Mazzy Star; Whatever happened to Hope Sandoval, The Voice Behind 'Fade Into You' 

I saw Mazzy star at Coachella in 2012, I was in the first row by the barricades. Freshly 18, starry eyes, they closed with "So tonight that I might see" There were two women next to me that happened to NOT be drinking and this caught my eyes. Why were there two older women next to me so serene in a crown of thousands, smoking drinking and chanting? I look closer and one woman, the younger one, is sporting a "Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star JAPAN" tour tee, I was in shock. I tapped the woman and began to gush to her about how amazing that show might've been. She waited for me to stop gushing, thanked me, and explained her sister had given it to her, so I start saying how lucky her sister is to have witness that. She blushed and laughs again and this time points to the stage. I was confused, however, she began saying her sister's name is "hope" and that this was a gift from a tour bc her sister couldn't go with her. I began to freeze and the older woman turns around. Its Hope Sandoval's mother. She begins to tell me how all this started, how hope would sneak out to watch concerts and that one of her favorite bands, JAMC, helped inspire the sounds. Hope is from east La/ Boyle Heights, which I also grew up around. It ws crazy that in that see of people, I linked up with Hope's family, who also originated from the same spaces I did. I will never forget this moment.

She remains an alternative artist of the highest quality and integrity. She has kept her mystique intact by carefully not exploiting herself, & by not seeking celebrity culture or tolerating unwanted publicity. Her music must speak for itself - strictly without her beauty as a distraction or the emphasis. This approach gives her music a distinct, timeless quality and it often gives her unique voice a haunting elegance. She's that rarity that's often imitated, but never quite duplicated.

"Fade into You" is such a hauntingly beautiful song. I fell in love with it immediately

No one ever mentions 'Into Dust' when talking about this great band. I think it's their greatest song - and one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.

I saw MAZZY STAR in 1989 in a small bar in minneapolis. There was no one there. I was amazed at what I was witnessing. Hope was mesmerizing. She barely moved from the mic the entire show.

She has the balance right. If she wants to release music or play live you will see her. Apart from that her life is not for public consumption. It's probably what keeps her sane and more power to her.

She's gorgeous and an amazing vocalist.

Hope is completely incompatible with today's vacuous social-media culture. The idea of her playing a show, while idiots have their phones out, taking 'selfies' with her performing in the background like a f**king ornament is just unpalatable. An incredible artist.

Listening to this is hard, made me think of the 90’s. Makes me think of the difference between then and now.

Hope made her mark. Nobody can deny her creative talent and hypnotic voice.

Hope seems like the kind of person that loves to write and create music but doesn’t necessarily want to play it live in front of people who probably wouldn’t understand the true meaning anyway. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with being private while wanting to create your art at the same time.

I broke up with Kathleen Hanna to date Hope in 1993....at least this is what happened in my mind when I sat by myself in high school

I was at that Sydney Opera House Show that you mentioned & if you knew all of their Work, the Show was freakin' AMAZING!!!!!!! You want to know why people talked trash about the Gig? I'll tell you. They dampened the lights, so that everyone could just "drift" with the Music. It was Exquisitely beautiful. But!... A huge portion of the audience was there for one Song & one Song only. It was quite clear, as you were hearing a fair bit of distracted "murmuring" throughout the evening. The crowd just didn't understand what they were watching. They were obviously used to "Pop" sensibilities & so an evening of "Psychedelic Swirl" that didn't revolve around a lurid lightshow, just didn't make sense to them, I guess. (Shrugs) So numerous people started walking out to get refreshments or use the amenities, expecting "The Song" to be safely tucked away amongst the encores & when enough people had left, they Played "Fade Into You" mid-set as a "F@#$ You" to the "fake fans" who had insulted them so & interrupted the evening of all of those of us whom were there to hear whatever they wanted to Play. When these people whom had walked out, walked back in halfway through the Song, or missed it completely, they lost their $#!+ & started smearing the Quality of the Show. Which for the record was "par excellence". That's "Punk Rock" & f@#$ anybody who trash talked that Show. They're just petty, malignant Scum... #MazzyStar4Lyf!!!!!!!

Only concert I have ever been to where the entire crowd is silent. It was beautiful 😢

Fade into you…one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard in my life.

I worked on the Halah video. Listened to the song all day and told Hope they sounded like the new Doors. She liked that and remembered me in Trader Joe’s years later. Hope you’re well Hope. Will love to hear you forever.

"into dust" is arguably their best song, and I don't think it got mentioned, but either way this band influenced bands of every genre in the 90s. Truly transcendent.

don’t get me wrong, fade into you is an amazing song but mazzy star deserves more recognition. I listen to all of their songs. they are all absolutely beautiful.

