Australian born artist Sam Fischer talks about his new song You Don’t Call Me Anymore, coping mechanisms, writing, gigging, progression and new album!…
Sam Fischer Interview | Student Pocket Guide
Hey Sam, thanks for your time! Just 5 hours ago, you published a new music video: You Don’t Call Me Anymore. How are you feeling now, after just releasing this brilliant new song?
It’s currently 9:28am, I’ve been up since 6:40am and I’m deeply hungover but other than that I’m thrilled with You Don’t Call Me Anymore being out in the world. It’s a special song for me and it slaps hard so I’m stoked. Also thank you for saying it’s brilliant!
I’m sure a lot of students will resonate with this song, falling out of love and losing friendships being very relatable. When it comes to breakups, losses and getting over them, what is your coping mechanism, and do you envisage this song providing comfort for those feeling sad and empty inside?
Over the last few years I’ve really struggled with getting over the pandemic happening right when I was having my first hit and feeling like the moment I’d been working my ass off for, my entire life, was being crushed. My coping mechanisms have changed but right now I’m actively choosing my happiness, picking my battles and just learning to live with my grief instead of fighting against it. I hope YDCMA provides comfort and understanding and serves as an emotional refuge and release.
Sam Fischer
Is there a particular place or process you use when it comes to writing music?
I’m not too fussed about where I’m writing if I’m honest. As long as the energy’s good, there’s a warmth to the room and there’s good coffee nearby, I’m chill. The only important thing to me when it comes to my process is that I’m writing with people I love and are comfortable being vulnerable with.
Do you have any upcoming collaborations you can tell us about? Any plans maybe to release a new album this year?
Yes, they are collaborations and they are so. damn. good. and yes, it’s album time baby, here we go!
We’ve got to ask: what is it like touring with Lewis Capaldi? He looks like so much fun!
He’s a beautiful man with a heart of gold. He takes care of the people around him, from his immediate band, fans and team to the openers and our teams. He’s a legend. I owe a lot to him.
You are Australian born, but also based between LA and London – is that correct? If so, where do you call home, and what is the best part about it?
Home for me will always be Sydney, that’s where I’m from, where my longest friends are, the best food and coffee in the world and I’m really proud to be Australian. I like to say whenever someone asks where I live that “I pay rent in LA”, because I’m never there. However, after 9 years in LA, I think the next move for me is London and being more permanently based there and getting back home to Sydney more over the next few years.
What do you miss the most from Australia and for anyone who’s thinking of travelling to Oz, what’s your top tips?
I miss the people. There’s this comfortable freedom I feel whenever I’m around Australians, puts me at ease. Top tips for travelling to Australia are: eat everything, drink everything, put on sunscreen, go outside.
The colder months in the UK are almost behind us. We look forward to summer which brings huge excitement: festivals, parties, and outside gatherings. What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Other than festivals, parties and outside gatherings?? New music and playing shows, there’s a lot happening this summer, it’s gonna be grand.
When it comes to performing live, do you get nervous in any situations? Maybe for the larger crowds, and what might be your standout gig so far?
I get jittery and nervous/excited butterflies right before I go onstage but that fades pretty quickly once I walk on. For me as long as I can get some chat going with the crowd I’m set.
Now you are a hugely successful artist, is being an established artist, what you imagined it would be? If not, how is it different?
First off, thank you for calling me a hugely successful artist, always nice to be reminded that I’m doing alright. My path to being an “established artist” hasn’t exactly been a conventional one. I think a huge part of having a hit and building quickly as an artist is being able to have expanded reach that allows you to do bigger shows, play festivals and be able to really feel the moment. I wasn’t able to do that. So, I’ve struggled with the perception of me and that’s not something I thought I would feel so intensely once I was “an established artist”. Forever developing and I’m excited to put out an album and have a more conventional year of growth as an artist.
What advice would you offer someone pursuing their dream?
Make sure you love the sh*t out of what you do and you have a good time doing it. Surround yourself with good, honest, loving, supportive and driven people. Don’t be too precious and no one is thinking about you as much as you think they’re thinking about you.
