The latest single from author-turned-songwriter Zoe FitzGerald Carter is a powerful political statement. She rails against the administration, expressing disbelief that Donald Trump could possibly be elected President for a second term. In ‘Lying Voices’, Carter’s words are all the more impactful for their direct nature: “That dream of America, the one I had, that dream is dead // It may look pretty much the same day to day // ‘Cause they’re not coming for you, coming for you today // Can you hear us, so many voices and we’re saying the same thing // You may be president but to us you’re just a joker and a wannabe king.” However, despite the clear concern she shares, Carter manages to infuse the song with a resilience and hope, born out of the fact that the lying voices will be countered by those who continue to fight against injustice and whose voices will continue to be heard. As a Carter is a former author, essayist and journalist, it’s no surprise that the song’s lyrical intent is one of its strengths.
Carter explains the song’s lyrical purpose: “‘Lying Voices’ was born in the wake of the 2024 election, a dark and demoralizing time for millions of us in America. To watch Donald Trump get reinstated, was like when the monster in a horror movie comes back to life after they’ve been destroyed. How could someone so amoral, so venal, so corrupt and incompetent, have been re-elected? For many of us, it was inexplicable. It is still inexplicable, but the news media clearly played a pivotal role. Right-wing outlets like Fox News unabashedly amplified Trump’s lies, giving its large — and largely unquestioning — audience a steady drip of misinformation in the months leading up the election. And as a former journalist, I could see these news outlets were lying – and knew they were lying! Anyone who thinks Fox newscasters believed the things they were saying and promoting — including the idea that the 2020 election was stolen — have not been paying attention. And now we are living with the consequences of all that endless lying: A faltering economy, an illegal invasion into a foreign country, the murder of innocent people by ICE agents, a destroyed East Wing, and the list goes on. And at the top, an unhinged and increasingly senile president who desperately, nakedly, wants to be king.
“When I was making the video for the song, which is coming out on President’s Day (February 16), I wanted to place the media directly in the spotlight. The videographer, Dan Foldes, and I looked for ways to evoke the ubiquitousness of the media machine that brought us Trump 2.0. Not just legacy media, but also Tik-Tok, Facebook and Instagram, all of them owned by Trump-supporting tech billionaires.
“I also wanted to represent and applaud the resistance! (‘Can you hear us? So many voices and we’re saying the same thing. You may be president but to us you’re just a joker and a wannabe king.’) The brave people standing up to ICE (the viral ‘polka dot dress lady’) and demonstrating peacefully in the streets are our modern-day heroes. It is to them that I dedicate this video: the artists, organizers and citizens putting themselves on the line to protest this regime. They are our best hope for the future of this country and of the world.”
Carter possesses a beautifully clear, pure voice that traces a path through a fine melody, reinforced by Vicki Randle’s backing. As ever, Carter displays excellent songcraft, with musical textures provided by Michael Papenburg on lead guitar and Paul Olguin’s bass. Known for blending genres, Carter’s songs are influenced by Americana, jazz, blues, folk and rock; it’s sophisticated, engaging writing. Indeed, the title track from her last album, “Before the Machine”, won first place in the Corpus Christi Songwriters Contest and a second song from the album, ‘Let’s Just Stay Friends’, was runner-up in the best song category at the International Acoustic Music Awards.
Be absorbed by ‘Lying Voices’, a song that channels Carter’s experience and character and forces us to confront the challenging realities in the USA and wider world.
