Defined

Defined is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Frosty. It was released on March 14, 2025 by Virgin Records. After releasing two mixtapes in 2024, Frosty was signed a contract to Virgin Records in fall 2024 which gave him the opportunity to work on his first commercial studio album. Work began on the album in September of that year, with Frosty writing and producing most of the album himself along with friends of his, namely Tyago and T-Trax.
Primarily a dance album, the album incorporates elements of EDM, drum and bass, house and electropop. Thus, the instrumentation is completely electronic, using synthesizers and computer-programmed instruments. Throughout the album, Frosty utilizes a flamboyant-esque timbre for most of the record, while featuring a few rap parts in certain songs. To promote the album, Frosty performed several one-off gigs throughout the United States and the United Kingdom in 2025, which he later collectively called the Defined Promo Tour. Additionally, he promoted the album in 2027 on the LuV Tour, performing the half of the album, along with several songs from his later effort LuV (2026), throughout the United States.
Defined was met with generally positive reviews from critics, complementing the production and lighthearted atmosphere of the album. Commercially, the album received lukewarm success in the US as a sleeper hit, debuting at the lower end of the Billboard 200, though eventually peaking at number 8 on the chart. It did not see much success internationally, besides other English-speaking countries. The album spawned five singles, including the US top 20 single Red Taste, and the top 10 singles Cosmic Dust and Hurting Me.  
== Background ==
Freddie began producing music as at age fifteen in 2018 after obtaining an iPad and later a MacBook Pro. After graduating high school, Frosty moved to Albany, New York in August 2021. He officially started his music career after moving to New York, releasing his debut EP rosethorns in March 2022, although the project didn't see any success.
While on gap year from university in Houston, Frosty released his first mixtape in March 2024. he released two more mixtapes in May of that year. In January 2025, Freddie moved to New York City to continue his studies after taking a few years off to focus on his music and his professional career. Through his university professors, Freddie managed to book a meeting with workers at Columbia Records, who listened to some of his songs and watched performances of Freddie, and decided to sign him in February 2025. This record deal consisted of 6 years worth of at least 4 albums, including 3 studio albums. 
'The Great Escape' conceptualizes escapism. Freddie bases the lyrics on his early adulthood, describing the past four years of his life, since he turned 18 in 2020, mainly emphasizing his romantic endeavors after high school graduation. Freddie wrote that he "wanted to create an easily relatable album for young adults and teenagers who are still learning how to navigate romantic relationships". The album was largely inspired by Freddie's experiences in university before dropping out and exploring New York as a young adult with newfound freedom and financial liberation. 
== Writing and recording ==
While the bulk of the tracks were produced in one January session before Frosty was signed to a label, Frosty began recording the album in May 2024. His record label wanted him to record a single to release as to generate buzz. He eventually recorded Antidote which was later released in June. The album was written between March and May 2024, and recorded between May-September 2024.
== Composition ==
Lyrically, 'The Great Escape' revolves around themes of escapism through romance and partying. Freddie explained in a post on Instagram that the album was conceptualized in 2018, and that the album builds upon ideas and concepts Freddie explored throughout the later years of his teens and the early years of his adulthood. Freddie delves into college romance, exploring the dating life of college, emphasizing the male experience. He also explores LGBTQ+ themes, though treading lightly over the topic. On track two, he discusses psychopathology and its affect on romance, contrasting the dark content with more optimistic, lighthearted lyrics for the later songs. 
Sonically, The Great Escape embraces a sonic landscape defined by EDM, taking influences from various dance genres such as synth-pop, big room house, drum and bass, Jersey club, and dubstep, fusing them into a cohesive record that dips into various niches but overall embraces the modern club aesthetic. The album emphasizes synthesizers and pre-programmed drum machines, maintaining a fully-electronic production. The album kicks off with the track 'Cosmic Dust', a nu-disco tune, which lyrically explores the initial feelings of infatuation experienced when first meeting someone, before segueing into 'American Psycho', which begins with a vibraphone introduction before later evolving into a drum-and-bass and big room house hybrid that discusses psychopathy and how psychopaths love. 'Spiderweb' begins with a synthetic bass instrument, manifesting as a Jersey club and dance pop hybrid track that lyrically explores infatuation, describing on the initial first kiss of a relationship. The fourth track, '?', continues the Jersey club influence, while introducing more synthesizers in the production. In '?', Freddie and his love interest begin dating; the song asks the listener to "embrace the music and feel the rhythm", comparing love to music. 