Simply my perception here, but I feel their unwillingness to compromise or sell out is anything but tragic. They got to spend some beautiful years together creating quietly successful works. I’d take that any day over fame. Hope and David also had a very pure soulmate connection. It’s really quite beautiful, even if there is a touch of melancholia now due to his passing. I just feel like these two really got a chance to live and love both independently and co-creatively.

Back in the early 90s, I was DEEP in to the grunge / alternative rock music scene and it felt like I was discovering a new amazing band each day. Mazzy Star was one of them. I actually managed to get ahold of their first record before they became popular. I thought it was an interesting record and Hope's voice was...haunting. Airy, soft, delicate, and at times playful. It was because of this that their music instantly made me think of the girl I was into at the time. Surprisingly, she looked somewhat similar to Hope. Since then every time I heard Hope's voice and Mazzy Star's music it made me think of that girl. She eventually broke my heart and that stayed with me. It was a curse in that sense but at the same time, it only made me listen to that first record more. Then So Tonight That I Might See came out and I instantly bought it and listened to it. It was just a perfect record. To this day, even now as I watched this video and heard the music playing, it reminded me of that girl, MY Hope, and it made me tear up a little. Funny how our hearts never seem to forget those sorts of connections.

"Fade into you" is a song I can listen to on repeat over and over again, and never get enough of it.

Her unique voice is so beautiful.

I always thought Sandoval’s awkwardness and insecurity helped her. She looked so vulnerable when performing and I think people really liked and respected that.

Always loved Hope. Beautiful lady, equally beautiful haunting voice.

Into dust is one of those songs that just stopped me dead in my tracks the first time I heard it.

Look On Down From the Bridge, almost makes me cry everytime I hear it. It's so hauntingly beautiful.

I’ve actually met Hope, she’s everything you can imagine. Quiet, highly intelligent, with a witty sense, when she does weigh in on things.

I am 42 now but first heard this when I saw the movie Angus in theaters around 1994-95. I was obsessed! I used to listen to it and daydream about the guy I had a crush on. Ah, to be 15 again. Still love the song after all these years.

The way Sandoval and Roback relate to their music and society is highly relatable for me. Always been a fan of their work.

Such a great singer. I was hypnotized when I first heard her. The voice of an angel.

I had a gf for most of the 90's but we slowly grew apart and eventually split up. Hadn't seen or heard from her for years and years, then one day out of the blue I got a text from her saying "I still can't listen to Mazzy Star because of you" Never heard from her again after that

“Strange you never knew”. Oh, how I’ve felt that. It harks back to a painful time in my life when the girl I really loved was engaged and got married and I could never declare my love because she was happy. I’ve always second-guessed whether I should have remained silent.

Even just thinking about " Fade Into You" is making the hair on my arms stand up and I get chills. Such a beautiful piece of music.

I miss being a teenager in the late 90s in Tucson. Listening to Mazzy Star brings me back

Its not my genre of music,but the first time i listen to "fade into you" i was for a straight week listen the Cd in my car on loop.. What an sentimental and beautiful song to think abaut life. What an Gorgeous Voice and tune.

Saw her in a small club called the Paradise in Boston. When she said she'd get hostile and swear at the audience, I'm thinking we witnessed that!! It was such a great show, though, so intimate, maybe a hundred people there. I'd give anything to see her perform in a setting like that again. What an amazing soul she is and her music is so out worldly.

I worked with her filming one of her first performances at the Hollywood Palladium 1992-93. I filmed her perfoming 'Fade Into You'. Hung out with her brother backstage. He was so happy and proud of his sister. Great times. I hopes shes well in 2023.

I love Mazzy Star and was saddened by Dave Roback's death. Hope Sandoval is one of my faovirite singers, hope she makes more music to come!!

She disappeared from Hollywood, I don’t blame her one bit. Yeah I love her music to this day! Rip David Roback

I would play For Tonight at my job as a manager at a tanning salon in the late 90s early 00s. Blue Light and 5 String Serenade would be played heavily, but the best part about it was that many older women who were customers would always ask what was playing at some point. I can't tell you how many more albums were bought from suburban housewives in West St Louis, but I can tell you that it was a lot. Hope's voice is her true beauty. The music is her genius. The music behind it was the icing on the cake. Always going to be one of my favorite albums.

Early 90's my Dad and I were on a cross-country trip for 2+weeks and had a stop over for a couple days in Vegas . We stayed at the Fitzgerald and had a pretty good night at Circus Circus on the slots and decided a top off at the bar Slots of Fun would be the last leg of the Vegas stretch . So we're sitting at the bar and the girl next to us asked us how we were doing . She was so happy for us and couldn't believe we were a father and daughter hanging out trekking , right. Then she says she's in a punk band we probably never heard of ....Mazzy Star !?! Holy shit , you gotta be kidding me . I've got you're album . All I remember after that was pink shots and smiles . We woke up in an old looking town with fake facades for filming old spaghetti westerns . 12 ft chain link fences for catching tumbleweeds, you know . I grabbed a tumbleweed and we continued on our journey . I think the next stop was Crater Lake . Well from what I remember , I'll never forget , that beautiful soul we met that night . Still have the tumbleweed.

