‘Victim’ is the new single from singer-songwriter Fiona-Lee. It’s her first material since debut EP Nothing Compares to Nineteen back in March, and much like it, showcases her ability to make you stop doing what you’re doing, and listen.
“‘Victim’ was written during the fallout of an intense and complicated friendship. They were quite narcissistic and it created a difficult dynamic between us that no-one else really understood. I felt a lot of guilt and shame for how I’d been feeling towards them, and had to try really hard to put my own feelings aside to understand what went wrong. I think this song was me still reassuring myself that it wasn’t my all fault and that I wasn’t a terrible person.”
With such a heavy topic, Fiona-Lee keeps the instrumental quite minimal. Acoustic strings concoct an emotive sound that rings through the single, and the softest of strings appear beneath them to amplify the severity of the words. Culminating in a harmonica solo that sweeps through the layers with ease. It makes for an intimate setting, one that Fiona uses to deliver a set of lyrics that are full of impact.
References to a tumultuous relationship with her Dad (You held me close when I was scared/After screaming at my dad/He couldn’t admit how bad the bad man was) intertwine with moments the person in question did in response, alongside Fiona’s own actions in creating this twisted dynamic (It’s true/I spoke badly of you/To our friends/Almost everybody I met). It shows that there’s a lot to unpack, but it’s delivered in a way that brings you up to speed with it. The storytelling lines up with the emotions so well. Creating a narrative that’s unlike anything we’ve heard before.
The level of reflection is unbelievable, and as the picture is painted, Fiona smashes it with “But I know that you fucked him just because you could” – a revelation said with such conviction that it seemingly made the world pause for a second.
‘Victim’ is a wonderfully fragile but defiant song. Its simplicity in its sound allows the lyrics to become the driving force, and Fiona’s performance in delivering those lines is superb. Having heard it at Lazydays Festival, it maintains the same level of shock and impact here than it did live. It’s so raw and honest that it almost feels rude to hear it, but I’m glad it exists. What a song.