andPOP » Amy Winehouse

Fink’s Journey To The Top Not Revolutionary, But It Works

Emma Renda — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:02:03 +0000

Fin Greenall, more famously known as UK singer-songwriter Fink, tours in a bus just like every other mid-level musician out there.

But if it were up to him, his ultimate tour would go a little something like this: roaming through the English countryside or vast stretches of North American highway on a motorbike, with the rest of his band and gear following in a van behind him. Granted he lifted most of the idea from biker-metal band Slayer, Greenall can’t be blamed for inventing a rock star fantasy to give an edge to his gentle acoustic guitar-wielding persona.

He muses for a moment about the very bad-ass nature of such a tour, blithely tallying the unpleasant logistics involved. But Greenall isn’t about to let a stiff behind and a few bugs in his teeth cramp his style.

“The problem with fantasies, the reality is that they’re a bummer,” says Greenall. “Sometimes you gotta go, ‘Well yeah, in Easy Rider those bikes look pretty uncomfortable. But you still look pretty fucking cool when you’re driving down the street.’”

It seems an unlikely way to start an interview with the angel-voiced tenor from Brighton, England. Yet Greenall somehow morphs the motorcycle daydream into an allegory for his music career, and ultimately, his life.

“You have to find the balance between what is doable and ‘Actually, that would suck,’” Greenall tells andPOP. “I wouldn’t be doing music at all. [People said] ‘Dude, you’re not going to be able to do it.’ And I said, ‘Well, fuck it. I’ll do it anyway.’”

That was almost nine years ago when he released his mellow groove debut, Fresh Produce. His next release, Biscuits for Breakfast in 2006, was the first in what would become a trio – so far – of his signature acoustic sound. Sort of Revolution, his next installment with the legendary Ninja Tunes label (home of Kid Koala, among others), dropped worldwide Sept. 8.

Greenall’s career began with some casual DJ gigs throughout England, which eventually boosted him to cult-level celebrity status. He started to produce dance tracks, then began penning songs for other musicians before he decided to take on a few of his tunes himself. “It definitely wasn’t the plan. I was working with other singers and songwriters as a writer,” says Greenall. “I worked with this chick Amy Winehouse who was right out of school. She was just awesome, mind-bendingly brilliant.”

Amy Winehouse isn’t the only household name Greenall can list on his resume. He actually co-wrote John Legend’s single, “Green Light” featuring Andre 3000, a favour which was reciprocated by Legend co-writing two songs and adding guest piano on Sort of Revolution. During his studio days, Greenall remixed songs for Nina Simone, Elbow, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Robert Belfour. He has toured endlessly throughout the United Kingdom – notching roughly 300 dates with his band, bassist Guy Whittaker and Tim Thornton – and has opened for the likes of Massive Attack and Zero 7, as well as appearing at a number of major musical institutions, including London’s Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall in NYC, and most recently had a gig at BBC’s Maida Vale studios.

The decision to pursue his own career was an offhand one, which he pitched to Ninja Tunes and got the go ahead, to the point of being signed on as the label’s first singer-songwriter.
“It was like, ‘Damn, I wish I’d done this earlier,’” says Greenall. “But I didn’t have the life experience or the baggage, I needed something to write about.”

Despite being almost a decade into his solo career, Greenall says he is still trying to work out what it all means.

“My first battle was whether or not I wanted how I feel about stuff on record,” says Greenall.
But Greenall isn’t exactly shy, just cunning. Although his lyrics are never entirely direct, Greenall doesn’t avoid candid subject matter. He describes his approach to song-writing as a retreat back in time where he relives the moment that triggered the idea for the song in the first place. Often it means disappearing into a dark hole for days on end if the content is particularly sensitive.

Sometimes it means legwork, in the case of “Six Weeks,” when a girl Greenall was involved with dropped the infamous “L” word and he didn’t know how to respond.

“It’s a situation that everybody’s been in and I wanted to write a song about it, because [Bob] Dylan hasn’t done it and he’s pretty much done everything else,” says Greenall, with a chuckle. “I asked my mates and I asked my girlfriends. I said, ‘I’m not in love with her yet, what should I do?’ And they said, ‘Pretty much you’ve got a month maybe. If she’s not worth having, she’ll leave you.’”

It’s not exactly a love song, but Greenall’s deep coo and lullaby melodies give every song of his a romantic touch.

The album’s first single, “Sort of Revolution” is a six-and-a-half-minute acoustic epic that reads like a mild protest song and actually flows like a ballad. Rather than pointing fingers, Greenall is extending his hand to the disenchanted around him, suggesting a revolution is not only possible but imminent. (”We come so far, there’s no going back/ All this time we’ve been running from it/ Where we are and where we’re going to / We’ll organise a Sort of Revolution.”)

