Fisher aims to touch people's hearts with music

Singer/songwriter Jeremy Fisher said he wanted to be in a band like AC/DC.

"That was the group that got me thinking about making music my career," said Fisher during a phone call from San Diego. "But I like all kinds of music, including the Delta Blues like Mississippi John Hurt. However, the turning point of my thought process came in the form of John Prine.

"I mean, to be able to write meaningful songs that are funny and that can also make you cry."

Fisher decided to spend his life writing songs that touch peoples hearts. "It really just evolved, although I never had a back-up plan. I knew what I needed to do. I lived with very little amounts of money to get the career started. But it wasn't like it was voluntary poverty, like starving artists do. I just knew I had to cut back on things if I wanted to do this for a living."

Fisher said he was lucky his wife supported him during those lean times.

"She took care of the accounting and books — something musicians aren't good at," he said with a laugh. "And she is still very supportive of me."

Throughout the years, and three albums later, Fisher said he still has a lot to learn about writing songs and playing music.

"When I first started, I thought I was pretty good," he said. "I mean that was one of the reasons I decided to become a musician. But the longer I've been in this profession, the more I realize that I need to work harder at it.

"That's a blessing because it gives me the motivation to grow."

Growing is what he did when working on his most recent album "Goodbye Blue Monday," the independent release follow-up to his major label album "Let It Shine."

"I started working on the new album while I was still signed to Sony, who released 'Let It Shine'" Fisher said. "But they were trying to steer me in the direction of becoming someone like James Blunt."

So, Fisher and Sony severed ties and the singer/songwriter went on to record his new album on the Aquarius label.

"'Goodbye Blue Monday' is essentially a pop album, without being cut and pasted together like a lot of pop albums," he said. "It's a very accessible album, but doesn't sound like it. However, it is the one album I've done that I can listen to without cringing."

Fisher wrote 30 songs, 12 of which appear on the album.