Jump to content

Stephen Fretwell

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stephen Fretwell
Fretwell in London
Fretwell in London
Background information
Born(1981-11-10)10 November 1981(age 42)
OriginScunthorpe,England
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Years active2000–present

Stephen Fretwell(born 10 November, 1981) is an English singer-songwriter. He has released four studio albums and is often compared with acts such asBob Dylan,Fred Neil,andTim Buckley.[1]Though receiving critical success, Fretwell has enjoyed little commercial success. His music has been described asfolk rock,a genre combining mainstreamrockandpopwithAmerican folk musicand poetic or introspective lyrics.

Biography

Early life

Fretwell was born inScunthorpe,England on 10 November 1981. He discovered the music ofBob Dylanat a young age in the form of theBob Dylan's Greatest Hitsrecord which he found in a bargain bin.[2]

Fretwell attended St. Augustine Webster Primary School inScunthorpeand St. Bede's Catholic School inAshbybefore furthering his study atJohn Leggott College.It was in his teenage years that he started his first band, named Label.[citation needed]

After moving toManchesterto attendSalford University(to study English, but dropping out within a few days),[3]he started to earn notices inNMEandQ.During this period songs such as "Emily" and "What's That You Say Little Girl?" were first written.

2002–2006:8 SongsandMagpie

Fretwell decided to stay inManchesterpermanently, later releasing8 Songswhich he released on Northern Ambition, a label owned by a friend.[1]He left university after one year, and started to perform at local acoustic nights in the Manchester area. The first of these was at The Roadhouse, a venue in the centre of Manchester's Northern Quarter, he soon found himself wrapped up in theManchestermusic scene of the early 2000s.[citation needed]

He later released theSomething's Got to GiveEPandThe Lines,bothself-financed.He then supportedTravis,Elbow,Athlete,KeaneandKT Tunstall.Signed toFiction Records,and while under management byColin Lester's and Ian McAndrew's Wildlife entertainment, his debut albumMagpiewas released in November 2004. It was recorded atAbbey Road Studios.[1]It peaked at No. 27 in theUK Albums Chartin August 2005.[4]The first single taken from the album was "Run" and was subsequently followed by "Emily" (2005) and theFour Letter WordsEP. "Emily" reached No. 42 in theUK Singles Chartin August 2005.[4]He had previously supportedOasisat Marlay Park inDublinon 16 July 2005.

He was described byQas "Scunthorpe's finest export... ever". Fretwell described this as flattering but not something he actively encouraged.[5]

His version ofJeff Buckley's "Morning Theft" appeared on the 2005 tribute albumDream Brother: The Songs of Tim and Jeff Buckley.

Fretwell posing outsideBattersea Power Station

His song Play featured in the 2005Dominic SavagefilmLove + Hate.

Cameron Croweis a fan of Fretwell's work, Crowe encouraged Fretwell to write songs for the filmElizabethtown(2005) and even sent Fretwell his own personal copy of theEasy Rider soundtrackas a gift.

His song "Bad Bad You, Bad Bad Me" was featured in an episode of theABCfamily dramaBrothers & Sisterscalled "The Missionary Imposition".

2007–2012:Man on the Roofand the Last Shadow Puppets

He released a single called "Scar" on 3 September 2007, which was included on his albumMan on the Roof.This album was recorded in New York City, released byFiction Recordson 10 September 2007, and featuredJames Iha.[1]In the UK Albums Chart the album would peak at number 44, becoming his second Top 75 hit.

His song "Run" is thetheme tuneto the situation comedyGavin & Staceyand his song "Darling Don't" appeared on the third series of the teen dramaSkins.

Fretwell also played bass on tour with theLast Shadow Puppets,the side project ofArctic Monkeys'Alex Turneranother fan of Fretwell.

His song "Play" from the albumMagpiewas featured in the 2009 movieThe Joneses.

On 4 April 2011 Manchester Aid to Kosovo released a charity album,Ten,to which Fretwell contributed the track "Tamarind".[6][7]Also contributing to the album were fellow Manchester artistsElbow,Badly Drawn Boy,andCherry Ghost.

In 2012, he quit music to focus on his family.[8]

2021–present: Returning to music and Busy Guy

Fretwell in a press photo forBad Guy

On 1 March 2021, Fretwell released the single "Oval" after a 13-year hiatus[9]and announced the albumBusy Guy,released on cult indie record label[10][11]Speedy Wundergroundowned by friendDan Carey,who also produced the record.[12][13]The album released to critical acclaim, withFar Outpraising the "cycle of colour songs that fill up the second half of the LP" andBeats Per Minutecalling it a "delicately sincere and softly stark album".[14]

Discography

Fretwell smiling.

Albums

EPs

  • Something's Got to Give
  • The Lines
  • Four Letter Words(2007)

Singles

  • "Run" (2005) UK No. 79
  • "Emily" (2005) UK No. 42[17]
  • "New York" (2005)
  • "Scar" (2007)
  • "Oval" (2021)[18]
  • "Embankment" (2021)
  • "The Long Water" (2021)

Other contributions

References

  1. ^abcdMonger, James Christopher."Stephen Fretwell".Allmusic.Retrieved7 May2010.
  2. ^White, Niamh (2 March 2021)."#FoundFretwell: Stephen Fretwell Returns with 'Oval'".[PIAS].Retrieved11 July2024.
  3. ^"Tireless route to the top for Fretwell".2 September 2005.
  4. ^abRoberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 215.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^Wright, Jade (1 July 2011)."Stephen Fretwell: Nowhere parties like Liverpool".Liverpool Echo.Retrieved6 December2020.
  6. ^Cragg, Michael (4 April 2011)."New music exclusive: Badly Drawn Boy – Is There Nothing We Could Do?".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved2 November2023.
  7. ^Various - Ten - Manchester Music For Kosovo,4 April 2011,retrieved2 November2023
  8. ^White, Niamh (2 March 2021)."#FoundFretwell: Stephen Fretwell Returns with 'Oval'".[PIAS].Retrieved11 July2024.
  9. ^Krol, Charlotte (1 March 2021)."Stephen Fretwell returns after 13 years with new song 'Oval' and announces new album this summer".NME.Retrieved1 March2021.
  10. ^"Opinion: Speedy Wunderground: The indie label with a cult-like status".21 October 2020.
  11. ^"Speedy Wunderground at three – the cult indie label looks back on their best bits so far".NME.12 June 2018.
  12. ^"About Speedy Wunderground".
  13. ^"Singer-songwriter Stephen Fretwell returns: 'I took a leap that cost me my marriage'".The Guardian.8 July 2021.
  14. ^Finlayson, Ray (16 July 2021)."Album Review: Stephen Fretwell – Busy Guy".Beats Per Minute.Retrieved10 July2024.
  15. ^"#FoundFretwell: Stephen Fretwell Returns with 'Oval'".2 March 2021.
  16. ^Reilly, Nick (7 April 2021)."Stephen Fretwell announces anticipated third albumBusy Guy".NME.Retrieved7 April2021.
  17. ^"STEPHEN FRETWELL | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company".OfficialCharts.
  18. ^"Stephen Fretwell Returns with 'Oval'".March 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stephen_Fretwell&oldid=1245732262"