Activism and the macabre: Fiona Apple names her three music industry “heroes”
Fiona Apple is an extraordinary talent; that much is obvious. However, what is rarely discussed is how she became extraordinary simply by being herself. In the music business, transparency and relatability are two winning qualities, and Apple has always excelled at both by staying true to who exactly she is. Sometimes, during interviews, this would position her as a unique force, her effortless hilarity a sign that she embraces her individuality with a rare authenticity.
“When I’m writing their songs, they’re all pep talks,” Apple once explained. “They end up coming true later on, after a year or two, they’ll end up coming true, and I’ll finally feel as strong as I did when I tried to pretend that I was that strong when I wrote the song.” Her response at the time earned her baffled laughs from the audience, but her answer taps into the broader allure of her songwriting and how often she prophesizes the emotions she will likely feel later in life.
Another example of this unique ability to foretell future events and feelings was the age at which Apple started writing songs. In her early teens, she was writing hits like ‘Never A Promise’, weaponising her betrayal with poeticism and resonating with any young woman who has ever felt wronged by a partner. Beyond just relaying her sadness, these songs adopted a certain edge, showing that owning your heartbreak can be powerful and necessary to moving on.
Writing songs in the 1990s meant that Apple had a seemingly endless list of female influences to choose from, including Carole King’s more confessional leanings, Stevie Nicks’s more whimsical offerings, and Debbie Harry’s rock rawness, to name a few. Apple’s music is controlled yet open, unforgiving yet reflective, and complex without shunning accessibility; the perfect amalgamation of all those who came before.
When asked about those who sit atop her list, Apple wasted no time naming her female “heroes” as “Joan Armatrading, Miriam Makeba, [and] Kate Bush.” Although admitting she was likely “missing a lot,” those are the ones that stood out as the biggest influences on both her approach to songwriting and the ways she executes her specific version of storytelling.
All three of these musical maestros have their own unique qualities—Armatrading is known for blending soulful vocals with jazz and folk, and Makeba for her steadfast activism during the civil rights movement and beyond. However, Bush stands out as a particularly compelling figure. Despite being considered an outsider by mainstream music at the time, Bush captivated aspiring female musicians with her innovative use of the macabre in her music.
Moreover, she infused real female experiences into her music by utilising diverse figures and characters, reinstating the importance of narrative storytelling in music. She covered themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, but she also reflected female desire and self-empowerment, which likely became a definitive guiding principle for a coming-of-age Apple.
