Fiona’s break into the music industry came when a friend, who babysat for a record executive, handed her employer a demo. Fiona’s rich contralto voice, piano skills and lyrics got the attention of Sony Music executive Andy Slater, who signed her to a record deal.
In 1996 Fiona’s debut album, Tidal, was released by a subsidiary of Sony. The album was hugely successful, going on to sell 2.7 million copies and it was certified three times platinum in the U.S. “Criminal”, the fourth single, became Fiona’s breakthrough hit. The song reached the top forty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and garnered a great deal of attention, in part because of the controversial Mark Romanek-directed music video.
In 1999 Fiona’s second album, When the Pawn…, was released. Its full title is When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He’ll Win the Whole Thing Fore He Enters the Ring There’s No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You...