Partnering with 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Sounds of Saving has helped to provide transparency about mental health from musicians like CHAI, Bartees Strange, Xenia Rubinos, and Thao, paired with filmed cover performances that hold significant meaning for each artist. Today, Circuit Des Yeux shared her cover of Lucinda Williams' "Fruits of My Labor" and talked a bit about her own struggles with mental health for the "Songs That Found Me at the Right Time" project.
“Lucinda Williams' 'Fruits of My Labor' is a song that I've had with me for about 10 years," Haley Fohr said. "I first came upon it in 2013 when I was on tour opening for Julia Holter—it was a period in my career that had a lot of alone time and a lot of stillness. As a creative I find that these phases are necessary to live out a creative life, but they're really hard and challenging. And as someone that deals with a neurodivergent brain and major depression, her lyrics and the sonic quality of the song was kind of just like a message and a really warm place for me at the time."
Sounds of Saving added that they were honored to partner with Fohr for the series. "She creates uniquely haunting and emotionally complex music that speaks to the range of human experience," they shared. "Her 4-octave vocal range and captivating guitar playing creates exquisite arrangements and blends elements of the jazz, classical, and experimental music scenes she collaborates with often in her hometown Chicago."
Regarding the video, SOS continued: "Shooting this gorgeous piece there with her was memorable, as the surreal quality of the dilapidated location within the pristine and severe snow perfectly matched her performance. Her music, born from a need to relieve darkness, is a testament to the therapeutic power of sound and aligns closely with our goals."
Watch the video below.
