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Jeremy Fisher
Jeremy Fisher has been on a long road home.
Along the way, he has developed his craft by
writing songs on his acoustic guitar and
working out in front of live audiences
across the country.
With the arrival of Let It Shine, his latest
album and first on a major label, Jeremy
Fisher has compiled a group of songs that
resonate with honesty, humour and
self-expression.
Written mostly while on the road touring,
Let It Shine is a lyrical illustration of
Jeremy’s experiences of the world. “It’s a
tip of the hat to my influences,” Jeremy
explains “and depicts a snap shot of my life
at that time.”
Now based in Vancouver, British Columbia,
Jeremy has spent the last four years toting
his guitar and belongings on his bicycle as
he performed for fans from coast to coast.
He recently completed an epic cross-Canada
tour on his bicycle, entitled One Less
Tourbus, in support of his 2001 independent
release, Back Porch Spirituals. He performed
over 30 shows, covering 7500km (4600 miles)
from Seattle to Halifax on this six-month
concert tour. Jeremy partnered with The
Institute for Transportation and Development
Policy (ITDP) in raising funds for the “Tour
Des Femmes,” a sustainable transportation
initiative in Ghana, Africa that mobilizes
young women with bicycles so they may have
greater access to education.
 Over
the last few years, Jeremy spent part of his
time busking on sidewalks, an opportunity
which afforded him the prospect to meet many
colourful characters, each with their own
stories. It was the possibility of opening
his heart up to people that he normally
wouldn't get a chance to, which Jeremy found
so exhilarating. A journey such as this
allowed him the time to reflect and analyze
his own memories and experiences. Jeremy’s
introspection combined with his experiences
on tour enabled him to draw upon a wealth of
stories for Let It Shine.
“This rain might wash me away, but the sun
might burn my face” (Singing On The
Sidewalk)
Most of the songs Jeremy plays have been
tried out on various city corners, but
“Singing On The Sidewalk” was actually
written curbside in Seattle’s Pike Place
Market. “I came up with it out of
frustration when people weren’t stopping to
listen,” Jeremy recalls. “I’m singing to the
suits walking by that won’t look me in the
eye, the street kids that always give me
change, the drunks who always beg me for
change, the Christians that try to convert
me, the empathizers who think I’m homeless
and leave nasty tuna sandwiches in my case,
the girls who leave their photos and phone
numbers in my case and my girl at home that
I look so forward to seeing at the end of
the day.”
“Is time worth saving in paper dollar bills?
‘Coz we always just done it, don’t mean we
always will” (Fall For Anything)
His smart lyrics, wailing harmonica and
crisp guitar strumming style have captivated
rooms of strangers, especially during the
reflective “Fall for Anything.” Crowds have
been hushed by lyrics such as: “Will the
Devil pay your tab and take you home with
him?” and Jeremy echoed the sentiment of the
powerful lyrics, by recording it as the only
acoustic song on the album – just Jeremy,
his guitar and his harmonica. “It asks more
questions than it answers and I don’t think
I could explain it any better than what’s
written into the plain-spoken lyrics.”
“Bubble gum and house parties when you stole
your parent’s rum and tried to screw
everything that could breathe” (High School)
While penning “High School,” Jeremy
remembered the awkwardness of a specific
event. “I once went to a wedding reception
and sat at a table with a guy I used to hang
out with in High School. We went back and
forth for a good half hour about all the
stupid things we did back then and briefly
touched on what we’d been up to since we
were 16. Then he asked me how one of my
relatives was doing and I couldn’t for the
life of me figure out who the hell he was
talking about. It turns out he thought I was
someone else and I had to jog his memory as
to who I was.”
“Count my blessings the same way I count the
stars” (Shooting Star {In Spite Of It All})
One of the most honest and touching songs on
the album was written about the deep regret
Jeremy felt over one of his childhood
friends who slipped off the edge of society
due to psychological and drug problems.
“Writing ‘Shooting Star (In Spite Of It
All)’ helped me accept that it happened and
understand that beating myself up for
something I didn’t do is not going to help
the situation.”
“We ate your lemon meringue pie/ I suppose
that I shouldn’t lie, it’s the only reason I
came by tonight” (Lemon Meringue Pie)
The incidents in this song actually happened
to Jeremy quite literally. “After I’d
written the song I realized that it’s the
ultimate metaphor for teenage sexual
experimentation,” Jeremy reflects. “That
awkward, wonderful time, when you live your
life in constant anticipation of discovering
yourself and what lies ahead.”
“Shine, let it shine, even if it burns your
eyes. This light of mine is mine and I'm
gonna let it shine” (Let It Shine)
A gospel group that played the marketplace
in Seattle where Jeremy frequently busked
inspired “Let It Shine”. “One day they
played “This Little Light of Mine” with so
much soul, it made me want to drop
everything I was doing and run and join
them.” Jeremy was compelled to write a song
with as much optimism and self-affirmation
as he felt on that day and captured it with
“Let It Shine.” The song’s sentiment of
being proud in who you are and being able to
open and expose yourself, embodies the
flavour of the entire album, thus it was the
most appropriate title.
Concert Schedule: Saturday August 26th
•
4:30 - 11:00 pm
Don’t Miss
New Sunfest Entertainment:
•
Trials Bikes
Demo
•
Show ‘n’ Shine
•
and more
Presented by Wide Glide
Productions &
Warm Valley Contracting
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