Fun Fact
A fun fact about Mazzy Star is that the band’s name was inspired by a nickname given to David Roback’s sister by one of her friends, who thought she looked like a combination of a “Mazzy” and a “Star”. The name stuck with Roback, and he later used it for the band he formed with Hope Sandoval. Despite the mysterious and enigmatic quality of their music, Mazzy Star’s name actually has a rather whimsical and playful origin.
About the Artist
Mazzy Star is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1988. The band consists of David Roback (guitar, vocals), Hope Sandoval (vocals), and Keith Mitchell (drums). Mazzy Star is best known for their 1993 single “Fade Into You”, which reached number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
The band has released four studio albums, She Hangs Brightly (1990), So Tonight That I Might See (1993), Among My Swan (1996), and Seasons of Your Day (2013). Mazzy Star has been praised for their dreamy, atmospheric sound and Sandoval’s ethereal vocals. The band has been cited as an influence by many other artists, including Radiohead, Coldplay, and The xx.
Fade Into You is a song by American alternative rock band Mazzy Star from their second studio album, So Tonight That I Might See (1993). The song was written by lyricist Hope Sandoval and composer David Roback, who also served as producer. The song reached number three on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1994 and is Mazzy Star’s only single to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 44. The song also charted at number 48 on the UK Singles Chart and number three in Iceland.
In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked “Fade into You” at number 468 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
The song’s music video was directed by Kevin Kerslake and premiered on MTV in late October 1993, several weeks after the album’s release. The video features the band performing in front of a projection screen depicting white clouds in a black sky, and is interlaced with slow-motion footage of the band in various locales in the Mojave Desert. Portions of this video were filmed at the same location U2 shot the artwork for The Joshua Tree.
The song’s lyrics are about a woman who is feeling lost and alone. She is longing for someone to love her and to make her feel safe. The song’s title, “Fade Into You,” suggests that the woman is hoping to disappear into someone else’s life and to forget about her own problems.
The song’s sound is characterized by its slow tempo, dreamy melody, and Hope Sandoval’s ethereal vocals. The song’s instrumentation is sparse, consisting of only a guitar, bass, and drums. This simplicity allows Sandoval’s vocals to take center stage, and her haunting voice is the main reason why the song is so memorable.
“Fade Into You” is a beautiful and haunting song that has stood the test of time. It is a song that has resonated with listeners for decades, and it continues to be a popular choice for weddings and other special occasions. The song’s message of hope and longing is one that is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who hears it.
