Jeni Schapire - "Only Fool"

Nashville songwriter Jeni Schapire’s latest single, “Only Fool,” is an honest and emotional self-accounting of the ways we sometimes let fear hold us back. In a profoundly reflective manner, Schapire peers inward in an attempt to find and set free her most authentic self, while simultaneously battling the outside factors that keep her at bay. Through the deep hum of organ sounding synths and her delicate, emotive voice, Schapire deftly uses wordplay to describe these internal and external factors, likening her sometimes people-pleasing reflexes and silence when confronted with problematic actions to extinguishing a fire.  The synths swell in the choruses and she works in gorgeous flickers of trumpet and trombone to really round out the song’s deep, oceanic sound.

The accompanying video for the track adds an additional layer of feeling, as it illustrates how the struggle described in the lyrics can be quite a lonely one. The video interposes various shots of Schapire standing in a desolate, snow-covered field with images of her staring at herself in a bathroom mirror. Throughout, light grey wave-like animations flow and morph on the screen, eventually taking center stage towards the end of the video. 

Stream the video below!

“Only Fool” appears on Schapire’s debut EP, What’s In A Name, which is out now. You can purchase a copy via Bandcamp or stream it on your platform of choice. Keep up with Schapire by following her on Instagram and liking her on Facebook.