, like experiencing concerts through a phone screen instead of being fully present. Ultimately, both graffiti and gardens are forms of human expression. Just as a garden is carefully cultivated and graffiti leaves a personal mark, music is another canvas where we reap what we sow, weaving everyday experiences into something lasting.

"Givin' My Lovin' A Shot" introduces this new era with a huge, energetic sound. Why did this track feel like the right first single to represent the album?

"Brand New Feeling" was actually the first official single, released on June 4. It felt like the right introduction because it speaks to something nearly everyone experiences: emerging from a difficult emotional place and rediscovering the joy that's always been there. We wanted the first single to be as universally relatable as possible.

I often think about the Voyager Golden Record, where every piece of music was chosen to represent humanity in the broadest sense. That same philosophy influenced our choice. If listeners connect with one song emotionally, they'll hopefully be inspired to explore the rest of the album, including tracks that are more abstract or experimental.

Your recent performances at NXNE, Deerfest, and Roots & Revival have continued building your reputation as a live band. How has playing bigger stages influenced the way you approached this record?

This record naturally evolved into what feels like a stadium album. Many of the songs carry a high-energy spirit, while even the quieter moments seem to resonate with larger audiences. That said, we never write songs specifically for big crowds. We write the music we genuinely want to make, and it just so happens that our sound has become bigger and more expansive over time. Live shows are about shared energy and collective excitement, and that's something we always strive to deliver.

You describe the album as an exploration of the human condition, touching on ambition, regret, bliss, and self-reflection. Which song challenged you the most emotionally during the writing process, and why?

If you're completely honest with yourself as a songwriter, you become more of a conduit than anything else. The emotions themselves aren't necessarily the hardest part. The real challenge is finding the right chords, melodies, lyrics, and structure to give those emotions a voice. Experimental music, in particular, can be emotionally exhausting because you're constantly searching for something just beyond reach.

The difference between a good song and a truly great one is often only ten percent, but that final ten percent—the unexpected detail or subtle twist—is what artists spend a lifetime trying to capture.

You've said you want listeners to walk away believing that rock music is still alive and that rock albums still matter. What do you think today's generation is rediscovering about rock that makes this the right moment for a record like Graffiti In The Garden?

Rock music never disappeared. It simply evolved. The larger-than-life rock stars of the 1970s gave way to a new generation creating within a completely different cultural landscape, but the spirit that defines great rock music has always remained. Today's artists are carrying that tradition forward in new ways. There's never been a better time for rock to find a new audience, and we're excited to be part of that ongoing revival.