Sami Fitz’s debut album ‘Some Hills Were Once Islands’ is a profoundly introspective odyssey that explores the intersection of loss, healing, and renewal. Drawing on her British-American heritage and her grounding in experimental pop and ambient music, the London-based artist crafts a sonic tapestry that is as hauntingly beautiful as it is deeply personal.
This record, born during a period of introspection in 2020, channels the raw emotions of personal grief and collective uncertainty. Fitz transforms her experiences of profound loss into an evocative narrative, blending ambient soundscapes, folk-inspired melodies, and experimental layers. The result is an album that feels like both a meditation and a catharsis, inviting listeners to confront their own feelings of love, hope, and transformation.
The production, a collaborative effort with Albert Finnbogason, Leo Abrahams, Alex Dopierala, and Shahzad Ismaily, echoes the spontaneity and imperfection of life itself. Recorded across London, Reykjavik, and New York, the project thrives on the warmth of organic sound- piano creaks, atmospheric room, and the breath between notes. These subtleties imbue the album with an almost tangible intimacy, offering a raw alternative to today’s polished digital aesthetic.
Inspired by the natural landscapes of Wales and Iceland, the tracks carry an earthy, expansive quality, mirroring the grandeur and solitude of their surroundings. Fitz’s ethereal vocals act as the connective tissue, threading together the album’s narrative with an emotional weight that lingers.
Fitz’s background in classical training, coupled with her immersion in New York’s experimental scene, informs her distinctive sound. Her influences- ranging from Laurie Anderson to Björk- are evident in the album’s genre-defying approach, blending meditative tones with poignant folk storytelling.
‘Some Hills Were Once Islands’ is an album that gives space to pause, reflect, and find beauty in the quiet moments. Sami Fitz has delivered a debut that is as intricate and unguarded, cementing her as a rising force in the world of experimental music. This is an album for those seeking solace in sound and meaning in the spaces between.
