Singing sensation Faye Fantarrow who is currently undergoing experimental treatment for a brain tumour has brought forward the release of her new song, as she says "life very rarely goes to plan".
The 20-year-old singer, described by her mentor Dave Stewart as a 'rare jewel', decided to announce her new lead track AWOL earlier than planned as her health remains so uncertain. It was released on Friday on Bay Street Records.
Its the label of Eurythmics' star Stewart - also from Sunderland - who signed her in 2021 and refers to her as a "rare jewel from the North East". AWOL's release coincides with World Cancer Day, this Saturday, February 4.
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Following her shock diagnosis of an extremely rare and life-threatening Glioma brain tumour, Faye - who won the 2021 Alan Hull Award for songwriting - set up a Justgiving page to help pay for expensive but groundbreaking and highly-promising treatment in California. It raised more than £235,000 and she recently visited the US for the first of several planned trips for the trial.
With health issues prompting her to release first single AWOL early - with the EP to follow on February 10 - she said: “Life very rarely goes to plan but the plan was always to write, sing and perform and I’ve been lucky to be able to do that.
"AWOL is the title track from my forthcoming EP which I am so proud of and the fantastic opportunity I was given to work and record with Dave Stewart will be forever special to me."
Musician Stewart's long-time work as a record producer has seen him support several local acts, including The Lake Poets, aka Martin Longstaff, and it was soon after discovering Faye that her shock diagnosis came. She was recording her debut album with him at the time the tumour was found.
Having already battled and overcome leukaemia twice since she was eight years old, it was devastating news, coming just at a time her career was starting to take off. But she is continuing to make a name for herself and last year was tipped on the BBC Introducing Ones To Watch list.
Stewart said: “Faye Fantarrow is a rare jewel from the North East. She’s from Sunderland, a city with a big heart, and there’s no bigger heart than Faye's - as a songwriter and performer she tells stories to make you explode with joy or weep along with her at the trichotomy of the human spirit."
Her new song AWOL is descibed as capturing her signature sound, summed up as modern with vintage undertones. Fans can expect her trademark soulful alternative tones, coupled with strummed guitar and a thumping rhythm, and the new song also showcases her eclectic folk and rhythm and blues influences.
Stewart, who with Eurythmics co-star Annie Lennox was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, added: "Faye is one of a kind and I love her dearly as a sister, a daughter, and a great music partner. We had an unbelievable time together while recording this EP."
He says they were both "in search of musical freedoms" and "two souls laughing constantly at the joy of creativity", adding: "I love Faye Fantarrow.”
The star maintains close ties with the city, despite now dividing his time between homes in Nashville and the Caribbean. His recent album Ebony McQueen was inspired by his memories of growing up here and one of his recent visits back was to celebrate his 70th birthday with a concert at The Fire Station in the city.
Listen to Faye's new song AWOL here.
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