Summary
Charlie Fink (born 16 May 1986) is an English songwriter, producer and filmmaker best known for fronting Noah and the Whale and for his work as a composer for theatre.[2] He has been described as "one of Britain’s most daring and inventive songwriters" by the Sunday Times[3] and "a theatre composer of the first rank" by the Evening Standard.[4]
Charlie Fink | |
|---|---|
 Fink in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charlie Fink |
| Born | 16 May 1986 Twickenham, London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Website | http://www.charliefink.co |
Early life edit
Fink was born in Twickenham, West London. His paternal grandfather was a German Jew who escaped the Nazis in the 1930s and went to South Africa. Fink was privately educated[5] at The Mall School, Twickenham, and St Paul's School, London.[6][7]
Music edit
Noah and the Whale edit
Fink has the sole writing credit on the first three Noah and the Whale albums which have collectively sold over a million copies worldwide,[8] including two gold records and one platinum record. His song "5 Years Time" was named NME's song of the summer 2008.[9][10]
He toured with the band from 2006 until their split in 2015. The band have played at a number of notable venues, including a sold-out show at the Royal Albert Hall[8] and festivals such as Coachella, Lollapoloza and Glastonbury as well as headlining Wilderness Festival in 2013.[11] They also toured with Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend and Phoenix. Fink has appeared with the band on Late Show with David Letterman[12] as well as Later... with Jools Holland, The Graham Norton Show and The Andrew Marr Show.[citation needed] He has directed a number of his band's music videos and a short film that accompanied their second album The First Days of Spring and another film that accompanied their fourth album Heart of Nowhere.
He featured at number 18 on NME's Cool List[13] as well as GQ's best dressed lists.[14]
Work with other artists edit
Fink produced Laura Marling's first album Alas I Cannot Swim, which was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. He has also produced music for Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jay Jay Pistolet and Rae Morris. Since 2014 he has co-written and produced music with artists such as Foxes, Rhodes and Eliot Sumner.[15][16]
Work in theatre edit
Cover My Tracks edit
In April 2017 Fink released a new song "Firecracker" as a teaser for debut solo album entitled Cover My Tracks.[17] Fink's album was accompanied by a new show, written with David Greig, also called Cover My Tracks, performed in June 2017, and subsequently toured throughout the country that year.[18]
The Lorax edit
Fink wrote the music and lyrics for the Old Vic theatre production of the Dr. Seuss classic The Lorax[19] which was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2016.[20] The show received a five star review from Michael Billington at the Guardian, who called it "the best family show since Matilda."[21] The original production ran from 2 December 2015 to 16 January 2016. The production returned to The Old Vic in 2017 to further five star reviews. "[22] It has since gone on to tour in Toronto, Minneapolis and San Diego.
As You Like It edit
Fink wrote the music for a production of As You Like It in Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in July 2018.[23] The show opened to positive reviews with the Times describing it as 'Gorgeous'.[24]
The Man in the White Suit edit
Fink wrote the music for the stage adaptation of the Ealing comedy The Man in the White Suit. The script was written by Sean Foley, and it starred Stephen Mangan, Sue Johnston and Kara Tointon. The show opened at Bath Theatre Royal before running for three months on the West End. It was described by Broadway World as "two hours of pure delight".[25]
Work in film edit
Director edit
Fink directed many of Noah and the Whale's music videos, including "Give It All Back", "Shape of My Heart", "Tonight's the Kind of Night", and "Two Bodies One Heart".
He co-directed the music video for "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N" with Sophie Muller.
He also wrote and directed two short films to accompany The First Days of Spring and Heart of Nowhere. These were screened in cinemas as well as at a film and music festivals.
Composer edit
Fink wrote the songs for the film A Street Cat Named Bob, performed by British actor and singer Luke Treadaway. The score was written by David Hirschfelder.
Noah and the Whale's songs appeared on the soundtrack for the film The Scouting Book for Boys, written by Jack Thorne and directed by Tom Harper.
Discography edit
Noah and the Whale
- Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down (2008)
- The First Days of Spring (2009)
- Last Night on Earth (2011)
- Heart of Nowhere (2013)
Solo
- Cover My Tracks (2017)
References edit
- ^ Martin, Liam. "Charlie Fink – Overview". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ Clayton-Lea, Tony. "Noah and the Whale: Where are we now?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^ Cairns, Dan (6 March 2011). "Noah & the Whale - Last Night on Earth". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "As You Like It is warm, charming and perfect for the park". Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "Has pop gone posh?". News.bbc.co.uk. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "Charlie Fink". Thevogue.com. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ Clayton-Lea, Tony. "Noah and the Whale: Where are we now?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ a b "NEWS: NOAH AND THE WHALE – TAPE DROP TREASURE HUNT!!!!". Silent Radio. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "The Big Tunes That'll Remind You of the Last 10 Summers". NME. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 8 June 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "My week in pictures: Charlie Fink". The Guardian. 25 June 2011. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "Wilderness 2013". Efestivals.co.uk. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Late Show with David Letterman - Season 18, Episode 3513: Noah and The Whale". TV.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (22 November 2011). "NME Cool List 2011". Stereogum. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ Carvell, Nick (5 July 2013). "Most Stylish Men of the Week 05.07.13". GQ. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ Molvar, Kari (1 August 2014). "Eliot Sumner Changes Her Name, but Not Her Electro-Pop Beats". T Magazine. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ Mary (10 September 2013). "RHODES: 'RUN', DEBUT EP DETAILS AND BURBERRY ACOUSTIC". The Leftover Sessions. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Charlie Fink announces debut solo album, 'Cover My Tracks'". Diymag.com. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ "Lates". Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "Dr. Seuss's the Lorax - the Old Vic". Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- ^ "Olivier Awards with Mastercard - Official Website | #BeInspired". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ "Dr Seuss's The Lorax review – the best family show since Matilda". The Guardian. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ Williams, Holly (25 October 2017). "The Lorax, Old Vic, review: a stunningly-rendered Dr Seuss fable for all ages". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ "As You Like It :: Open Air Theatre". Openairtheatre.com. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ Marlowe, Sam (12 July 2018). "Theatre review: As You Like It at Open Air Theatre, NW1". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ Gilpin, Debbie. "BWW Review: THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT, Wyndham's Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
External links edit
