Charlie Fink
{{Short description|English musician (born 1986)}}
{{for|the American producer|Charlie Fink (producer)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Charlie Fink
| image = File:Charlie Fink.jpg
| caption = Fink in 2015
| birth_name = Charlie Fink
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|5|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Twickenham, London, England
| origin =
| occupation =
| genre = {{hlist|Americana|folk rock|indie folk{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Liam |title=Charlie Fink – Overview |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-fink-mn0002335033 |website=AllMusic |publisher=RhythmOne |access-date=10 September 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910190659/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-fink-mn0002335033 |archive-date=10 September 2018}}|indie pop}}
| years_active = 2006–present
| label =
| associated_acts = Noah and the Whale, Laura Marling, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emmy the Great
| website = http://www.charliefink.co
}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/noah-and-the-whale-where-are-we-now-1.1380503|title=Noah and the Whale: Where are we now?|last=Clayton-Lea|first=Tony|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2019-05-25}} He has been described as "one of Britain’s most daring and inventive songwriters" by the Sunday Times{{cite news |url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/culture/music/On_Record/article566793.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222204326/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/culture/music/On_Record/article566793.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 December 2014 |title=Noah & the Whale - Last Night on Earth |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=6 March 2011 |first=Dan |last=Cairns |access-date=22 December 2014 |url-access=subscription }} and "a theatre composer of the first rank" by the Evening Standard.{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/as-you-like-it-review-warm-charming-and-perfect-for-the-park-a3885516.html|title=As You Like It is warm, charming and perfect for the park|newspaper=Evening Standard|access-date=2018-07-12|language=en-GB}}
Early life
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{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9373000/9373158.stm|title=Has pop gone posh?|date=28 January 2011|access-date=3 December 2020|website=News.bbc.co.uk}} at The Mall School, Twickenham, and St Paul's School, London.{{Cite web|url=https://thevogue.com/artists/charlie-fink/|title=Charlie Fink |website=Thevogue.com|access-date=3 December 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/noah-and-the-whale-where-are-we-now-1.1380503|title=Noah and the Whale: Where are we now?|first=Tony|last=Clayton-Lea|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=3 December 2020}}
Music
=Noah and the Whale=
Fink has the sole writing credit on the first three Noah and the Whale albums which have collectively sold over a million copies worldwide,{{cite news |url=http://www.silentradio.co.uk/05/01/news-noah-and-the-whale-tape-drop-treasure-hunt/ |title=NEWS: NOAH AND THE WHALE – TAPE DROP TREASURE HUNT!!!! |work=Silent Radio |date=1 May 2013 |access-date=22 December 2014}} including two gold records and one platinum record. His song "5 Years Time" was named NME{{'}}s song of the summer 2008.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/the-big-tunes-thatll-remind-you-of-the-last-10-summers|title=The Big Tunes That'll Remind You of the Last 10 Summers|website=NME |date=8 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608230847/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/the-big-tunes-thatll-remind-you-of-the-last-10-summers|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=8 June 2016}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/gallery/2011/jun/26/week-in-pictures-charlie-fink|title=My week in pictures: Charlie Fink|date=2011-06-25|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2019-02-12|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}
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 and festivals such as Coachella, Lollapoloza and Glastonbury as well as headlining Wilderness Festival in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/wilderness/2013 |title=Wilderness 2013 |website=Efestivals.co.uk |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=22 December 2014}} They also toured with Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, and Phoenix. Fink has appeared with the band on Late Show with David Letterman{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/late-show-with-david-letterman/noah-and-the-whale-1649824/ |title=Late Show with David Letterman - Season 18, Episode 3513: Noah and The Whale |website=TV.com |access-date=22 December 2014 |archive-date=22 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222210556/http://www.tv.com/shows/late-show-with-david-letterman/noah-and-the-whale-1649824/ |url-status=dead }} as well as Later... with Jools Holland, The Graham Norton Show and The Andrew Marr Show.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} 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{{cite news|url=https://stereogum.com/887401/nme-cool-list-2011/list/|title=NME Cool List 2011|last=Breihan|first=Tom|date=22 November 2011|work=Stereogum|access-date=22 December 2014}} as well as GQ{{'}}s best dressed lists.{{cite journal|last=Carvell|first=Nick|date=5 July 2013|title=Most Stylish Men of the Week 05.07.13|url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2013-07/05/most-stylish-men-of-the-week-justin-timberlake-pharrell-williams-miguel|access-date=22 December 2014|journal=GQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222204817/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2013-07/05/most-stylish-men-of-the-week-justin-timberlake-pharrell-williams-miguel|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=dead}}
