| Freedom | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Eric Chou |
| Cover: | Eric Chou Freedom album artwork.jpg |
| Released: | January 10, 2019 (EP) December 24, 2019 (full album) |
| Genre: | Mandopop |
| Length: | (EP) (full album) |
| Label: | Sony Music Taiwan (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9) M.Star Entertainment (tracks 2, 4, 7, 8) |
| Producer: | Eric Chou, Freddy Häggstam |
| Prev Title: | The Chaos After You |
| Prev Year: | 2017 |
| Next Title: | When We Were Young |
| Next Year: | 2020 |
Freedom is the first EP and fourth studio album by Taiwanese singer-songwriter Eric Chou, released by Sony Music Taiwan on January 10, 2019.[1] The deluxe edition of the EP was released as the studio album on December 24, 2019. The tracks were inspired by Western pop music Chou grew up with when he studied in the United States. The work demonstrates Chou's creative energy, representing music from his debut to the present by further exploring the EDM genre and R&B.<ref name=":0">Web site: 陳怡伶 . March 3, 2019 . 周興哲東京吃生蠔咬出珍珠 . July 16, 2022 . 我的中時娛樂 - 翻爆 . zh-TW.
Chou participated in the Tencent competition Chao Yin Idols in August 2018. He co-wrote the song "What's Wrong" with Chinese singer and actor Wu Jiacheng, writing the verse and the bridge parts.[2] The song is inspired by Chinese singer Su Yunying's "Fairy" from her debut album Ming Ming.[3] The live version performed by Chou, Wu, and Su, which included the chorus of the song "Fairy" was released digitally on Chinese streaming platforms on the same month.[4]
For the previous album, The Chaos After You, Chou flew to Sweden to collaborate with Swedish producer Freddy Häggstam to incorporate different musical styles in his songs such as EDM.[5] Chou would eventually co-produce the EP with Häggstam. In January 2019, Chou held a listening party for his then upcoming EP, where he also announced his relationship with news anchor Dacie Chao. According to Chou, he did not have the motivation to write songs during his past relationships, but the new relationship gave him a lot of inspiration, noting that love can create love songs that can move people. Chou added that he couldn't write love songs before when he was happy and not in pain, but now he can.[6] The EP was officially released on January 10, 2019, along with the music video of "What's Wrong".
In December 2018, Chou released the single, "Nobody But Me", along with its music video.[7] On February 14, 2019, Chou released the music video for "At Least I Remember" which he first performed at the 15th KKBOX Music Awards the previous month.[8] The music video marked Chou's directorial debut.[9] On April 4, 2019, the music video for the title song "Freedom" which was filmed using Apple's iPhone XS Max, was released.[10]
In August 2019, Chou released his single "Something about LA", and "Forever Beautiful" in support for a breast cancer campaign in October 2019.[11] Both songs appeared on the deluxe version of the EP which became Chou's fourth studio album released on December 24, 2019.