Freya Skye took on Junior Eurovision in 2022, travelling to Armenia to win the Global Public Vote with her single, “Lose My Head.” Her career hasn’t ended there, though, as the singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer has continued to to release singles, including her most recent, “Can’t Fake It”.
Released on January 17, 2025, she opens the vibrant pop hit with “I’m not even sad about it, maybe just bitter,” using the first verse to tease the dramatic beat drop that tosses us into the chorus. Regaling us with the tale of a messy heartbreak that can’t seem to shatter in one motion, Can’t Fake It is bright and exciting and the perfect song to dance to.
Speaking of dancing, the music video’s cubicle office backdrop against the cute blazers Skye and her background dancers don make an intentionally messy, business casual performance. The costuming is extremely modern, perfect for a Pinterest photoshoot or TikTok styling video, but it doesn’t take away from the music. Though the outfits might not hold the test of time, currently, they’re trendy. The video is unironically fun, though the title screen is a little too Sour-reminiscent, bordering on a straight-up impression. The standout of the whole production has to be the shots of each background dancer over the rapid drum beat at the beginning, each looking like they’re having a blast.
“I’m not even mad about it, well, maybe a little,” Skye continues, her classic story resounding with anyone familiar with a breakup that won’t quite break. The emotional, contradictory lyrics call back to recent singer-songwriters like McKenna Grace and Olivia Rodrigo, meaning fans of them will feel right at home in Skye’s songwriting. The emphasis in modern pop songs on turbulent emotions looping back over themselves is held up by “Can’t Fake It”, something that almost everyone can relate to. Life isn’t clear cut, and it seems Skye isn’t afraid to explore that.
Unfortunately, her exploration of that idea feels a little similar to a lot of other music we’ve been hearing as of late. In a poll conducted on January 28, only one of nine CdM students has heard “Can’t Fake It”. While it feels like a song that could easily play on the radio or in a friend’s car, does enough differentiate it from the other pop behemoths to help “Can’t Fake It” stand on its own? Freya Skye’s music has undeniable potential either way, and personally, I think an eventual album could solidify her success and help her burst onto the scene as an artist doing something wholly different, if that’s the route she chooses to go.
