If you’ve ever taken a listen to Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart’s discography, there is one trait in all her music that hardly ever goes unrecognized: her mastermind ability to weave together emotional intensity with unconventional music arrangements. From a young age, Apple has used music and songwriting to express trauma from her childhood that not only created poetic albums, but set her aside from the rising artists in the late 90’s.
After five albums and collaborative singles, Fiona Apple has made a powerful return yet again with her first original song in five years, titled “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)” released on May 7.
This emotionally charged protest anthem draws directly from her volunteer work as a court watcher in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she has been observing bail hearings in recent years. The song highlights the injustices of the cash bail system, particularly its impact on mothers and caretakers who are detained pretrial simply because they cannot afford bail. The accompanying music video for “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)” features real footage and images from women who have experienced the injustices of the court system, adding a poignant visual narrative to the song’s message. Apple launched the website lethergohome.org, providing resources for donations, information on local bail funds and guidance on how to get involved in court-watching efforts.
Apple’s latest work is the extension of a career built on vulnerability, defiance and an unwillingness to conform. In 1996, at just 18 years old, she created and released her debut album, “Tidal”—a raw, soul-baring collection of songs that instantly revealed her as a voice unafraid to explore vulnerability, rage and desire. Her contralto voice in her songs adds to the lyrical depth that feel far older than her years. “Tidal” was a critical and commercial success, earning her a Grammy from “Criminal,” featured on the album, and cementing her as an artist who wouldn’t conform to the industry’s expectations.
Conformity wasn’t an option for Apple. Although critics and her team may have tried to put her in a societal box, her following album, “When the Pawn…” shattered any expectations of fitting neatly into the mainstream. Released in 1999, the album’s full title alone, a 90-word poem, was a bold statement of defiance and artistic freedom. The record pushed even further into complex arrangements, raw vulnerability and poetic introspection, proving that Apple was determined to put her own unique sound in the music world. Regardless of industry pressures, she charted and continued to cultivate a following.
For six years, she fell silent until 2005, with her release of “Extraordinary Machine.” Apple continued to defy expectations with her subsequent albums, each marked by a distinctive sound and emotional depth. In 2012, she released “The Idler Wheel…” a 23-word album stripped down to its rawest form, featuring sparse, percussive arrangements that put her voice and lyrics at the forefront. The record was hailed for its intense vulnerability and inventive songwriting, further solidifying Apple’s reputation as an artist that is unafraid.
Then, after another extended break, Apple surprised fans once again in 2020 with “Fetch the Bolt Cutters.” With unconventional rhythms, found sounds and unfiltered emotion, the album earned her the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album, one of her three Grammy Awards.
Apple has not only pushed musical boundaries, but also confronted societal norms, making a powerful statement about resilience and freedom. Now with her newest release, she reminds us that music can be both a deeply personal expression and a tool for justice. Nearly three decades into her career, she remains a fearless force, unfiltered and uncompromising.
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