Fink (music)
Encyclopedia
Fink, AKA Fin Greenall, is an English
singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and DJ from St. Ives
, currently based in Brighton
. Since 2006, the name Fink has also referred to the recording and touring trio fronted by Greenall himself, completed by Guy Whittaker (bass) and Tim Thornton
(drums). Fink is signed to independent record label Ninja Tune Records
. Greenall is also a sought-after songwriter for other artists, having most recently written for John Legend
, and Ximena Sarinana
.
and grew up in Bristol
. Fink's household was a musical one as his father was a folk musician and his mother was a music manager. As a teen and during his career's early years, Fink listened to house, acid jazz
, Orbital and The Orb, which he described as a generational thing. He earned his degree in History and English in Leeds
and signed with Kikin' Records, as EVA, shortly thereafter. Fink's musical background began with remixes
, DJ sets and electronic hip hop
. He also worked as a club promoter in London
.
Fink's recording career began with Ninja Tune
's release of his debut album Fresh Produce in 2000, a well received chill-out set that fitted neatly with the output of the label. However, it was his second release, 2006's Biscuits For Breakfast, that defined his style and began to bring his name to a wider audience. He became the label's first traditional singer/songwriter.
Built around his bluesy voice, finger-picking acoustic guitar and the stripped-back live rhythm section, Biscuits boasted a fledgling pop sensibility while retaining the signature Ninja Tune
vibe - a fact not lost on a swelling crowd of industry luminaries, notably Zero 7
, who invited Fink to support them on their UK tour, and Nitin Sawhney
, with whom Fink guested at the 2006 Electric Proms. A follow-up, entitled Distance And Time
, was released through Ninja Tune
on 8 October 2007, and featured the production work of Andy Barlow, formerly of Lamb
. 2009's Sort of Revolution
included songwriting collaborations with Richard Simmons and John Legend
.
In addition to being a recording artist, Fink has produced major label artists including Martin Taylor (guitarist), Amy Winehouse
, Michael Pitt
and Robert Belfour
.
In 2006 Greenall, together with musicians Tim Bidwell (Hardkandy) and Elliot Richards (Heels Catch Fire) founded Folklaw Records - an independent record label based in Brighton releasing acoustic and underground artists. The first signing, Nikolas Barrell, was launched in March 2007 with the album The Gin Club.
Fink appeared on Bonobo's 2006 album Days To Come for the track "If You Stayed Over", which he has consequently covered several times live with the band.
Fink appeared on Professor Green
's 2010 album Alive Till I'm Dead
for the track "Closing The Door".
Rapper Professor Green
announced on his Facebook page that he was recording a song with Fink on January 7, 2011 on a track for Professor Green
's second album, due for a 2011 release.
Although Greenall has now taken a more acoustic singer-songwriter approach to his music, he also continues to DJ under the name Sideshow on Will Saul's Simple Records, with seven releases to his name. An album, Admit One, was released in January 2009.
A fifth full-length Fink album, Perfect Darkness
, was released through Ninja Tune on June 13, 2011.
Fink's music has been used in many films and television shows, including:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and DJ from St. Ives
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
, currently based in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. Since 2006, the name Fink has also referred to the recording and touring trio fronted by Greenall himself, completed by Guy Whittaker (bass) and Tim Thornton
Tim Thornton
Tim Thornton is an English drummer and novelist.Thornton was born in Darlington, had a boarding-school education, and gained a degree in drama. He is currently playing drums for the indie rock act Fink. His debut novel The Alternative Hero has been described by The Guardian as "the indiest book...
(drums). Fink is signed to independent record label Ninja Tune Records
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is a London-based independent record label started by DJs Matt Black and Jonathan More, better known as Coldcut and managed by Peter Quicke. The label has a strong leaning towards mostly Electronic Music...