“Most songs, the idea happens whenever. It takes a couple of minutes to go, ‘I love that, I must remember that,’” says Greenall. “Lyric writing happens in spurts. I have to be ready to catch it when it comes out. With enough whiskey and marijuana, it will definitely happen.”
As for the music, Greenall uses a minimalist’s blend of acoustic guitar and lush vocal harmonies to round out his track lists, and often a dash of synth probably out of habit. “Walkin’ in the Sun” even features a gospel choir, while “Q & A” is backed by a vague beat-boxing riff.

His sound is diverse but accessible – like a Damien Rice demo set to the soundscape of Thom Yorke’s Eraser. It’s sparse, but with the touching lyrical charm, it’s no wonder Greenall is still in demand after three albums of this kind.

After spending the month of August at his home in Brighton playing sporadic gigs through Europe, including several musical festivals, Greenall is about to embark once again on the road. With Sort of Revolution now in record stores worldwide, he has scheduled an extended tour of the UK, France, Germany and North America to promote it. Despite the stretches spent on a tour bus – rather than his whimsical two-wheeled mode of transportation – Greenall says being overbooked is a good problem.

“It’s good to be busy, it’s good to be in demand,” says Greenall. “The weirdest thing is that we’ve already put so much time, effort, money, blood, sweat and tears and we’ve only just begun. We’re a quarter of the way through. We have to get our energy back, we’ve just started and that is a bit terrifying.”

Amy Winehouse Launches Lioness Records

Emma Renda — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:23:49 +0000

Amy Winehouse is making headlines again, but this time it’s on her own terms and not that of her drug-addled alter ego.

Winehouse was outfitted with a new set of pearly whites this weekend, repairing that sly grin on the cover of Back to Black that deteriorated in the wake of her excessive substance abuse, according ot Perez Hilton.

Perhaps more noteworthy though, though it’s hard to tell when it comes to Winehouse news, is the record label she launch today.

According to NME, Winehouse’s Lioness Records is officially in business. The first release will be from none other than Dionne Bromfield, Winehouse’s 13-year-old goddaughter, called Introducing Dionne Bromfield. Winehouse told NME she named the label after a necklace her grandmother gave her, and the label’s format was inspired by legendary Motown and 2Tone Records.

NME has posted a video of Winehouse collaborating with her goddaughter, forecasting what could be a very promising debut album.

"The first time I heard Dionne sing, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing … such an amazing voice from such a young girl," Winehouse told NME. "I’m just so proud of her. I’m very lucky to have a record label. I’ve got all these people that I love, that are really talented – and Dionna is my number one."

Winehouse is beginning to turn things around in what looked last year like a potential career collapse. She split from her husband Blake Fielder-Civil, the man her family blamed for much of Winehouse’s public downfall.

After a reassuring guest spot with The Specials at V Fest in Chelmsford, rumours are once again whirling about a follow up to her smash major label debut. Confirmation can’t come soon enough.

Blake Fielder-Civil Says Amy Winehouse Wants Him Back

Vanessa Baker — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:50:06 +0000

Amy Winehouse’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, claims the singer called him and begged he take her back, reports Perez Hilton.

“We’ve been talking for the first time in months,” said Fielder-Civil. “I love her as much as ever. I know she still loves me, even though we’re getting divorced. Maybe this time we can do everything property and not mess it up.”

Fielder-Civil claims he and his estranged wife are both “adults… and clean now,” although he is currently still in rehab.

Friends of the couple say they believe there is a chance they could work out their differences and re-marry.

“Come home to me. Be with me,” Winehouse reportedly told her husband. “Do you love me?”

“I love you. You know I do,” was his alleged response.

The couple’s divorce is set to be final August 28. Fileder-Civil filed to end the union earlier this year citing infidelity.

Amy Winehouse Granted Divorce From Husband

Ilan Mester — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:02:46 +0000

After a rocky relationship complete with arrests, accusations of drug abuse and public disputes, singer Amy Winehouse has officially split from Blake Fielder-Civil.

According to The Associated Press, neither Winehouse nor Fielder-Civil were present at the family Court hearing where a judge granted the divorce petition. After six weeks and a day the divorce of Winehouse, 25, and Fielder-Civil, 27, becomes final.

The British couple met at a bar in London, England, back in 2005. They wed at a simple ceremony in Miami in 2007, but spent most of their seemingly-troubled married life apart after Fielder-Civil was arrested on an assault charge that sent him to jail.

The Singer’s father, Mitch Winehouse, has constantly accused Fielder-Civil — a music video production assistant — of introducing his daughter to heavy drugs.

The couple’s troubled relationship spawned numerous tabloid headlines around the world.

The Killers, Amy Winehouse Contribute To Latin-Flavoured Benefit Compilation

Eva Lam — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:42:28 +0000

Some of the world’s biggest artists have teamed up with Cuban band Rhythms Del Mundo for a benefit album that puts a Latin twist on well-known songs.

The Killers, Amy Winehouse, Fall Out Boy, Jack Johnson, KT Tunstall, Keane, Cat Power, Kaiser Chiefs, OneRepublic and the Rolling Stones are among the acts featured on “Rhythms Del Mundo Classics,” which is set for release July 13.