The fifth track, 'Tropical Pussy', reflects a fully-fledged EDM aesthetic inspired by popular music and dance music of the early 2010s decade. Track six, '?', introduces trap instrumentation, combining 808s with synth bass to create a big room house track. The song touches on 'Midnight Loving', the seventh track, emphasizes tropical house elements, while the eighth track, '?', reintroduces nu-disco, fusing the genre with French house.
The ninth track, 'Antidote', continues with the big room house instrumentation, with a loud, vibrant, colorful chorus and smooth verses. Track ten, 'Polygamy', experiments with dubstep and electropop. '?', the penultimate track, explores drum and bass, while 'Flexing', the last track on the album, fuses nu-disco, neo-funk, and dance pop.
The album is divided into three parts, all of which are comprised mostly of upbeat dance songs. The first part of the album consists of songs that revolve around the theme of crushing on someone. Cosmic Dust, Hurting Me and  Spiderweb are dance tracks which contain trap influences. I Know is cited as a dance track with synthpop and trap influences. All the aforementioned tracks lyrically touch on the topic of crushing on someone and the pain and excitement that comes with it.
The second part, which is based around the theme of the high peaks of a relationship, begins with Lottery, which is a mid-tempo dance track with electronica influences, discussing the joys of spending time with a partner. Heroes is a pure EDM track that touches on the topics of feeling good with one's partner. Red Taste is an upbeat dance-pop track, containing a throbbing bassline and brass-heavy effects. The song discusses partying and enjoying life to the fullest. I Ain't Ready is an EDM and synthpop influenced dance track.
The final part of the album is based around the theme of heartbreak and breakups. Don't Say a Word is an synthpop dance track. Hands Behind Our Back is an upbeat, synth-heavy track with a lo-fi beat. Antidote is a trap influenced mid-tempo pop track with strings and a throbbing kick drum. Lyrically, the song touches on the depression after a breakup. Flexing is a house-inspired dance track that discusses enjoying life.
== Release ==
The album was released on April 17, 2025 internationally physically and digitally.
== Singles and promotion ==
Main article: LuV Tour
The album was preceded by 2 singles. Released on June 28, 2024, Flexing was unsuccessful on the charts, failing to chart anywhere internationally. However, it managed to peak at #4 on the US Dance chart on December 27, 2024.
The second single released from the album was Antidote, released on October 4, 2024. Like Flexing, it failed to chart internationally. It did peak at #3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart on March 22, 2025.
Red Taste was released as the third single from the album a month before the album's release on February 28, 2025. It went on to become Frosty's first top 20 hit, peaking at #17 on the Hot 100 on September 19, 2025. It also became Frosty's first international hit, peaking at #6 in the UK that same month, while also peaking in the top 20 in Canada and Ireland. It also charted in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, and Italy. It also peaked at #1 on the US Dance charts, becoming his first #1 on that chart.
Cosmic Dust was released on May 16 as the album's fourth single. The single gained Frosty even further success both domestically and internationally, peaking at #10 in the US, becoming his first top 10 hit there. It also peaked at #8 in the UK, and #9 in Canada. It peaked in the top 20 in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, becoming his breakthrough hit in the latter two countries. It peaked at #1 on the US dance charts.
On August 22, 2025, Frosty announced that he would be releasing one final single from the album, and said he was filming the music video soon. Hurting Me was released as the fifth and final single from the album on October 27. It went on to become his biggest hit at the time in the US, peaking at #8 on February 6, 2026. However, internationally, it performed worse than his previous two singles, failing to enter the top 10 anywhere internationally. It peaked in the top 20 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. It peaked at #1 on the US dance charts.