. Greenall is also a sought-after songwriter for other artists, having most recently written for John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
, and Ximena Sarinana
Ximena Sariñana
Ximena Sariñana Rivera is a Mexican singer-songwriter and actress. Sariñana's musical career was launched in 2008 with the release of her first studio album Mediocre, an adult contemporary pop-rock/vocal jazz album that has been critically acclaimed and nominated for various awards, including two...
.
History
Fink was born 1972 in CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and grew up in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. Fink's household was a musical one as his father was a folk musician and his mother was a music manager. As a teen and during his career's early years, Fink listened to house, acid jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
, Orbital and The Orb, which he described as a generational thing. He earned his degree in History and English in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and signed with Kikin' Records, as EVA, shortly thereafter. Fink's musical background began with remixes
RemixeS
RemixeS is a compilation of French singer Mylène Farmer's singles by various famous DJ's, including JXL, Felix Da Housecat and Paul Oakenfold.-Brackground, writing and release:...
, DJ sets and electronic hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
. He also worked as a club promoter in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Fink's recording career began with Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is a London-based independent record label started by DJs Matt Black and Jonathan More, better known as Coldcut and managed by Peter Quicke. The label has a strong leaning towards mostly Electronic Music...
's release of his debut album Fresh Produce in 2000, a well received chill-out set that fitted neatly with the output of the label. However, it was his second release, 2006's Biscuits For Breakfast, that defined his style and began to bring his name to a wider audience. He became the label's first traditional singer/songwriter.
Built around his bluesy voice, finger-picking acoustic guitar and the stripped-back live rhythm section, Biscuits boasted a fledgling pop sensibility while retaining the signature Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is a London-based independent record label started by DJs Matt Black and Jonathan More, better known as Coldcut and managed by Peter Quicke. The label has a strong leaning towards mostly Electronic Music...
vibe - a fact not lost on a swelling crowd of industry luminaries, notably Zero 7
Zero 7
Zero 7 is a British musical duo consisting of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. The group members began their musical careers as studio engineers and in 1997 formed the group Zero 7. Their debut album, Simple Things was released in 2001 and received critical acclaim...
, who invited Fink to support them on their UK tour, and Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...
, with whom Fink guested at the 2006 Electric Proms. A follow-up, entitled Distance And Time
Distance and Time
Distance and Time is the second album of original studio material from British musician Fink. It was released on 1 October 2007 on the Ninja Tune independent record label....
, was released through Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is a London-based independent record label started by DJs Matt Black and Jonathan More, better known as Coldcut and managed by Peter Quicke. The label has a strong leaning towards mostly Electronic Music...
on 8 October 2007, and featured the production work of Andy Barlow, formerly of Lamb
Lamb (band)
Lamb is an electronic music duo from Manchester, England, whose music is influenced by trip hop and drum and bass. The duo consists of producer Andy Barlow, who also produces under the pseudonym Hipoptimist, and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes...
. 2009's Sort of Revolution
Sort of Revolution
Sort of Revolution is the third album of original studio material from British musician Fink, also known as Fin Greenall. It was released on 25 May 2009, on the Ninja Tune independent record label.-Track listing:# "Sort Of Revolution" - 6:33...
included songwriting collaborations with Richard Simmons and John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
.
In addition to being a recording artist, Fink has produced major label artists including Martin Taylor (guitarist), Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, Michael Pitt
Michael Pitt
Michael Carmen Pitt is an American actor and musician. Pitt is best known in film for his role in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers, and in television for his portrayal of James "Jimmy" Darmody in the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire.-Personal life:Pitt was born in West Orange, New Jersey, the...
and Robert Belfour
Robert Belfour
Robert "Wolfman" Belfour is an American blues musician. His father, Grant Belfour taught him the guitar at a young age and he continued his tutelage in the blues from musicians Otha Turner, R. L. Burnside, and Junior Kimbrough. Kimbrough, in particular, had a profound influence on him...
.
In 2006 Greenall, together with musicians Tim Bidwell (Hardkandy) and Elliot Richards (Heels Catch Fire) founded Folklaw Records - an independent record label based in Brighton releasing acoustic and underground artists. The first signing, Nikolas Barrell, was launched in March 2007 with the album The Gin Club.
