Q&A – Fable

In 2016, Fable’s brooding, cinematic Electronica, saw her lauded by critics from Rolling Stone, The Guardian and beyond.

But just as the buzz around her was building to a crescendo, she vanished,  having lost a close friend, with whom she had been romantically involved, to suicide.

This led to depression and the temporary loss of her creative spark.

Four years later, the Brighton-based singer-songwriter and ambassador for mental health charity My Black Dog,  has returned with a new single and upcoming album, spanning urgent post punk to introspective electronica.

How has the pandemic affected your mental health?

It’s affected it in ways that I’m still processing.

My already fairly pessimistic view on the world has deepened.

All kinds of philosophical questions related to our freedoms have been raised.

On a more day to day level, the impact on my finances and ability to work has been the biggest challenge.

I’ve been a gigging musician since I was 13 so I didn’t imagine a time where playing live music to an audience wasn’t viable.

It’s felt a bit like losing my identity.

Performing has always had a positive influence on my mental wellbeing.

So much of life right now has basically been reduced to staring at your phone.

I’m sure a lot of people feel this is the main contributor to their anxiety or sadness at the moment.

Despite lots of stress, last year I achieved more than I have in the past 4!

Getting close to finishing the album and I’m currently working 40 hours a week on a farm in Devon to repay my debts and get back up to Brighton.

Starting to see a light at the end of this really long tunnel.

Are you doing anything differently to look after your mental health during this period?

I’m doing little things moment to moment that focus my mind.

Stretching when I wake up and before I go to sleep.

Trying to be in touch with my body.

I don’t want to turn into a curved spined Gollum character, because I’ve been on social media for too long!

Doing a physical/manual job and eating well has really helped my mental health, although it’s been a struggle to fit my music work around it.

It’s just a case of trying to balance everything really.

What are you looking forward to doing once things improve?

Playing the new album to some real people. Seeing some great live music and dancing my little socks off.

Giving my granddad a hug and talking to strangers.

I’m hoping the world we re-enter into is a better one.

It worries me that the small businesses, music venues and pubs that I love will cease to exist anymore.

I’ve always wanted to do a European tour, the last holiday I had was 6 years ago. It’d be good to see some of the world before it’s gone.

What new TV, films, music or books have you discovered during lockdown that you’d recommend?

Such an amazing year for all of those things.

Music-wise a song that really stuck out for me is ’Not’ by Big Thief, released in 2019, but I only discovered it last year.

I would recommend watching Back to Life on Netflix, and the new Star Trek is AMAZING.

Also ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ had me in tears.

What advice would you give to 16 year old you?

Don’t think you have any time whatsoever, time accelerates.

Stop doing so many drugs man, you’ll be pickled at 20.

If you had to draw a pie chart for what keeps you mentally well – what would it look like?

30% Connection

10% Being alone

20% Dancing and making weird noises and meditation

20% Productive creativity

20% Good Food

What are you passionate about?

The healing power of music.

Plants and animals, and challenging assumed perspectives.

Tell us something not many people know about you.

When I was six, I did a wee in the garage and blamed it on the cat. Sorry Mum.

I also don’t like wine but I drink it anyway.