Q&A with Sam Fischer
Words by Helayna Harris
Australian pop-rock singer-songwriter Sam Fischer has recently set off for his world tour, where he is already showcasing his excellent showmanship through poetic storytelling and beautiful vocal talent. His debut album “I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me”, which he released late last year, features some heartbreaking tracks and fan-favourite sing-a-longs that have made for a show full of emotion and heart. Excited to learn more from his point of view, we asked him a few questions about his creative and performance experiences.
What was the most memorable aspect of collaborating with Guy Sebastian on “Antidote”?
It sounds cheesy but honestly, that's my brother right there. All we've done from the start of Antidote is crack shit jokes, eat an absurd amount of sushi and gas each other up. I've done a lot of collaboration but this process has been my favourite. To find a real mate and champion in each other has been incredible... also singing Antidote with him at the Australian Idol grand finale 20 years after he'd won, that was batshit crazy and something I'll never forget.
When you are away, what do you miss most about Australia?
Probably Bob Hawke's Beer and Leisure Centre honestly. If you haven't had the prawn toast there you haven't lived, best Chinese food in the world. Also my friends, my best mates are still at home in Australia and I don't get to see them enough.
Do you have a show that you have performed that is your favourite? What made it so special?
I played a tiny acoustic show for probably 100 people in Paris on my last acoustic headline tour and I don't know how they did it but that audience sounded like there were 1000 people smashed into a sardine can having the time of their lives. Sweating, partying, singing, raging, it was unreal. Everything I want at a show.
Your debut album, “I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me”, came out late last year. How does the feeling of releasing an album compare to releasing singles and being featured on other people’s songs?
To me it felt like a milestone that had been a really long time coming. It’s unfortunate I couldn’t put out my album a few years ago, I feel like I’m playing catch up but I’m really proud of the body of work I was able to create. Singles are exciting and it’s nice to be able to have a sole focus but they feel like the entree to a main meal, it tastes amazing but you’re not totally satiated and are just ready for something you can really sink your teeth into. My album ‘I Love You Please Don’t Hate Me’ also represents such a hectic, chaotic, tumultuous, heartbreaking but rewarding and unbelievable and surreal few years of my life that I’m sure in a few years will feel beautifully nostalgic to listen back to.
How different do you think your experience with the music industry, and your life in general would be if it had not been for the COVID-19 pandemic?
This is such a triggering question because I ask it to myself all the time. When I’ve had a few drinks and find myself alone my mind tends to wander to this place of what would’ve or could’ve or should’ve happened had the pandemic not have happened. I would’ve been able to come home to Australia when it was all over the radio and shown that I’m a homegrown boy because I feel like people still don’t realize I am! I would’ve toured the USA with Niall Horan, I would’ve done TV with This City all over the world, I would’ve played festivals and worked with brands and seen opportunities I’d only ever dreamed of. I would’ve met other artists I’ve always wanted to meet. I would’ve been able to travel with This City and What Other People Say and meet fans all over the world, putting my face and personality to the songs. What’s really hard about it all is that all of these things were in my hands and I knew when they were coming and what they would look like and to have everything ripped away by something totally out of my control was and still is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with. With all of that said, I’m really lucky to still be here, I have an entirely new team, nothing has been as romantic as I had dreamed it would be but I’m working hard as ever to get that momentum and moment back and I can say that I’m mostly at peace with everything and am happy most days.
Is there a song on the album that is the most important to you?
I think it will always be hard to not feel like This City is the most important song to me, it launched me further than I thought it ever would. Other than that, Carry It Well will always hold a really special place in my heart and though I know you asked for only one song, I’ve also got to mention Landslide because it’s a beauty and it’s the prettiest love song I’ve ever written and anyone has ever heard!!!!
