SCOTT FISHER
BIO HERE
ALBUM: "Scott Fisher"
LABEL: www.scottfishermusic.com
RELEASE DATE: April 12, 2005
PRODUCER: Fisher
FIRST SINGLE: "Nothing"
HEAR HERE: www.scottfishermusic.com, then click Multimedia, then click Audio
ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY: "Fleeing Towards Creation" (www.scottfisher.com, 2002); "Scott Fisher" (2005).
WEB SITE: www.scottfishermusic.com
PAUSE & PLAY: What was it like growing up in a diplomat family?
FISHER: "My mom was and is a professor and the Honorary Consul for Oregon. We never had to move to Bosnia or Thailand because of
it, although that might have been cool. It all seemed pretty normal to me."
P&P: Tell us about the exiled German pianist who gave you lessons.
FISHER: "Ilsa Glassell was her name. She left Germany at the start of the second WW to flee the Nazis. She was very strict and theoretical. She was an amazing classical pianist. I took lessons from her from 6-16. The first four or five years I tried to quit every week, but my mom wouldn't let me. Once I learned how play a bit, I started writing and improvising and began to love the piano. The classical lessons were always a struggle, though, because I wanted to learn how to play jazz. She despised improvisation or at least my attempts at improv during lessons. I owe all of my foundations to her, good fingering, ear training etc... Good fundamentals to build on. I always regret not having gone to see her before she died to let her know that I make my living playing the piano."
P&P: At Boston University, you majored in philosophy and political science. Do those subjects figure into any of your songs?
FISHER: "More and more. A lot of people disagree, but I think the most potent art always has an element of social commentary in it. I've been writing a lot more about the current rise of militarism and Christian conservatism and being tied to false idols generation after generation. My next record will definitely be influenced and partly defined by our current culture war. On the current album, 'Struggle' talks about mans love affair with war and destruction, and 'For Today' talks about making the same mistakes over and over. In the first verse of 'For Today,' there is a little reference to Plato's allegory of the cave with 'same old shadows on the wall.' Don't get me wrong. I still like a good heartfelt love and love-lost song."
P&P: How does your second album differ from your first? Is there a noticeable creative growth?
FISHER: "I think there is a noticeable growth in the sense that my first record attempted a wide variety of styles. I wasn't sure exactly what direction I wanted to go. I had a four on the floor dance track and a brit/pop ballad on the same record. It might have worked with more maturity, but I didn't make it work as a record. This record has more coherence and cohesiveness and I'm a more skilled songwriter than I was."
P&P: Have you approached the major labels about releasing your album?
FISHER: "Yeah, we showcased numerous times for Sony/Epic, Universal/Strummer, Artemis, etc. For me, it comes down to money. If I had money to
release a record, I wouldn't consider a major. We don't so we had to consider. With our new co-manager, Kevin Sutter, who is a great radio promoter, we felt like we could set up a nice grass-roots campaign and slowly build the record. We started 1 am approach to release this record. Publicity, distribution, radio
promotion,touring,retail marketing. We have all of the elements that a large label has minus the $$$$$ for marketing. It's too bad it costs so much to get in the game. A lot of great records never get a chance."
P&P: What do you imagine yourself doing 10 years from now?
FISHER: "Making records. Helping others make records. Touring. I just want to be involved with strong creative endeavors. Hopefully, I can grow 1 am approach on the label side of things and grow my musical career as well."
P&P: Out-of-left field question: Hillary or Condi?
FISHER: "Neither."
P&P: What's the first record you ever bought?
FISHER: "I think it was a cassette single from The Squeeze. I heard it on Z100 in Portland and bought it. I can't recall which song. This was probably 1989 or so. Not counting the time I made my mom buy me a KISS LP because I thought they looked cool. I don't think I listened to the record until five years later."
P&P: What was the first concert you ever went to?
FISHER: "I think it was Jethro Tull at the Arlene Schnitzer concert hall in Portland. They picked my friend out of the crowd before the show and dressed him up as a minstrel for some song. As a result, we got backstage and hung out. It was very tame. Ian Anderson was nice. They gave us beer."
P&P: What's the worst job you've ever had?
FISHER: "Tearing off a roof. My hands were bleeding and I felt like I had arthritis at 20 years old. It was the hardest money I ever earned."
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