The original version of “Fade Away” is about finding hope when hope seems impossible, so in that darkest moment I went to my piano and tried to reach into the heart of the song to find the kernel of hope that is buried within it. The vocal performance is vulnerable – you can hear my anger, frustration, and sadness – and I wanted to strip away the layers of production to reveal the raw nerve of the song. The song is a prayer for hope and change, and a plea to marginalized people everywhere to never give up the fight.

I am releasing this acoustic version on 28 October 2022, just before the US Midterm Elections. One of the most important tools we have against injustice is our vote, and while the system is deeply flawed, taking our anger to the ballot box is an essential way to insist on our right to personhood and bodily autonomy. I wanted this recording to be a snapshot of how I felt in the moment that the US Supreme Court overturned abortion rights – I hope it will continue to remind me of the pain I felt on that day, and will motivate me and others to use our pain and anger and sadness to try to fight for a better future.