Dee Fitz
Dee Fitz is a singer songwriter from Galway, based in Dublin. Although she has played the piano since childhood, she picked up a pen and paper to write her first song during the pandemic. What began as a hobby, designed to pass the long days of covid, soon grew into a passion and songwriting became the creative outlet that she had been missing. Dee found herself actively seeking out new ways of expressing herself, so in 2020, when she was given the gift of an interface and recording mic, by her, then boyfriend, now husband. She credits it with being the best gift she has ever received and has put to good use since. Making demos, creating melodies and writing lyrics is now part of her day to day and gives her a means of expressing herself and her creativity whilst showcasing it to others.
She finds inspiration from the lyricism and storytelling of artists like Holly Humberstone and Taylor Swift, whilst enjoying the electronic soundscapes of Roisin Murphy and Maribou State (to name but a few). A vast range of genres depending on the day! Her music has been changing and evolving since the onset and her upcoming EP finds her sitting at an electro pop sound with meaningful and thought provoking lyrics. Generally, when writing Dee finds herself gravitating towards the acoustic guitar as her instrument of choice:
“There’s something about the ease of it, picking it up, putting it down and coming back to it when you are ready, which makes the songwriting process really enjoyable. The chords and the melody always come to me first, then the words will follow. It always seems to be that way for me. I let the tone decide what I’m going to write about”.
“I have learned that, some days, words and melodies flow easily without thought, other days it’s more of a struggle, and some days, nothing at all shows up. But, that moment when a good idea does come is pure bliss. Sitting with it, allowing it to move and to flow, trying not to control it and observing all of the endless places that it could go. It’s a nice feeling to be proud of something you have thought into existence and it’s a really nice feeling to know that others are connecting with it too.”
What’s next for Dee?
Navigating the live music sector is a top priority for her. It will be a new experience and a new set of challenges, but something that will be welcomed with open arms.
“These songs were written in solidarity so I’m looking forward to performing them to people who are there to listen. In the coming year I would love to do some support slots for more established artists that I admire and I’m hoping to play a couple of festival slots next summer too.”
Taylor Swift - August
To me, Taylor’s lyricism is pure genius, so relatable, so clever and this song showcases her skills perfectly. The instrumentation is also beautiful, it’s delicate yet intricate and builds at just the right moments, which makes for a special listen. The bridge of this song in particular is what makes it a favourite of mine. Impossible not to sing along!
Roisin Murphy - Overpowered
A certified banger. This song gets better the louder it’s played. Roisin’s seductive vocals, brilliant lyrics and spacey synths all make this a winning combination. Of all her tracks, this is my favourite.
The Streets - Blinded by the Lights
This track is hypnotic and the lyricism is incredible. Tiny details depicted throughout the song make it feel like an immersive experience, you really feel like you’re in the room with him, experiencing the same things. Then there is the female vocal hook, which is simple and paired back, making it the perfect addition, as it really allows the verses and the words to shine.
Portishead - Glory Box
Start to finish, it’s just so smooth!! In my option, it’s a song that transcends genres and tastes. Find me a person who doesn’t love this song!! The seductive vocals of Beth Gibbons over that hypnotic violin. A masterpiece.
Damien Dempsey - Sing all our cares away
The passion that Damo brings to performance is unmatched, so listening to this live is a memorable experience. The personal accounts in the verses are depicted so perfectly that I get a little choked up each time I listen. It’s a beautiful song, so raw and full of emotion. Every line is perfection.
Maribou State, Holly Walker - Steal
I love the atmospheric landscape that Maribou State creates. You enter their world when you listen to their music. Pair that with Holly Walker’s beautiful voice and it makes for the perfect match. The context of this song, making difficult decisions and living with the consequences is a universal theme, yet the portrayal of it feels really unique. This is a go to driving song of mine.
Lana del Rey - Born to Die
I’m a big fan of Lana, her haunting vocal is unique and memorable. You immediately know a Lana del Rey song when you hear one. I love that she doesn’t stick to songwriting structures or barriers, she might write a 10 minute song with no chorus and yet her vocals draw you in and keep you listening. ‘Born to Die’ made a lasting impression on me, it was the first time I’d seen a whole aesthetic world be built around the music.
Raye - Escapism
This is probably the newest entry to the list. I only became familiar with Raye’s music last year after her mega-hit ‘Escapism’ went viral (and for good reason). In my opinion, her ‘My 21st Century Blues’ album is a complete masterpiece. Vocally she is spectacular and with her songwriting ability, she can honestly do no wrong! I am itching to see her live. Escapism is a 10/10 song for me. Every word and every line is so considered. Genius.
Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under
This song performed live is next level! It’s one of those songs where everyone is singing so loud you can’t hear the actual artist. It is nostalgic and relatable, in a fun way. I love it! Favourite lyric - ‘I was far too scared to hit him, but I’d hit him in a heart beat now’.
Dermot Kennedy - An evening I will not forget
Dermot Kennedy has got a beautiful way with words and this song is a great example of that. It’s emotive, from start to finish it grows, sucking you in. He doesn’t always follow the traditional structure of songwriting and my favourite tracks of his are the ones where he doesn’t play by the rules. I love the line, ‘Summertime with the bikes out, pushing our luck getting wiped out, days with nothing but laughing loud’. Such a fun, visual lyric.
