Fiona Brown
Interview conducted on May 5, 2021
By Dan Locke
Fiona really enjoyed writing and recording this song. Loneliness finds most of us at some point, especially now. I wanted to express this feeling and our coping mechanisms and share some love at the same time for dark days ahead. We’re all in this together, let’s try to remember.
What is your upbringing?
I was born in the south of Holland to a Scottish father and a Dutch-Indonesian mother. My dad moved back to the UK to live in Faringdon so that’s always been my second home. That said, I’m also very proud of my Indonesian roots.
How did you discover music?
I started playing the recorder when I was very young. From there I moved on to the violin for a couple of years and I started playing guitar with my dad when I was eight. He gave up but I kept playing. Only later did I discover that I really wanted to be a singer. I think I was just too shy to admit it.
How did you start to write music?
One of the assignments in school (Rotterdam Conservatory where I studied pop music) was to write your own song. I loved it!
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
The first guitar I bought for myself was a Washburn R320SWRK and yes, I still have it 🙂
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model? And what is her name?
As I’m not a typical guitarist I don’t own many guitars but I keep coming back to my Gretsch Electromatic which is pretty much still the standard factory model. When you play an instrument long enough, you start having these conversations with them, not literally but it’s like this flow back and forth, I love that.
How did your band form?
Neil Fraser and I met in the pub, a touch of fate perhaps. Naomi Sijmons is a great artist with an amazing voice and I can’t wait to get on stage with them. The three of us will be playing the tour for this album.
How did you get your bands name?
I think that speaks for itself 😉
Describe your music.
Alternative music? Honestly, that is the most difficult question for me to answer.
What was your first performance at like?
Any first performance is quite nerve-racking so I’m not sure I even want to think back to that 🙂 The first performance for Mundane however is still to come and I’m sure it’ll be really great!
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Yes, my work is registered at Sabam, a Belgian association.
What makes a good songwriter?
I guess when you know how to keep someone’s attention, it can be anything really…
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
‘Back In Shape Again’. We didn’t record it but I still know it by heart.
What is the process of writing your music?
I try to disappear in the music, usually, the first stage is late at night when the world quiets down. There’s no specific order, sometimes I’ll start from a melody in my head or some words, sometimes it’s just a riff or a chord that sets the mood.
Tell me about your debut album “Mundane”, which gets released on May 28, 2021.
Mundane is a story about ordinary people looking for something more. Mundane craziness leading you through cyberspace past climate strikes all the way to the true meaning of art and love. Extreme yet realistic stories about a path we all walk.
How was it to work with Neil Fraser, Simon Casier, Steven Van Gelder and Tim Barbler on your album?
It was so inspiring! I’d been working and creating so much by myself, also due to Covid lockdown, I’d forgotten how much fun it is to work with other people.
How is stiff studio for recording? Which you have been a part of since 2016.
We recorded at Nice Recordings in Antwerp, a great recording studio. I prefer to record my vocals in my own studio since I then have more control over time, mood, and flow. I’m not good with pressure when recording vocals.
Staf Verbeeck mixed the music at Stiff Studio. He can make anything sound fantastic.
Tell me about your first single “My Void” from your album?
It’s a typical ‘lockdown’ song. The focus on whether or not the shops should be open (but not culture i.e.) and the fact that streets were crowded with people who ‘need’ to go window shopping to feel better was really striking to me. It says so much about the loneliness people don’t want to feel or maybe just don’t know how to deal with. We’re always encouraged to buy more stuff so it’s a natural coping mechanism.
The 2nd single from the album “Stalkers” was released on March 19th. Why did you pick Jochem Baelus to direct, film and edit the video?
Jochem is such a talented, creative person who is all about the art. He doesn’t just make videos, he’s also a musician and crafts his own instruments as well. His integrity and personality to me are an inspiration so it only made sense to ask him for the video. I also needed someone to understand the depth of the story within the song, even though it seems fairly straightforward at first, there are multiple layers in the story itself and I knew he’d get it.
Of the twelve songs on the album, what is your favorite track on your album?
Beautiful Misery. The song calms me down, I see the world I’m trying to create and literally feel the sun I’m singing about on my skin. Some songs get really boring after a while but this melody just keeps surprising me.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I’m ok with it. I don’t feel money is divided the way it should but I’m a big fan of music being accessible to everyone.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
No idea. Kids’ reactions to # is funny of course since they at first recognize it as a hashtag only but symbols and letters are mere means of communication. I’m sure we can use both without one stealing the other’s meaning.
Digital vs. Vinyl?
Personally, I like both. Vinyl to me is more of a statement, it’s that ‘sit down and listen to music’ moment. But when I’m scanning the internet and trying to find interesting new music, I love the ease of digital comfort.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
‘Blinded By The Light’ came to mind just recently because we were listening to King Crimson and the album sleeve of ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King’ reminded me of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s album ‘Blinded By The Light’. My dad used to love the title song and it’s one of the only songs that he’d dance and sing along to. Not specifically my kind of music but always a happy memory.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Honestly, it scares me a little, but I’m also sure people feel the need to make up for the loss. So, I’m expecting a year with too much of everything.
At the beginning of the lockdown, you were starting to make masks for elderly. How many did you make?
Six. And it took me forever! But it was nice to be able to help.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
At first, it was some soul searching and a little rest. Then I started making music and I finished my album.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
Lots of organic food and Yoga with Adriene!
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
No 🙂 I’m extremely happy writing music and if I’d have more time, I’d just do more of that.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Not sure about that but I do think Facebook sometimes forgets that Facebook members are the ones providing content for them to make money off of. Social media is a tricky business.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
That’s a good question. Online presence I think helps; not much else we can do really.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Yes, maybe there should be a law against it.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
You’d still miss the vibe, the sound and the beer on your shirt. Not the same for me.
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
I’ve thought about this before and I can’t come up with anything. So, I think I’d just be poor but happy making music.
What is your happy place?
My studio and on the yoga mat.
A lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? Another factor is mortality.
Not sure, I might. I don’t think I’d sell to just anyone though so something to think about…
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on Monday (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
I wasn’t aware that Spotify deleted songs so I can’t really comment on that. It would be great however to have a platform such as Spotify divide the money fairly amongst artists. No shareholders involved.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
Probably not 🙂
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thanks for the interview!
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