fiske – You Made An Ocean Of Me
fiske might be a name some listeners associate with the late-80s and mid-90s music scene. After quite an absence, and now turning 54, the silky-voiced singer has decided to re-launch her career with her latest album, You Made An Ocean Out Of Me.
As her bio nicely describes, fiske has been in and around the music industry for over 30 years, releasing her first record in 1988 on a subsidiary of Rough Trade. She worked as a session singer, released a well-received solo album, Tundra, in 1994, and was one half of trip-hop duo Melk before disappearing from the music business for nearly three decades to prioritise raising two daughters. Living between San Francisco and London, fiske continued to write songs, sharing them only with those closest to her. After turning 50, she felt the urge to record the songs, finally ready to share the wealth of experience she had accumulated, with the world.
The album was recorded at home during lockdown by fiske and her producer husband Tim Bran with the addition of strings from Rosie Langley, guitar from Charlotte Hatherly, and additional backing vocals by fiske’s youngest daughter Bee Bra. The album is the story of a woman’s life that will resonate with many. You Made An Ocean Of Me has all the qualities of sophisticated alt-folk/alt-pop albums – fiske’s excellent, multi-layered vocals supported by some subtle orchestration and acoustic backing with Bran’s unobtrusive production and embellishments only when needed. The result is some almost perfect late-night music for any season of the year.
“I wanted to create something very beautiful that would move people… I am inspired by older women who dare to take up space in their more mature years, such as Patti Smith, Kate Bush, and Stevie Nicks. I also admire young artists who are doing things their own way and on their own terms. I love the honesty, simplicity, and musicality of Taylor Swift’s Folklore and the film that accompanied it. Tim and I had all this in mind when we sat down to record.” – fiske on You Made An Ocean Out of Me
For more from fiske check out her Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
