UK-based Fison has just released her debut single, “Daughter of A Good Man.” Inspired by the sounds of Big Thief and Angel Olsen, the song takes a subdued peek into growing up and being disillusioned with childhood.
“Daughter of a Good Man” kicks off with a country steel guitar against a backdrop of layered electric and acoustic guitars (which are themselves heavily panned). For most of the verses, the guitar strumming is muted, acting more as texture for the punchy kick and snare drum. A bass is carefully placed in the back of the mix to give the song some weight. Something that does draw back the song just a little is the vocal delivery. Fison has a great voice, but her whispy vocals is overly layered to the point that the lyrics can become indistinguishable. This becomes especially difficult in the chorus when more instruments are added.
Once you are able to understand the lyrics, however, you find a somber tune about losing innocence and having to grow up. The first two lines, “I’ll tie a bow on it / let everybody know he only means well,” are all the setup listeners need to understand the dynamics between Fison and the unnamed subject of the song. The feeling of desperately trying to make a bad thing seem good seeps into the chorus with the gut-punching ending line: “Years I thought I was the daughter of a good man.”
This line is then twisted in the final chorus, claiming she clung to childhood because of the wish for a better father: “When I was a child and you were the reason.” The lyrics show Fison’s meticulous focus on expanding every nuance that a single line can offer, giving listeners a song rich with meaning and emotional weight.
“Daughter of a Good Man” gives listeners a great starting point for Fison’s music and personality, showcasing an artist whose focus is on a folk-pop style and introspective lyrics. It’ll be exciting to see where Fison moves next in her music.
