Fiona-Lee releases debut single 'Mother'

The track was announced in tandem with her signing to Gravity/EMI Records today (May 2nd).

Photo credit: Flower Up

Indie newcomer Fiona-Lee has just released her debut single ‘Mother’ after signing to EMI. The Howden-based singer-songwriter said that the song was inspired by a traumatic experience she went through after moving to London to start her music career.

“The song’s about a difficult situation I was in a few years ago, where I’d moved to London and was living in the basement of my then manager’s office” she said. “I wanted to leave and stop working with him, but felt totally stuck because of how he might react.”

“It starts out very vulnerable as a cry for help, then as it goes on it becomes angrier and more empowered. Basically how I felt as the situation developed. It’s essentially about being a young woman that’s being taken advantage of by a 50-year-old dude in the music industry. This shit happens all the time – especially to young women.”

The track was mixed by Alan Moulder, who has worked with a number of prominent new bands, including Wet Leg and The Last Dinner Party.

The singer’s passion for covering evocative themes and social commentary in her music is no surprise. In the past, Fiona has talked about how she was always drawn to music that evoked “strong rallying feelings”, like Jeff Buckley, Alanis Morissette, PJ Harvey and Patti Smith, whose influences are definitely felt on the new track.

Already a busy touring artist, past support slots including Coach Party, Girl Scout and Swim School, Fiona also has a number of festival shows lined up in the coming months, including TRNSMT and The Great Escape.

More new music has also been hinted at, with her label saying that ‘Mother’ “lays down a firm marker for what is to come from the thrilling songwriter.”

Fiona-Lee’s ‘Mother’ is out now via Gravity/EMI Records, and available on all digital platforms. She is also set to tour the UK throughout the summer

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