Ian Fisher - “When I’m on the road I’m at home.”

Over the last years Missouri-born Ian Fisher has lived in several countries but his stays never lasted longer than a couple of months. Inbetween living in his american birthplace and cities like Vienna or Berlin the young singer/songwriter jhas been and is constantly on the road, playing his folky songs to people all over europe and the US.

Earlier this year I met Ian when he and the austrian songwriter Bernhard Eder were playing at “Endstation Sehnsucht”, a concert series that I run in Wuppertal. After an impressive unplugged- set and a very nice talk the next morning, I knew that this guy has more to offer, but a nice Country- influenced music and a love for Woody Guthrie.

Buzz: Are you a vagabond?

Ian Fisher: To be a vagabond is to be a wanderer without home or job. I have both, so I’d say I’m not one, but then what am I? Lets first look at the concept of vagabond. The definition I gave is not up-to-date with our time, or at least the reality that I live in. That is to say that that definition suggests to me that there are settled concepts of one home and one job. First, my job as a DIY singer/songwriter requires me to travel. It requires a life similar to the one I live due to the size of the venues I play and my small fan-base. Meaning, I can’t play to the same people in the same places in the same town over and over again and expect to make a living off of music or make any progress in my career. Second, I have many homes. When I’m in Missouri I’m at home. When I’m in Vienna I’m at home. When I’m in Berlin I’m at home. When I’m on the road I’m at home. So I guess if I had to sum up what identity my lifestyle brands on me, then I would call myself a Transient. I’ve got roots, I’ve got some direction, and I ramble round, but I’m not homeless nor am I unemployed.

Buzz: Is it easy for you to find a home on the road? What do you think about the whole idea of having a home?

Ian: As you could tell by my response to the first question, the idea of “home” greatly interests me. Home isn’t a few walls and a door. Home is a feeling and that feeling is different for everyone. For me it’s a feeling of belonging and purpose. I’m good at feeling at home somewhere, but that feeling usually only lasts for a short time. It’s difficult for me to find a home that really lasts. I guess that’s why I’ve chosen to live this life of constant flux, where the road itself becomes a home. Maybe it’s because I feel more of a purpose there. Either way, it’s nice for a time, but I don’t think it’s the most sustainable lifestyle.

Buzz: When did you know that you had to dedicate your life to music and traveling?

Ian: I didn’t have some kind of biblical epiphany one morning that possessed me to drop everything and become a traveling musician. It was more of a process than that. It all started with a feeling of unsettlement. I grew up in a small town that I always dreamed of leaving. This feeling remains in me and is what is behind my desire to travel. The other major desire that led me to where I am now was a desire to express what was inside of me. I found music as the best medium for me to use in order to do that. Those things started coming together in 2008 and 2009 and have remained in perpetual motion since. By that I mean, traveling inspires me musically, while music pays for me to travel.

Buzz: To travel around and perform songs has a long history. Do you see yourself in that folk tradition?

Ian: I don’t know if I’m part of a tradition or not. I love old folk and country music, but there’s a lot of music in that genre that was made between now and then that I don’t like. That’s to say, it’s hard to tell if you’re part of a tradition when you’re sitting on the leaves of a tree and you like the roots, but you don’t like the trunk or the branches. If you know what I mean. People could call me a part of a tradition if it makes them feel better. People could also call me a poser if they think I’m putting on some act. I really don’t mind. I just play what comes out.

Buzz: One of your main influences is Woody Guthrie. What do you think is special about his songwriting?

Ian: I love Woody Guthrie and he has been a big influence on me lately. What I love about him is that I can believe every word he says. He found some connection between his mouth and soul. Very few people ever find that, whether they be musicians or painters or politicians or whatever. He is just honest and he looks at a problem and calls it the way he sees it. He doesn’t look away or give up or pour some definition over it that somebody else told him. I know that I’ve got a lot to learn from him and I’m guessing everybody else does too.

Official Homepage of Ian Fisher

Ian Fisher at “Endstation Sehnsucht”