==Work with other artists==
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.{{cite journal|last=Molvar|first=Kari|date=1 August 2014|title=Eliot Sumner Changes Her Name, but Not Her Electro-Pop Beats|url=https://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/01/eliot-sumner-i-blame-coco-new-ep-electro-pop/|publisher=The New York Times Company|access-date=22 December 2014|journal=T Magazine}}{{cite web|url=http://theleftoversessions.co.uk/2013/09/10/rhodes-run-debut-ep-details-and-burberry-acoustic/|title=RHODES: 'RUN', DEBUT EP DETAILS AND BURBERRY ACOUSTIC|author=Mary|date=10 September 2013|website=The Leftover Sessions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222204140/http://theleftoversessions.co.uk/2013/09/10/rhodes-run-debut-ep-details-and-burberry-acoustic/|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=22 December 2014}}
Work in theatre
= ''Cover My Tracks'' =
In April 2017 Fink released a new song "Firecracker" as a teaser for debut solo album entitled Cover My Tracks.{{Cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2017/04/06/charlie-fink-announces-debut-solo-album-cover-my-tracks|title=Charlie Fink announces debut solo album, 'Cover My Tracks'|website=Diymag.com|access-date=8 August 2020}} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2017/lates/ |title=Lates |access-date=26 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026171909/http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2017/lates/ |archive-date=26 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}
='' The Lorax ''=
Fink wrote the music and lyrics for the Old Vic theatre production of the Dr. Seuss classic The Lorax{{Cite web |url=http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2015/dr.-seusss-the-lorax/ |title=Dr. Seuss's the Lorax - the Old Vic |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702104801/http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2015/dr.-seusss-the-lorax/ |archive-date=2 July 2015 |url-status=dead}} which was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/|title=Olivier Awards with Mastercard - Official Website | #BeInspired|website=Olivier Awards|access-date=8 August 2020}} The show received a five star review from Michael Billington at the Guardian, who called it "the best family show since Matilda."{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/dec/17/dr-seuss-the-lorax-old-vic-london-family-show-david-greig|title=Dr Seuss's The Lorax review – the best family show since Matilda|date=17 December 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=8 August 2020}} 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. "{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/lorax-old-vic-review-stunningly-rendered-dr-seuss-fable-ages/|title=The Lorax, Old Vic, review: a stunningly-rendered Dr Seuss fable for all ages|first=Holly|last=Williams|date=25 October 2017|access-date=8 August 2020|website=Telegraph.co.uk}} It has since gone on to tour in Toronto, Minneapolis and San Diego.
=''As You Like It'' =
Fink wrote the music for a production of As You Like It in Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in July 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://openairtheatre.com/production/as-you-like-it|title=As You Like It :: Open Air Theatre|website=Openairtheatre.com|access-date=8 August 2020}} The show opened to positive reviews with the Times describing it as "Gorgeous".{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/theatre-review-as-you-like-it-at-open-air-theatre-nw1-r9kc207gn|title=Theatre review: As You Like It at Open Air Theatre, NW1|last=Marlowe|first=Sam|date=2018-07-12|newspaper=The Times|access-date=2018-07-12|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}
= ''The Man in the White Suit'' =
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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BWW-Review-THE-MAN-IN-THE-WHITE-SUIT-Wyndhams-Theatre-20191008|title=BWW Review: THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT, Wyndham's Theatre|first=Debbie|last=Gilpin|website=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=8 August 2020}}
Work in film
= Director =
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 =
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
{{Main|Noah and the Whale discography}}
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
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Charlie Fink}}
- {{IMDb name|3475289}}
- {{Discogs artist|881952-Charlie-Fink}}
- [https://www.theguardian.com/music/noah-and-the-whale Noah and the Whale | Music | The Guardian]
{{Noah and the Whale}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fink, Charlie}}
Category:English rock guitarists
Category:British musical theatre composers
Category:British people of German-Jewish descent
Category:People educated at The Mall School
Category:People educated at St Paul's School, London
Category:Jewish English musicians