INTERVIEW: Hero Fisher — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Hero Fisher

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THE fantastic Hero Fisher...

has been talking with me about her latest single, Life Through Closed Eyes, and how the song came to be - she talks about her new album, Glue Moon. I was keen to explore how music found her and which artists she is inspired by; what is coming next and a rising artist we need to look out for.

Fisher explains her plans going forward and which three albums mean the most to her; what advice she would give to artists coming through and if there are any tour plans – she ends the interview by selecting a cool song.

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Hi, Hero. How are you? How has your week been?

Hi! So sorry for the late reply. My week has been great, thank you. I just moved to a new neighbourhood and have met lots of interesting and magical people.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

Well. My name is Hero Fisher. I am a singer-songwriter and I’ve just released my second album, Glue Moon. I was born in London to Australian parents and grew up in a small village just outside Paris, France. My father is an artist and illustrator; my mother a potter and writer and my sister is a weaver. All being artists, neither of us actually know how to make money.

Life Through Closed Eyes is your new single. What is the story behind it?

I think this song speaks to and old friend/lover, calling on shared memories. To me, it feels like an intimate moment of forgiveness, but from a distance. It should give relief, lift a weight off. The song is like a repeated chant, summoning lighter feelings. It should feel nostalgic, forgiving and peaceful.

What was it like putting the video together? Do you like making videos?

The video was shot by my friend and frequent collaborator Julian Broad, who consistently not only understands my visions but also brings them to another level that I could not have possibly imagined. He's a true artist.

We shot the video in the same location as we did the album artwork, by the giant reservoir Caban Coch in the Elan Valley in Wales. The valley used to hold a village before they flooded it in 1893, completing the dam in 1904. The idea of a submerged ghost-town lent perfectly with the general themes of the album.

Glue Moon is your album. Are there particular themes and times from your life that inspired the music?

A lot of the songs on the album are written with a specific place in mind, which I refer to as 'Glue Moon'; now the name of the album. It takes place in the wee hours, in the woods; by a lake, under a big, pale duck egg blue/green moon. While writing it, I was drawn to images of decay and nature taking over manmade structure; ghost-towns and solitary/transient characters.

Did you grow up in a musical family? Which artists did you discover at a young age?

Yes. Music was played all day every day in my home. Regulars were Bob Dylan, Van Morrison; Leonard Cohen and then I fell in love with Billie Holiday as a teenager.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of 2018?

I hope people buy the album so that I am able to make more music!

Do you already have plans for 2019?

Yes. I hope to be able to tour Glue Moon. I’m already working on a new album and am keen to do more collaborations with other artists.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

I love the festivals. I always feel like a new person after them. I also sang a song with Craig Armstrong and the London Contemporary Orchestra at the Union Chapel in London recently which I loved beyond words.

PHOTO CREDIT: Brett Walker

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks - because it reminds me of when I was first driven to write music.

PJ Harvey’s White Chalk - because I love everything she does.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ Skeleton Tree - because it is so delicate, feathery and moving. I’ve never heard anything like it.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

I’d love to support Cat Power, PJ Harvey; War on Drugs, Chelsea Wolfe and Nick Cave. I’d probably ask for whiskey and a bowl of pasta…