Reb Fountain
Album: Reb Fountain
Release Date: 2020
New Zealand
Award-winning songwriter Reb Fountain was born in San Francisco and immigrated with her family from North America to Lyttelton — the quiet port town out of Christchurch that’s been fundamental to South Island’s folk scene, raising artists like Delaney Davidson, Marlon Williams, and Hannah Harding (Aldous Harding). Reb’s new album was recorded at Neil Finn’s own Roundhead Studios. Reb and Neil became friends after Reb was invited to perform, record, and tour with Neil for his ‘Out of Silence’ album release. Simon Gooding – a head engineer at Roundhead – is a close friend of Reb’s and they have worked extensively together on her various musical projects. He took the helm for their 3-week stint of recording and mixing alongside supporting Dave Khan with the production of the album. [Official website]
Reb Fountain talks about Faster
I made the music video for Faster on an extinct volcano that sits in the middle of Auckland Harbour. ‘Rangitoto’ is the 600 year-old remnants of an eruption and is now a predator free sanctuary with native walks, shipwrecks and the most beautiful pohutakawa bloom.
Equipped with super 8 camera and a bunch of film we headed out via the ferry on a beautiful summers day, walked up the volcano and made a day of it. Lola Fountain-Best directed the video and intercut the video montage with old footage of my 17-year old mom in full football regalia after her high school game.
I recorded Fasterat Roundhead – Neil Finn’s (Crowded House, Split Enz) studio here in Aotearoa. I had recorded and toured with Neil for his new album ‘Out of Silence’ and by the time I got to making my new album his studio felt very much like home. It was touch and go for awhile – having tried two different drummers and drum tracks, something on Faster just wasn’t quite right and on the second to last day of recording I was fighting for the song to make it. I removed drums completely, recorded a lower guitar part to balance it off and Faster was reborn. It’s one of my favourite tracks on the record.
Faster is in many ways the most feminist song I’ve ever written. I wanted to speak my unspoken … share my own story … one that is part of the greater story of our human experience. Faster became a bridge for me; a connection between who I was and whom I’d become, both musically and personally … I’m still becoming by the way … it doesn’t stop.
I want to go faster
I can’t find the time
You told me my flower
Would sour the wine
Drank from my chalice
Took what was mine
If she stared hard she could see a lot of things
The first verse is very much a reflection upon myself, on us all. Running in place, always late, never arriving. The little girl whose milk was soured, empties herself to try and get clean, then spends her life coming to terms with her fullness.
You were famous
I was young
Roosting birds fall
Drunk on the plum
Man killed the bird
The bird killed the song
Sorrows come in battalions all wounds to be sung
The in-between … the starstruck mistake, the gift you offer that he takes for himself. How many times did you take what was precious and show me it was worthless. How often did I trade my voice for the grandeur of silence . Haven’t we all done it all. Don’t we need to say it aloud.
Sweet oils bid her welcome
Flowers full of perfume
Mary and Isis
Embrace with the bloom
I can’t go on
Telling you lies
Some men plus roses some take to the sky
A memory and a hope – together we meet where we are all safe; where our flowers bloom. Free from objectification, from narratives that bind our feet, our wombs, our hearts and our eyes. I sing that verse and imagine I am free; completely supported and never afraid – as a woman its a hard dream to conjure but one we must envisage, aspire to and share.
But I see many feathers just a stone’s throw
Those creatures out there who remind me I am not alone – I see you and want you to know you are not alone … we’re in this together.
You can’t catch a comet she’s moving too slow
We dare to be ourselves and we can redefine speed altogether.
Lyrics: Faster
[Verse 1]
I want to go faster, can’t find the time
You told me my flower would sour the wine
Drank from my chalice, and took what was mine
If she stared hard, she could see a lot of things
[Verse 2]
You were famous, I was young
Roosting birds fall, drunk on the plum
Man killed the bird with the bird, killed the song
Sorrows come in battalions, all wounds to be sung
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3]
Sweet oils bid her welcome, flowers full of perfume
Mary and Isis embrace with the bloom
I can’t go on telling you lies
Some men pluck roses, some take to the sky
But I see many feathers, just a stone’s throw
You can’t catch a comet, she’s moving too slow
Tracklist: Reb Fountain
1. “Hawks & Doves”
2. “Samson”
3. “It’s A Bird (It’s A Plane)”
4. “When Gods Lie”
5. “Faster”
6. “Don’t You Know Who I Am“
7. “Strangers“
8. “Quiet Like The Rain“
9. “The Last Word”
10. “Lighthouse”
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Photo: Frances Carter 
Photo: Steve Wheadon 
Photo: Eddie Rice 
Photo: Frances Carter
