It’s been a couple of weeks now since Sunshine Coast-based singer-songwriter Fieu unveiled her stunning new single Cheaper Than A Drug. For that entire time, we’ve had it spinning on repeat.
So fresh off the track’s release, we asked the artist herself for an insight into the process that shaped Cheaper Than A Drug.
Fresh off the release of her latest single Cheaper Than A Drug, Sunshine Coast singer-songwriter Fieu talks us through the process that shaped the track.
It’s been a couple of years since I released new music into the world and I was actually a bit hesitant about putting this one out. It’s deeply emotive and I had so many reservations about how it would be perceived, but in the past week since Happy premiered the music video I have received countless messages of love and hope. It’s been so genuinely touching to know my song has connected with people on such a level.
I had a complete revelation moment with Cheaper Than A Drug, where I sat down at the piano and this song literally formed as I opened my mouth and hit the keys. I was alone, it was late at night. It had been a particularly hard time and I had a number of very close friends going through difficult experiences also, so I think there was this subconscious underlay that was awaiting its escape. For me, songwriting is a liberating and therapeutic, like diary entries. I write a lot of deep songs that will never see the light of day but this one somehow made it.
I definitely gain a lot of inspiration from listening to sad music. My favourite sad songs would have to include Radiohead’s High and Dry, I’ll Forget You by Lior (feat Sia) and You
Could Be Happy by Snow Patrol – oh my that one gets me every time!
Although Cheaper Than A Drug is a very deep and emotional song, I also wanted to paint an image of hope and light at the end of the tunnel. To inspire to just keep pushing through. You just never know when you need to hear those words.
Fieu will be playing some intimate stripped back shows in Brisbane through March.
3/3 – Junk Bar Brisbane (supporting Jamie-Lee Dimes)
9/3 – Studio 188 Ipswich
27/3 – Black Bear Lodge Brisbane (Acoustic #15)
More info here.
