Fun with Fiona

Extremes

I named this newsletter series ‘Fun with Fiona’, but maybe it’s contrary to think it’s fun when I’m pushing the envelope with extremes? Today’s topics go from Christmas to war! 🎄😱

Subject 1 (the fun bit): ‘A Simple Christmas’ is my new ethereal singer songwriter Christmas track about keeping this year simple: family, friends and without a commercial imperative:

No shiny Boxes, No Perfect Pines, No silver bells, No Shopping Lines,

Just a Simple Christmas this time…

Subject 2: ‘The Ghosts of War are Marching’ is a solo piano track (When Shadows Talk) illustrated with A.I. I believe the video shows how A.I. can be useful in a creative sense, and I hope you can see why I would say this after you watch. Given the subject matter, I could not illustrate the story using anything else available to me. It’s a grey line with A.I. in terms of where it’s OK and where it isn’t. In my opinion A.I. used to create music is NOT OK. My music is always 100% human (in case you are wondering) 🎹

On another note: I would like to encourage music fans to consider moving from Spotify to…

*** ANYWHERE else!

There are lots of choices, but currently the best options are: Tidal, Apple or Bandcamp (or artist-owned websites). We need to be paid, and platforms like spotify not only don’t pay us properly, but they are not taking a stand against A.I. music and they foster unhealthy algorithmic environments that encourage a layer of non-musicians in the middle that make money from our music (Playlisters).

It’s high time artists and listeners start a shift. My personal aim is to have none of my music on Spotify by mid 2027. I’m working on alternatives, and I’ll share as I find them. I would love to think my listeners would move with me and support this change - it needs to happen to create a future for real music and real musicians to survive. I’m aware of alternatives in the pipeline…. More to come on this 🎶.

If you are interested in my Australian concerts, you will find a TOUR tab HERE More concerts will be added throughout 2026.

Paid subscribers will find a free download link to ‘A Simple Christmas’ below the paywall.