MJ Fretwell – Tainted: Sussex-based bedroom-pop singer-songwriter MJ Fretwell releases her dreamy debut single ‘Tainted’.
Written by MJ and produced by Luke Ashby (Jamie Cooke, ilSelena, Clem), the track gives a first introduction to the elegant soundscaping and honest songwriting that stylises Fretwell’s sound. Building a wash of choral vocal harmonies and fingerpicked acoustic guitar, before growing into a chorus of subtle piano and strings under the sorrowful lead vocals and heartfelt lyricism.
As the track grows into the second verse, a tight beat and warming bass enters, pulling the track forward with a sense of purpose before reaching a stripped and melancholic finale.
“Tainted is a love song about being stuck in a toxic cycle, unable to shake feelings for someone that you know doesn’t treat you well. It felt important to me to encapsulate this feeling in a song.” said MJ. “I know more than one person choosing a relationship where they are suffering more than being happy, my past self-included”.
Born in rural West Sussex and raised on a musical diet of pop, rock, and RnB, MJ has been songwriting and performing since the age of 8. Growing up listening to artists like Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Bee Gees, and later Pixie Lott, Ariana Grande, and more, pop music was always at the epicentre of her musical world.
MJ’s songwriting has been compared to that of Lola Young, Olivia Rodrigo, and Clairo. “I have always found it easier to write love songs, which makes sense as some of my favourite songs are written from strong emotions and experiences. Songwriting has always felt like journaling to me, I want it to tell a story and hopefully they can help people feel seen.”
Pursuing her musical dream, MJ enrolled at BIMM university, where her experience was unfortunately stunted by Covid-19 pandemic, and never really regained the pace it had before the world was confined to lockdown. In a time swamped with endless negatives, the spare hours allowed room for the development of MJ’s artistry, soon leading to the creation of ‘Tainted’, written and produced in an attic- studio conversion in North-West London. 4 years in the making, MJ is ready to debut her sound.
MJ Fretwell – Tainted
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