Fiona Apple’s Video Update on Global Injustices

In a video posted to roommate and best-friend Zelda Hallman’s Instagram, singer-songwriter Fiona Apple explained why she has been largely absent from public appearances. Speaking in the early hours, Apple said she “couldn’t sleep” and felt an “urge to reach out” to fans amid what she described as an “endless barrage of horrors” worldwide—including conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, attacks on trans youth, restrictions on women’s bodily autonomy, immigration-related abuse, voting-rights erosion, and the disappearance of Indigenous and Black children. She emphasized that, while writing about herself feels straightforward, addressing others’ suffering “just becomes so important.”

Rolling Stone

Apple’s last public release was the 2023 single “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home),” inspired by her experience monitoring courts for women held in pre-trial detention. Earlier in 2023 she contributed a Neil Young cover (“Heart of Gold”) to a Bridge School benefit album and appeared on the Waterboys’ track “Letter From an Unknown Girlfriend.” She also co-wrote a song for Cara Delevingne’s forthcoming debut album and provided a new track for the Anya Taylor-Joy miniseries *Lucky*.

Rolling Stone

Apple acknowledged the difficulty of translating global crises into music, noting that she “keeps second and third and 10th and millionth guessing myself” about whether she is the right person to speak on these issues. She stressed that she does not want listeners to think she is “turning a blind eye” or “not caring.” Instead, she affirmed her responsibility as an artist: “I’m expecting something from me,” and pledged to keep trying to “show what’s going on” through her work.

Rolling Stone

• “It’s the middle of the night and I was just writing and I couldn’t sleep,” — Fiona Apple

Rolling Stone

• “I’m really struggling with it.” — Fiona Apple

Rolling Stone

• “I fucking care.” — Fiona Apple

Rolling Stone

• “I know everybody's not expecting something from me but I'm expecting something from me.” — Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple Says She’s Struggling To Write About The World’s “Endless Barrage Of Horrors”