The Secret to Life

The Secret to Life
Studio album by Fizz
Released	27 October 2023 (2023-10-27)
Studio	Middle Farm (South Devon, England)
Length	38:21
Label	Decca Universal Music Group
Producer	Fizz Peter Miles
Singles from The Secret to Life
"High in Brighton" Released: 2023 "Hell of a Ride" Released: 2023 "Close One" Released: 2023 "As Good as It Gets" Released: 2023 "You, Me, Lonely" Released: 2023

The Secret to Life is the debut studio album by the indie pop supergroup Fizz, released on 27 October 2023 by Decca Records and Universal Music Group. It was recorded over a two-week period ^[1] at Middle Farm Studios in South Devon with Peter Miles. ^[2]

In the production of The Secret to Life, the band bypassed many production tools commonly used in contemporary pop music and relied on real instruments and recording live takes of songs directly onto tape. This approach, as discussed in interviews, imparts a nostalgic quality reminiscent of the music of the 1960s and 1970s. ^{[3] [4]}

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
DIY	[6]
The Irish Times	[7]
The Line of Best Fit	8/10 [8]

Critical reception of The Secret to Life was generally positive.

The album was praised for its distinctive sound, vocals, and emotive lyrics, ^{[9] [10] [11]} but was also described as occasionally cliché. ^[12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Fizz, Peter Miles and Mathew Swales, except where noted.

The Secret to Life track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"A New Phase Awaits You :-)"		N/A	1:08
2.	"The Secret to Life"		Brown, Clark, Gartland, Isaac	2:52
3.	"High in Brighton"		Gartland, Brown, Isaac, Clark	2:51
4.	"Strawberry Jam"		Gartland	4:35
5.	"Close One"		Gartland	3:55
6.	"I Just Died"		Clark	3:36
7.	"Rocket League"		Brown	0:51
8.	"Hell of a Ride"		Brown, Gartland	2:59
9.	"As Good as It Gets"		Isaac	2:44
10.	"You, Me, Lonely"	Fizz Soren Bryce Mathew Swales	Clark	3:40
11.	"Lights Out"		Isaac, Brown	3:46
12.	"The Grand Finale"		Brown, Clark, Gartland, Isaac	5:23
Total length:				38:21

Personnel

Fizz

• Greta Isaac – lead and backing vocals; acoustic and electric guitars; percussion
• Martin Luke Brown – lead and backing vocals; acoustic guitar; piano; electric piano, organ; percussion
• Dodie – lead and backing vocals; electric guitar; clarinet; synthesizer; piano; percussion
• Orla Gartland – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass; percussion

Additional musicians

• Peter Miles – bass; electric guitar; synthesizer
• Mathew Swales – drums; percussion; tom drum
• Soren Bryce – vocals; bass; percussion
• Dan Hillman – baritone saxophone
• Simon Dobson – trumpet

Production

• Peter Miles – producer; mixing
• Fizz – producer
• Matt Huber – mixing
• Soren Bryce – assistant engineer
• Kevin Tuffy – mastering

Charts

Chart performance for The Secret to Life

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [13]	8
UK Albums (OCC) [14]	31

References

1. Savage, Mark (5 September 2023). "Happiness bottled: Meet indie-pop supergroup Fizz". BBC News . Retrieved 14 September 2023.
2. Paine, Andre (16 June 2023). "Decca signs FIZZ featuring chart stars Dodie and Orla Gartland". Music Week . Retrieved 9 August 2023.
3. Mylrea, Hannah (16 September 2023). "FIZZ: "This project is an act of rebellion against the industry"". NME .
4. Taylor, Ims (24 March 2024). "FIZZ: "WE'RE REALLY BIG ON STORYTELLING BEYOND SONGS"". DIY . Retrieved 2 October 2023.
5. "The Secret to Life - FIZZ". AllMusic . Retrieved 24 March 2024.
6. Wright, Lisa (13 September 2023). "FIZZ - The Secret To Life". DIY. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
7. Murphy, Lauren (8 September 2023). "Fizz: The Secret to Life – a burst of engaging pop from a supergroup with a difference". The Irish Times . Retrieved 24 March 2024.
8. Chatterton, Caitlin (27 October 2023). "FIZZ: The Secret To Life Review - gleeful rapture". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 24 March 2024.
9. Vicente, Catarina (2 November 2023). "Album Review: The Secret To Life - FIZZ".
10. Gokcemen, Yazzi (3 November 2023). "FIZZ: Finding the Sweet Spot Between Reality and Make-Believe".
11. Skeet, Lucy (1 November 2023). "Album Review: The Secret To Life - FIZZ".
12. Kirkwood, Bertie (17 November 2023). "Album Review: 'The Secret to Life' by FIZZ".
13. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

External links

• The Secret to Life at Discogs (list of releases)