My Freespirit – Real Life

A Tribute to Music and Memory by Pierre Caruana

In 2009, Pierre Caruana introduced the world to My Freespirit, a personal project and pseudonym under which he released his debut solo album. This marked a new chapter in Caruana’s career, following his tenure with bands like Structure and Scar. His journey took a significant turn when he collaborated with Dave Goodman, an accomplished record producer and musician. Goodman was best known as the live sound engineer for the Sex Pistols and the producer of three of their studio demo sessions. Over his career, Goodman also worked with early punk acts such as Eater, Chelsea, The Cannibals, Maniacs, and UK Subs, and later co-produced with Darryl Read in 2002. Eventually, Goodman established Mandala Music, a studio and label based in Malta.

The collaboration between Caruana and Goodman was initiated by Stefan Dimech (Fish id-Drummer), who introduced the two musicians. They conceptualized a music project titled Earth, but this endeavor was cut short when Goodman tragically passed away from a heart attack at the age of 53. Despite this loss, Caruana formed a strong bond with Goodman and his partner, Kathy Manuell, who continued to manage Mandala Music on a smaller scale.

Between his commitments and composing for Earth, Caruana amassed a significant collection of songs. At Kathy's encouragement, he began recording these tracks, with her overseeing the process. Over the years, Kathy had gained production expertise while working alongside Goodman, enabling her to guide the project effectively.

The resulting album, Real Life, is deeply personal, reflecting pivotal moments from Caruana’s life. Among the most significant tracks are those dedicated to his late mother, Annie, who lost her battle with cancer. The song Mother Love features Annie’s voice, the only recording of her singing, something she did daily at home when she was engaged in her daily routines but never professionally. The album’s lyrics chronicle Caruana’s life journey, with photographs from various stages of his life adorning the CD booklet’s back cover.

Caruana dedicated Real Life to two central figures in his life: his mother, for her unwavering support, and Dave Goodman, whose musical influence was transformative. All songs were written and composed by Caruana, except for Outcast, which features music composed by Jewls Verse. Verse also contributed drum programming and backing vocals. Additional musicians included George Hershey, Mark Tonna, and Liam on guitars, with Mike Hershey on bass. The album was recorded at Mandala Studios, produced by Jewls Verse and Kathy Manuell, and featured cover art by Ahmed Dgibli.

Released in 2009, the album owes its completion to Kathy, whose determination brought the project to fruition. Tragically, Kathy passed away from cancer a few years later, ending a cherished friendship and delaying Caruana’s second album, which remains unreleased.

Real Life consists of 10 progressive rock tracks, influenced by Genesis (Caruana’s favorite band), Marillion, and Pink Floyd. The album also marked Caruana’s vocal debut. Despite a turbulent period following the album’s release, which led to his semi-retirement from music, Caruana has hinted at a return in 2025, expressing hopes to rekindle his passion for music and his beloved keyboard.

The album Real Life is currently available at Melodija.eu.

For further insights into Pierre Caruana’s journey and the Maltese rock scene of the 1980s, readers can explore The Maltese Rock Scene in the 1980s: Structure.

My Freespirit is now on sale from melodija.eu - buy here