Throughout the year, Atwood Magazine invites members of the music industry to participate in a series of essays reflecting on art, identity, culture, inclusion, and more.

•• •• •• ••

Ahead of her first UK/EU tour, Avery Friedman unpacks the process behind the writing and recording of her new single “You Move,” as well as its tomato-based music video.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, the Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter made an impressive arrival with her April 2025 debut album ‘New Thing,’ released via Audio Antihero and premiered by Atwood Magazine. Having only begun writing songs in 2023, Friedman quickly established herself as a compelling indie rock artist, exploring fear, queer joy, loss, and self-discovery through intimate lyricism and richly textured arrangements. Created with collaborators including producer James Chrisman and percussionist Felix Walworth, the album earned acclaim from NPR Music, The Line of Best Fit, Under the Radar, and No Depression, among others.

Released October 9, 2026, “You Move” marks Friedman’s first single since ‘New Thing’ and offers a glimpse into her forthcoming sophomore album. Written during a period of uncertainty and unexpected romance, the song embraces the possibility of finding love and putting down roots even when the rest of life feels unsettled. Its buoyant, full-band energy introduces a more playful side of Friedman, while its accompanying music video, directed by Dylan Friese-Greene, brings that spirit to life through a wonderfully unconventional, tomato-filled celebration of creative collaboration.

The release arrives just ahead of Friedman’s first European and UK tour, beginning October 31 at Amsterdam’s London Calling Festival before continuing through London, Sheffield, Bristol, York, and Berlin. Read Friedman’s guest essay below as she reflects on the making of “You Move,” from rediscovering the joy of songwriting to embracing the unexpected possibilities of the creative process.

•• ••

:: connect with Avery Friedman here ::

•• ••

Stream: “You Move” – Avery Friedman

<a href="https://averyfriedman.bandcamp.com/track/you-move">You Move by Avery Friedman</a>

•• ••

RELISHING IN THE PROCESS

The Making of “You Move” by Avery Friedman

by Avery Friedman

•• ••

Writing “You Move”

I just went back and listened to the first voice memo I have of “You Move,” from the summer of 2025. It was one of the first songs I wrote after not writing songs for what felt like ages. I was going through a rough time in my life, and the opening lyrics of the track actually reference these things: “have I lost it all / to the driest spell / or can a melody be made / from a fracturing,” I felt worried that I was a one-album-wonder (joking, obviously), and that I wouldn’t be able to access organic inspiration like I did for my first album New Thing.

I remember sitting on the edge of my bed in a first-floor room I was subletting from a friend of mine, and picking up the guitar in an intentional effort to write. You Move essentially spilled out of me. Much like that unsteady stint in my life, the memory of writing it feels quite blurry.

While this era of mine was a transient time – one of feeling up-rooted, and like I’d lost myself – I had also, funnily enough, just met someone I was really excited about. The later verses and choruses go on to reference her, and the floaty sensation of feeling your way through new love, while in a shaky state yourself. The lyric “we comb our fingers through the soil” speaks to this — the raw and rich effort of choosing to lay roots together. Lucky for me, I now live in her apartment, and get to enjoy the “garden on [her] roof” that I reference in the song.

Avery Friedman © Dylan Friese-Greene — Avery Friedman “You Move” © Dylan Friese-Greene

Recording It

The core of “You Move” was recorded as a live band take, with James Chrisman on lead guitar, Ryan Cox on bass, and Felix Walworth on the drums. I played the main chuggy rhythm guitar riff and sang, while my cousin Seth Paris engineered it for us. It was during this recording session on a hot, June day in Brooklyn that the song truly found its groovy, high-energy essence. My little cousins – Seth’s kids – came to visit the studio one day, and we actually have their voices sampled on this track. If you listen closely after I sing the lyrics “there’s a garden on your roof,” you can hear them adorably yelling “there’s a garden!”

On the note of little touches in the production, the bleep-bloops you hear sprinkled throughout the song come from a pass on a Chase Bliss MOOD II guitar pedal that I recorded cross-legged on my bed. I quickly bounced over to James, who helped tediously comb through the chaos (god bless him).

<a href="https://averyfriedman.bandcamp.com/album/new-thing">New Thing by Avery Friedman</a>

We also had a fun overdub day, where, among other elements, I added some freaky, low, Elvis-inspired background vocals on the second chorus, and we had Seth take a swing at playing the saxophone riff that now exists coming out of each chorus of the track. I originally wrote that riff on the guitar, but in the throes of a ‘crazy idea,’ James suggested we try it out on the saxophone. I was originally resistant to keeping the saxophone, as it truly does run the risk of being cheesy.

But the more I sat with the early mixes, and the more I realized that the track itself is about surrendering, relishing, and letting go. So, I decided to surrender to the saxophones, too. There’s something so unabashed and anthemic about a saxophone riff… people just aren’t doing it like that anymore? It felt perfect for an end of summer tune. It felt perfect for dancing on your roof – which brings me to the music video.

Avery Friedman "You Move" © Dylan Friese-Greene — Avery Friedman “You Move” © Dylan Friese-Greene

Making the Video

Last February, I received an Instagram message request from my now-buddy Dylan Friese-Greene saying: “love your music avery! Let me know if you ever want to collab on some moving image stuffffffff x.” I responded saying, “heyyy tysm that’s so sweet 🙂 would love to make some stuff.. Not working with the biggest budget rn, but would love to hear about what ur excited about making these days.” And just like that: a tomato-centric, small budget music video was born.

But in all seriousness, in the span of Dylan’s February DM to making the “You Move” music video at the end of July we developed a most-lovely friendship. The fact I felt comfortable smashing tomatoes on my face, and doing a weird little dance in front of him and his camera speaks to this comfort. Dylan originally pitched me on a video concept centering on apples, but – even though I much prefer eating apples to tomatoes – I countered with a tomato-themed video. Really that was the whole concept: let’s do some weird stuff with tomatoes on a bluesky-day so the colors will look divine on film.

First, we made a list of things to do with tomatoes: plug some headphones into one, catch one in a baseball glove, draw faces on two tomatoes and make them kiss, stick a straw and paper umbrella into one and sip it like a cocktail. Then, in the span of one sweaty, summer afternoon, we knocked out this video. It was such a delight for me personally to get to know and admire Dylan the filmmaker as much as I had come to know and love Dylan as my friend.

The process of making every part of “You Move” was a massively collaborative one. I have so much gratitude for everyone who played a part in the process – reflecting on it leaves me with a feeling akin to the warm, golden-hour glow that closes out the music video. I hope this track leaves you with a similar sensation. – Avery Friedman