Fink appeared on Bonobo's 2006 album Days To Come for the track "If You Stayed Over", which he has consequently covered several times live with the band.
Fink appeared on Professor Green
Professor Green
Professor Green , better known by his stage name Professor Green, is a British rapper. He was signed to The Beats, a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem, until 12 February 2008, as the label went under. He won the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008...
's 2010 album Alive Till I'm Dead
Alive Till I'm Dead
Alive Till I'm Dead has received positive reviews from music critics, with BBC Music stating that the album is "As fizzy, dramatic and inventive as pop should be without losing his initial grime edge". Paul MacInnes of The Guardian gave a similar review, agreeging that it was "Pop music, yes, but...
for the track "Closing The Door".
Rapper Professor Green
Professor Green
Professor Green , better known by his stage name Professor Green, is a British rapper. He was signed to The Beats, a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem, until 12 February 2008, as the label went under. He won the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008...
announced on his Facebook page that he was recording a song with Fink on January 7, 2011 on a track for Professor Green
Professor Green
Professor Green , better known by his stage name Professor Green, is a British rapper. He was signed to The Beats, a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem, until 12 February 2008, as the label went under. He won the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008...
's second album, due for a 2011 release.
Although Greenall has now taken a more acoustic singer-songwriter approach to his music, he also continues to DJ under the name Sideshow on Will Saul's Simple Records, with seven releases to his name. An album, Admit One, was released in January 2009.
A fifth full-length Fink album, Perfect Darkness
Perfect Darkness
-Personnel:*Fin Greenall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, FX*Guy Whittaker – Electric & Acoustic Bass*Tim Thornton – Drums, Electric & Acoustic Guitars*Matt Kelly - Strings – "Perfect Darkness"*Michael Flury – Trombone – "Save It For Somebody Else"...
, was released through Ninja Tune on June 13, 2011.
Discography
- Fresh Produce (2000)
- Biscuits for BreakfastBiscuits for BreakfastBiscuits for Breakfast is the second album from British musician Fin Greenall and, collectively as Fink, the band's debut album. It was released on the 24th of April 2006.-Background:...
(2006) - Distance And TimeDistance and TimeDistance and Time is the second album of original studio material from British musician Fink. It was released on 1 October 2007 on the Ninja Tune independent record label....
(2007) - Sort of RevolutionSort of RevolutionSort of Revolution is the third album of original studio material from British musician Fink, also known as Fin Greenall. It was released on 25 May 2009, on the Ninja Tune independent record label.-Track listing:# "Sort Of Revolution" - 6:33...
(2009) – #60 (NL) - Perfect DarknessPerfect Darkness-Personnel:*Fin Greenall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, FX*Guy Whittaker – Electric & Acoustic Bass*Tim Thornton – Drums, Electric & Acoustic Guitars*Matt Kelly - Strings – "Perfect Darkness"*Michael Flury – Trombone – "Save It For Somebody Else"...
(2011) – #32 (NL)
Fink's music has been used in many films and television shows, including:
- "Pretty Little Thing" (from Biscuits for BreakfastBiscuits for BreakfastBiscuits for Breakfast is the second album from British musician Fin Greenall and, collectively as Fink, the band's debut album. It was released on the 24th of April 2006.-Background:...
), used in the first season of GreekGreek (TV series)Greek is an American comedy-drama television series, which follows students of the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University , located in Ohio, who participate in the school's Greek system...
.
- "This is the Thing" (from Distance And TimeDistance and TimeDistance and Time is the second album of original studio material from British musician Fink. It was released on 1 October 2007 on the Ninja Tune independent record label....
), used in one of MastercardMasterCardMastercard Incorporated or MasterCard Worldwide is an American multinational financial services corporation with its headquarters in the MasterCard International Global Headquarters, Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States...