I love how honest and genuine they are/were. they did what they really loved and stood their ground. such an inspiration

Flowers In December will forever be one of my favorite songs of all time! Hope is such a enigmatic figure and she's so fascinating😍

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions is a great band in their own right. Can’t go wrong with that voice.

Into Dust speaks to me. Brilliant song

I met Dave at a house gig in Flint Michigan back in 84 or 85. The Rain Parade opened for a band called the Strolling Bones. The band members were so broke they couldn't afford a pack of cigarettes so I scrapped together some pennies and purchased a pack for the guys. Almost everyone at the house gig hated the Rain Parade. I loved them. They played maybe 4-5 songs and said enough. Dave said to me, nobody wants to hear us. I didn't realize that would be my only live experience with what people were calling The Paisley Underground. I am grateful for that brief moment. I didn't know anything about the LA underground scene at the time but I know that I loved The Rain Parade and then Opal- Mazzy Star. The first Mazzy Star and Opal albums used to be in the cut out bins of every record store. We miss you Dave.

The combination of Hope's voice and David's guitar playing was a match made in heaven. In The Kingdom is one of my favourite songs ever, every song on that album is incredible actually, which I find rare amongst my favourite artists.

The album artwork and even their titles always made me feel something unique. Seeing them now takes me back to my teen years and I just love everything about this band.

Fade Into You became one of my favorite songs ever, since the first time I heard it on the radio. I have a playlist of songs that will forever remain there and listen to on a weekly basis. The music is just so haunting, and her voice and feeling she puts behind it just adds the cherry to the cake. For me the song is so reminiscing of my high school years, I was in high school when it was released, it just brings back so many memories. Thank you for existing Hope Sandoval and thank you for creating Fade Into You.

She was/is the most amazing cool, complicated great artist ..hence, word artist ..its rare ....Music for art ..thats gone ..Purity is gone ..She great ...And she probably did not know it! and that is a star!

Flowers in december is the most beatiful song I have ever heard. Nothing can compare to Hope singing and playing harmonica.

She's been making music this whole time. Bavarian Fruit Bread id one of my fave albums of all time... Especially the song clear day. I love her voice. I saw her in 2009 in Seattle the day before my daughter was born. So awesome!

The amount of work that goes into this is much appreciated. Crazy backround info!

She's an amazing singer. I love Mazzy Star.

R.I.P David Roback. Hope Sandoval if you see this I pray thee are well and are safe. Thank you so much for sharing your soul for us. Really deeply appreciate you. Bavarian Fruit Bread is magical to me. Thank you once again.

I remember Mazzy Star like it was yesterday, back in the early to mid 90s. It was a great time for "alternative" music.

The title should be "The Life Story of Hope Sandoval and Mazzy Star".

I've never been so in love with someone i dont know. Hope is a rare soul and into dust describes the slow fade back to the earth for me. Thank you hope! You made the 90's a time of wonder for me and i will cherish those times and your music forever.

Fuck it's all so depressing... very well edited video.

Their music ascended beyond genres and categories and touched the soul of the artist in everyone lucky enough to hear them. Transcendent celestial beings that reminded us that beauty is only ever a breath away if we can just slow down long enough to glimpse it.

Mazzy Star were the darlings of the most popular LA pirate radio station, KBLT, in the late 90s. They even played a benefit show for the small station.

I was expecting this to be a generic Wikipedia-based video, but you actually did your research! Well done! Also, how anyone could go to a Mazzy Star show and be upset that the lighting is dim is beyond me. That would be like going to a My Bloody Valentine show and being upset by how loud it is. Also RIP Dave Roback. Here’s hoping that we see some previously unreleased tracks get released one day.

when i was 14 they were at the metro in Chicago. i was on the floor about 6 rows back or so and for whatever reason she decided to stare into my eyes for like 15 seconds straight. me being basically a child i felt compelled to break from her gaze but i forced myself not to because, well, it's her. a truly unforgettable moment

"Among my Swan" is an absolute masterpiece.

Saw Mazzy back in the early 90's in Denver. There was hardly anyone there, and we were standing like 10 feet from Hope. For not liking to play live, their sound melts over you like candle wax. It's just so warm and sensual.

