Having just released her debut single ‘Enough’s Enough’, LOCK Magazine had the pleasure of speaking with rising UK singer-songwriter FIONA to discuss her raw debut and upcoming EP.
Hi FIONA and welcome to LOCK, for our readers could you please tell us a little about yourself?
Hi, I am Fiona, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter from the UK. Music has always been a big part of my life and I have performed from a very young age. I have a brother and a sister and I sit happily in the middle. Writing and performing has always allowed me to express myself in a loud and chaotic family.
Congratulations on your debut single! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind ‘Enough’s Enough’?
The inspiration behind Enough’s Enough is that uneasy feeling you get when you know the relationship you are in isn’t serving you anymore but not knowing if you want to let it go. It’s being stuck in that feeling of still loving the person you are with but hating what it’s like to be with them. I think this is a feeling that people can relate to.
You co-wrote the track with jazz pianist Jack Noke. How did that collaboration come about, and how did your styles complement each other?
It’s quite an unexpected story… Before attending the Royal College of Music Jack was working with my Dad, so it was my Dad that initially put us in contact. Jack is really good at understanding my vision for a song and writing with him allows the music and words to come naturally and with ease. Jack’s style, combined with my lyrics and tone, sets a really nice sound throughout the work.
Your music blends pop, R&B, and jazz influences. How did you develop your signature sound?
I obviously take a lot of inspiration from these different genres and I think that by listening to such a wide range of music growing up I subconsciously take inspiration from all over the place. This background allows me to come up with words and the music to shape my sound. I don’t think the development of my sound was a conscious thing but instead just a product of the music I love to listen to.
Your voice carries such maturity and depth for someone so young. How do you channel such raw emotion into your performances?
When writing my songs I try not to put too much pressure on the process. I usually don’t have a really specific idea that I stick to. I allow feelings that I might not even realise are there to come out in the writing. I think this raw emotion and feeling is what translates in my songs and voice. I feel everything I am saying in my songs, they are raw and real to me and I hope this translates to people and allows them to connect with me as an artist.
At just 18, you’re already making waves with your music. When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter?
I have been performing from a very young age and singing is always something that I have been very passionate about. When I sing the whole world goes quiet around me, I am totally in the moment. However it wasn’t until around the age of 15 when I decided that it was something I wanted to do as a career, I think the actual moment I realised was when I went to see Billie Eilish live at the O2, seeing her up on stage made me realise I wanted to write, sing and perform live. So I set out to develop my skills and began songwriting at the age of 17, developing my own voice and started shaping melodies and lyrics that resonated with me.
What advice would you give to other young artists who are just starting out?
Go for it! Put your all into it and don’t worry about what others are saying. I think that it’s so hard to not care about what others think but I truly believe that the only person you need to believe in is yourself. A key thing that I kept saying to myself before the release of ‘Enough’s Enough’ was, ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’, this has really helped me to remember that there is a space for my songs in an industry already filled with incredibly talented people. Believe in yourself and surround yourself with people that do the same!
You’re currently working on your debut EP. What can fans expect from this upcoming project?
People can expect to see more raw songs about love and life, not only external relationships but also the relationship a person has with yourself. There is a mix of reflection, loss and optimism. I’m really excited to share these songs that have been so close to me for the last year and I just hope that people can find what they need from them.
Will ‘Enough’s Enough’ set the tone for the rest of the EP, or can we expect a mix of sounds and emotions?
When writing the EP we wanted to make sure that there was a good link between the songs so it would come as a body of work and not 5 separate songs. I think that ‘Enough’s Enough’ sets a good tone for the rest of the EP, but you can expect a collection of songs that, though go together well and show a mix of different things.
What do you hope to achieve as an artist in the next year?
This year I really want to focus on releasing the EP and then getting myself out there gigging. I just want to enjoy performing the tracks and seeing what the audience thinks of the work. I want to enjoy the process of creating, producing and then performing whilst continuing to work on new stuff.