Rebekah Fitch: Lynsey de Paul Prize Runner Up 2018
Combining enigmatic visual artistry, thought-provoking lyric writing, and genuine wonder, Rebekah Fitch is a new artist that will spark intrigue. The power of music is in its ability to carry a message, and this is exactly what Rebekah does. In a rapidly transforming world, she challenges listeners to stop and think for themselves, finding where they stand before being swept away in the chaos.
After falling in love with experimental electronic pioneers such as Björk, Portishead, Pierre Schaeffer, Brian Eno and many more, Rebekah’s thirst for sonic experimenting began to bring a new dimension to her distinctive melodies. With a love for memorable melodies alongside a thirst for artistic and sonic experimentation, Rebekah is an artist always striving for something new, and not afraid to push the boundaries.
She has already gained commercial success with playlisting on Cool FM, U105 and Dublin’s FM104 (as their Select Irish Artist), as well as performing live sessions on BBC Radio Ulster, Metro Radio, SPIN1038 and more. Her dynamic multi-instrumental live shows, complete with mesmerizing live-looping, flute, and powerful vocals, have attracted serious attention and are now in constant demand. In 2019, she has already sold out Belfast’s The MAC Theatre, with a capacity of 350, her biggest headline show to date. With rave reviews, full band, string section, and light show, it set a daring new tone of where she is headed.
In 2018 she released her debut EP, Broken Mind, which was praised by Clash Magazine, Nialler9, The Thin Airand more. Following this release, she embarked on her first tour of the UK and Ireland, performed in the SSE Arena Belfast, and to a sold-out Koko in London.
Further critical acclaim came from being awarded the PRS Foundation’s Lynsey De Paul Prize, as well as being a nominee for the NI Music Prize Oh Yeah Contender Award (best emerging act). She has performed at festivals such as Stendhal (main stage) and Other Voices. Her recent release, Need To Feel, was picked up by tens of thousands on Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlist, made No. 6 in Chordblossom’s Top NI Releases and No. 88 in The Thin Air’s Top Irish Releases of 2018. The video for the track sparked a strong reaction of admiration online due to the bravely honest narrative surrounding mental health.