's Priceless series of television adverts. The song was additionally featured at the conclusion of an episode of Lie To MeLie to MeLie to Me is a 2009-2011 American television series.Lie to Me may also refer to:* Lie to Me , a South Korean drama series* "Lie to Me" , an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
("Every Life is Priceless"), in Season 3 of the television series Friday Night LightsFriday Night Lights (TV series)Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
, and in the 2010 movie Dear John. It also features on the Friday Night Lights Vol. 2Friday Night Lights Vol. 2 (television soundtrack)Friday Night Lights Vol. 2 is the second soundtrack for the NBC television series Friday Night Lights, a program inspired by the film of the same name. It was released by Arrival Records/Scion Music Group and is distributed by Fontana Distribution....
soundtrack album. It was also used in an episode of Secret Diary of a Call GirlSecret Diary of a Call GirlSecret Diary of a Call Girl is a British television drama broadcast on ITV2 from 2007-2011 based on the blog and books by the pseudonymous "Belle de Jour," starring Billie Piper as Belle, a high-class London call girl. The series was written by Lucy Prebble, who is also known as the author of The...
.
- "See It All" (from Sort of RevolutionSort of RevolutionSort of Revolution is the third album of original studio material from British musician Fink, also known as Fin Greenall. It was released on 25 May 2009, on the Ninja Tune independent record label.-Track listing:# "Sort Of Revolution" - 6:33...
), used in the series CSI: NYCSI: NYCSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
.
- "Sort of Revolution", used in the 2010 movie 4.3.2.14.3.2.14.3.2.1 is a British crime thriller film directed by Noel Clarke and Mark Davis, released 2 June 2010. It stars, Emma Roberts, Ophelia Lovibond, Shanika-Warren Markland, Tamsin Egerton, Adam Deacon, Ashley 'Bashy' Thomas and Noel Clarke.-Plot:...
. This song was also featured at the conclusion of the Stargate UniverseStargate UniverseStargate Universe is a Canadian-American military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. It follows the adventures of a present-day, multinational exploration team traveling on the Ancient spaceship Destiny many billions of light years distant from the Milky Way...
Season 2 episode Awakening, and also in the seventh episode "Perfect Record" in the fifth season of Friday Night LightsFriday Night Lights (TV series)Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
.
- "If I Had a Million" (from Sort of RevolutionSort of RevolutionSort of Revolution is the third album of original studio material from British musician Fink, also known as Fin Greenall. It was released on 25 May 2009, on the Ninja Tune independent record label.-Track listing:# "Sort Of Revolution" - 6:33...
), aired on episode 9 of TNT's Franklin & BashFranklin & BashFranklin & Bash is an American drama-comedy television series created by Kevin Falls and Bill Chais. The series stars Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar as unconventional lawyers and longtime friends. A Turner Broadcasting executive has referred to the series as a "funny legal procedural".The...
.
- "Wheels" (from Perfect DarknessPerfect Darkness-Personnel:*Fin Greenall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, FX*Guy Whittaker – Electric & Acoustic Bass*Tim Thornton – Drums, Electric & Acoustic Guitars*Matt Kelly - Strings – "Perfect Darkness"*Michael Flury – Trombone – "Save It For Somebody Else"...
), aired on the season nine premiere of NCISNCIS (TV series)NCIS, formerly known as NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is an American police procedural drama television series revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S...
- "Yesterday Was Hard On All Of Us" (from Perfect DarknessPerfect Darkness-Personnel:*Fin Greenall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, FX*Guy Whittaker – Electric & Acoustic Bass*Tim Thornton – Drums, Electric & Acoustic Guitars*Matt Kelly - Strings – "Perfect Darkness"*Michael Flury – Trombone – "Save It For Somebody Else"...
), aired on season 8, episode 2 of House M.D. and also on season 3, episode 6 of ParenthoodParenthood (2010 TV series)Parenthood is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Jason Katims and produced by Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios. The first season premiered on March 2, 2010 on NBC...
.