=== Defined Promo Tour ===
Frosty embarked on the Defined Promo Tour from August-September 2022. During this promo tour, he performed Flexing, Antidote, and Red Taste in nightclubs in the US, UK, and Japan.
=== LuV Tour ===
On February 10, 2024, Frosty announced that his next tour will serve to promote both his sophomore album LuV and his debut album, after the boosted sales of the album during this time period. During the tour, Frosty performed all of the singles from the album plus the album track Spiderweb. As soon as the tour merchandise, the tickets sold out. Many fans also rushed in stores to by merchandise for the tour. The tour was an extreme commercial success, becoming one of the highest grossing tours of 2025.
== Critical reception ==
The album received generally positive reviews from critics, with many taking note of the production of the album. It was also praised for the consistency and cohesiveness of the record. Many critics stated that it was the best dance-pop album in a while. However, the record was met with some criticism for the lyricism.
== Commercial performance ==
At release, the album was a flop. It garnered 80,750 streams in its first week and failed to chart anywhere. It eventually debuted at #179 on the US Billboard 200 on the chart dated September 20, 2025, after the release of singles Red Taste and Cosmic Dust. With Terrorizing Me that same month, the album went on to peak at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated March 28, 2026.
Internationally, the album did not have much success upon release, failing to chart in most markets. The album only charted in Canada shortly after release, with it debuting at #82 on the chart dated September 13, 2025, and falling off the chart completely the week after before re-entering at #88 on October 18, 2025. However, aftter the internationally successful singles Red Taste and Cosmic Dust, it went on to have moderate success in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
After the success of his 2026 singles LuV in June and The Game in August, the album went on to re-peak at #9 in the US while also re-peaking in most charts internationally. Because of this, the album had longevity on the US Billboard 200, staying on the chart for over 120 weeks.
== Legacy ==
Many critics cite Defined as being the album that influenced many artists following him in the late 2020s. It has been stated that Defined brought back the EDM trend from the early 2010s.
Defined is cited by many as Frosty's definitive album, and that all his future works have some influence from this album. Frosty's fashion sense from this era is also cited as being iconic.
== Track listing ==
No.	Title 	Writer(s) 	Producer(s)
1. 	Cosmic Dust 	Frosty 	Frosty; Tyago; T-Trax
2. 	Hurting Me 	Frosty 	Frosty; Tyago; T-Trax
3. 	Spiderweb 	Frosty; Tyago 	Frosty; Tyago; T-Trax
4. 	I Know 	Frosty; Tyago 	Tyago
5. 	Lottery 	Frosty; Tyago 	Tyago; Frosty; T-Trax
6. 	Red Taste 	Max Martin; Shellback	Max Martin; Shellback; Chenle; Michael Mezclado
7. 	Antidote 	Frosty 	Frosty; Tyago
8. 	Don't Say a Word 	Frosty; Tyago 	Frosty; Tyago
9. 	I Ain't Ready 	Frosty; Tyago 	Tyago
10.	Hands Behind Our Back	Frosty 	Tyago
11.	Heroes 	Frosty; Tyago 	Tyago; Frosty
12.	Flexing 	Frosty 	Frosty; Tyago
== Charts ==
=== 2025 ===
Chart (2025) 	Peak position;
Australian Albums (ARIA) 	#39
Canadian Albums (Billboard)	#25
Irish Albums (IRMA) 	#24
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 	#35
UK Albums (OCC) 	#16
US Billboard 200 	#26
=== 2026 ===
Chart (2026) 	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA) 	#16
Canadian Albums (Billboard)	#13
Irish Albums (IRMA) 	#12
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 	#18
UK Albums (OCC) 	#7
US Billboard 200 	#9
== Trivia ==
* The album was originally going to be titled 'Cosmic Dust'.
* Red Taste was originally planned to be the fourth single, while Cosmic Dust would serve as the third single.
* I Know. Lottery, Hands Behind Our Back, and Heroes are the only songs from the album that have yet to be performed live.
Category:Defined
Category:Defined era
Category:Albums
Category:Studio albums