The album aims to raise awareness and funds for climate crisis projects and natural disaster relief through the U.K.-based charity Artists Project Earth.

Covers include the Killer’s “Hotel California” (originally done by the Eagles), Amy Winehouse’s “Cupid” (Sam Cooke), John Mayer and Fall Out Boy’s “Beat It” (Michael Jackson) and Keane’s “Under Pressure” (Queen). Each act reimagined their tune in collaboration with Rhythms del Mundo, which is made up of some of Cuba’s top musicians.

“Classics” follows the similar 2006 album “Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba,” the idea for which emerged out of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

That compilation featured Buena Vista Social Club musicians reworking tunes from such acts as Coldplay, U2, Maroon 5, Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand.

An Amy Winehouse Documentary

Ilan Mester — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:43:06 +0000

A documentary with the tentative title of “Saving Amy” focusing on singer Amy Winehouse is currently in the works according to MTV News.

Israeli-American interviewer Daphne Barak is profiling Winehouse for the project that will likely be released later this year according to the singer’s MySpace page.

“Amy and her family will be the subject of a new documentary later this year,” reads the MySpace blog. “[Barak's] subjects over the years have included celebrities, royalty, world leaders and international personalities. The journalist spent time with Amy and her family recently on St. Lucia, and in true honest to goodness Amy style, the doc will be a truthful and revealing look at her complicated life.”

The interviewer’s website features an exclusive photo of her with the singer and in an interview with the U.K.’s Sunday Times, Barak said she questions whether Winehouse has conquered all of her troubles, noting that the singer’s hands shake whenever she does something.

Amy Winehouse Hospitalized Again

Joelle Tomlinson — Sun, 03 May 2009 04:50:53 +0000

Amy Winehouse was taken to the hospital in St. Lucia, the Caribbean isle she’s been staying at for months, her spokesman revealed on Saturday. According to media queen Perez Hilton, the reason for Wino’s hospitalization is cited as dehydration.

Says Wino’s publicist: “She fainted at home (in St Lucia) and they took her in for observation, mainly to do with her medication to check everything was OK. They told her that she was dehydrated and needed to drink more water.”

According to the statement, Wino had been running around with a group of children before she passed out. She is expected to perform at a jazz festival in St. Lucia this coming week, if she’s feeling better.

And, in some positive news for the constantly distressed singer, her spokesman confirmed that Winehouse has obtained an injunction banning paparazzi taking photographs outside her London home.

Photogs are barred from following or approaching her within 100 metres of the house.

Winehouse Makes a Comeback

Jennifer Brooks — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:16:39 +0000

After legal woes, drug troubles and being bumped from her performance slot at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Winehouse has a plan of action to get her back on track.

According to chartattck.com, Winehouse has reportedly spent 35,000 British pounds on a new beauty regime, 10,000 pounds on new gym equipment, 20,000 on designer clothes and 5,000 on beauty treatments.

It is being reported that Winehouse plans to win back the affections of her former flame, Blake Fielder-Civil, even though he began filing divorce papers against Winehouse in January.

While Winehouse works on re-igniting the flame between her and her former love, Producer Mark Ronson has hopped on board to help the troubled star resurrect her music career.

Ronson; who at one time vowed not to work with Winehouse again until she got her drug issues straightened out, has now agreed to produce Amy’s new projects according to chartattack.com.

Rumors are swirling that Winehouse’s new sound echoes with dark lyrics and more of a reggae feel.

M.I.A. Books First Post-Pregnancy Performance

Eva Lam — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:43:34 +0000

Pop sensation M.I.A. has been added to the lineup for the upcoming Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, her first confirmed public appearance since the birth of her son last month.

Organizers say the performer, who played the festival in 2005 and again last year, will take the stage on Saturday, April 18.

She joins other late additions to the bill after Amy Winehouse was forced to cancel her appearance. Recently added performers include Devendra Banhart, The Chemical Brothers, The Orb and Etienne de Crecy.

This year’s Coachella, headlined by Sir Paul McCartney, The Killers and The Cure, will run from April 17 to 19 in Indio, California.

M.I.A. memorably took the stage at the Feb. 8 Grammy Awards on her due date, performing “Swagga Like Us” alongside Jay-Z, T.I., Lil Wayne and Kanye West. She gave birth to a baby boy three days later.

Amy Winehouse Pleads Not Guilty In Assault Case

Eva Lam — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:51:36 +0000

Amy Winehouse appeared at a London court Tuesday to plead not guilty to assaulting a fan at a party last fall.

The 25-year-old soul singer was accompanied by her dad Mitch as she arrived at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a brief hearing.

She was charged with common assault in early March over allegations she attacked a fan who tried to take her picture at a charity ball in London on Sept. 26.

Winehouse, who recently returned from an extended break on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, was ordered at the hearing to stand trial in July and released on unconditional bail.

The singer’s latest run-in with the law is believed to be the reason behind her pulling out of next month’s Coachella festival in California. Her spokesperson has said that “current legal issues” prompted the cancellation.