I saw them with The Jesus and Mary Chain at 1st Ave in Minneapolis, 1996(7?). It may have been the single most melancholy and muted show physically and emotionally possible. I still talk about it to this day, remembering it both vividly and fondly.

November 26, 1994 Mazzy Star concert at The Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, CA. "So Tonight That I Might See" tour. I was standing at the stage, watching and listening. It was a terrific night. The World needs more Hope.

Teenage me was SOOOOOO in love with her. That's an amazing album too. Lots of great songs

Among my Swan has to be my favorite album I could play that through without skipping a track

Heard so many great songs in the 90s and beyond...that song fade into you was so simple and special...

I hear you Hope. Nearly 50 and I’ve lost some dear friends and family. Feeling their loss so profoundly these past few months, weeks and days.

That tune she did with Massive Attack is a classic also.

Hope is that relic that one can't deny its true power.

I was almost 20 when Fade Into You was released and was into that music genre. I can't believe I first heard that song in 2019 when watching Sens8.

Wow....unfortunately alot of people STILL only know "fade into you". They had so many more absolutely gorgeous tracks to obsess over. Mary of silence. Look on down from the bridge. Blue light.

she’s my favorite singer

Holy shit! I'm so happy to hear all these details about Mazzy Star. Music is a real magic. You are drawn in and then you find out that the singer loves all the things in your past.

Thank you for doing this one! Mazzy Star is one of my favorite bands but I've always found it difficult to find any information on them or their writing process and backgrounds. Keep up the great work!

I really wonder what she is doing now. I kind of wish she'd come out of the shadows and release something, but, hearing what she went through to make magic like that is heartbreaking. I just hope she is happy with what she has accomplished-- because it is timeless and great--and that she will continue making music if it makes her happy. It seems it would take a lot of strength and courage to figure out what to do and how to live after all that.

The message I've always perceived from Hope is, "liking my music or making money from it gives nobody the right to own or judge me. Fck off". It's always made me smile inside. She's her own person and genuine in today's sea of shallow, look-at-me, entitled fake virtue.

I still to this day love Fade Into You. As soon as heard the song and seen the video on MTV back then, I was in love with Mazzy Star. I made sure to buy their cd as soon as I got paid at my part time job whichever week it was back then. I still have that particular album too.

Running down memory lane, recentering my core. FULL CIRCLE Thank you for posting 🤎

into dust is one of my favorite songs of all time, hopes voice is like no other.

I'm 56 & couldn't believe I'd never heard of Mazzy Star until a random vid popped up on youtube a couple of years ago...I thought I was listening to something from the sixties...I was absolutely mesmerised & had to look for more of their songs & history. Nothing to do with how beautiful Hope is lol. Now this vid pops up which I viewed from beginning to end...very informative & interesting...with thanks 👍

Just want to say a thank you for this year. You have been one of my most-watched RU-vid channels and I wish you all the success for 2022. I admire your research and calmness on RU-vid, as many others simply fail to hit the right tone of voice for these kinds of videos. Thanks again man and thanks for all the hard work!

This brings back so many memories. When I was living in Prague in the 90s I would listen to Mazy Star often especially when homesick. Thanks for posting this. ❤

8/2023: WoW. This is wonderful and so educational. They were great. I first heard "Fade Into You" early in the morning on FM radio. I was working the night shift as a telephone and satellite switching technician, alone in a large building. The song was so haunting and just sucked me in. The station played the song every night/early morning. I never missed hearing it. Always a wonderful memory and a favourite song of mine. They were a great song writing pair. Thank You So Much for this wonderful biography of Hope and the "band". Two very sad losses. I have been subscribed to this channel for quite some time now. Best Regards

I seen them in a very intimate concert in Downtown Los Angeles a few years ago. It was an amazing experience. The feelings were like no other.

Among My Swan is my favorite of theirs. Reminds me of long winter drives in my younger days falling in love and mending a broken heart.

She was and still is My all time crush ❤️

I was in a record store and one of their CD's was playing. By the third song was over I bought both CD's. She is so pretty. Of course I had a huge crush on her.

All of Mazzy’s albums are amazing. Hope is such an iconic vocalist, So tonight that I might see is definitely one of my top 10 forever albums. Also, how was Fade into you not #1? Definitely on the all time top 10 list of songs from the 90’s.

She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen...full stop.

Have all their albums. Every song is amazing.

Mazzy star were so unique.only four albums but what a legacy.hope and dave were a genius duo.

Thanks for the video. I really love Mazzy Star and Hope Sandoval's music.

Hallah has to be one of the best songs ever written.

This video seems to be extremely well researched. The presentation is excellent. Well done.

Blue bird will ALWAYS remain my favorite song ever written! It is just so hauntingly beautiful!

The music changed in the 2000s. That style is still enjoyed by many but the music industry no longer wants to promote it.