Interview: Fishburn
Fishburn, a musical experience based on electronica and contemporary themes have released their debut song 'The Flame'. Louder Than The Music spoke to Fishburn to find out more about the music and plans for the future.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
As a DJ for many years, I always had my ear in the House Music & Club Dance music scene. I even produced dance music from 2004-2011 and managed to even chart a track on the Billboard Club Dance charts. Fast forward to this year after taking many years for a sabbatical, I had a calling to use my music producing talents and turn them into making music to praise Jesus this time around.
Tell us about your new single 'The Flame' and what the inspiration behind it was?
It’s a song about being stuck in life, losing your way on the path without Jesus and asking Him to come back to show you the way. Jesus is the Flame in this song. I started piecing the video clips together during my extra time at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I immediately noticed that some of the clips struck a cord while playing with certain lyrics, and I actively started piecing a new narrative of what it was like to be a nurse, doctor or patient that needed more light/Jesus in their life to help them through this epidemic.The song & lyric video are nice but it's the music video that strikes home.
You have plans to release an album soon too - what can you tell us about that?
The album will be called Bukra which is Aramaic for Firstborn. Aramaic is Jesus' original spoken language. Firstborn hits many meanings here as it could refer to the first album of Fishburn, Jesus was a firstborn, I was a firstborn etc... The album isn't on a specific schedule but when the time comes & I feel there are enough tracks, it will be released officially. I know the titles to most of the songs, I just haven't sequenced them yet on a computer.
What message would you like people to take from your music?
My approach to the music of Fishburn is to have a Christian message expressed through different styles, different tempos, different singers, & different lyric perspectives. For example, one of the songs is from the perspective of Jesus writing to someone that is distraught and in pain and what words of encouragement He would give. Another song is about the joy inside of knowing Jesus love at your inner core. Another song is focused on starting something new..blindly...but trusting in Jesus to lead us through it. I'm not into real preachy music nor do I like the churchy preachy songs that can overwhelm Christian radio sometimes. I'm trying to keep it contemporary and relatable without overstepping the cheesiness factor...it's a fine line.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
My style is more electronic, whether it's midtempo, club dance, pop or upbeat. I love hooks & melodies & love making sugar for the ears...if any of these songs becomes an earworm one day, then I feel I have succeeded. Modern day psalms is what I'm hoping to accomplish.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
I absolutely LOVE Built By Titan. He produces more on the dance side of the fence and his production is top notch, densely layered and he always pick perfect vocalists. I'm surprised he isn't bigger yet because his sound is just phenomenal. Songs of his that I love are 10, The Darkness & Broken Love.
How would you define success in your career as an artist?
My desire for success is probably different from other artists. I can't perform live as I don't sing or play any instruments live. The success I'm truly desiring is to produce these songs that I have in my heart and mind and to get them out onto the world. Whether or not if the world loves them or ignores them, I just personally want to leave a legacy on this planet of positive messages and melodies and leave something my children & grandchild may one day hear and look upon and remember me fondly. Jesus gives us all talents... and when He asks us (after we die) "Did you use the talents I gave unto you?"...I just want to have the right answer.
What is your favorite album of all time?
Ooh that's a hard one. As a DJ, I wouldn't say I have one, but I can list many that influenced me. Thriller was the very first album I bought with my own money as a kid. Herbie Handcock's Futureshock was also a big influence on me. Kraftwerk's album was fantastic and fed into my hunger for different sounding electronic music when I was younger.
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your phone. What track is it?
"Africa" by Toto....my all time favorite song...all my life. If it was only Christian music on my phone...it would be David Meece's "Falling Down"
What does the next year hold for you?
I plan on finishing up my album Bukra and release dance remixes for some of them. I just hear the voice in my head to keep moving forward & let the pieces fall... trust in Jesus. This planet is just a temporary ride and I'm just riding it one day at a time writing songs.
