New songs spin a pop vibe

Perhaps it’s coincidence, but every time I’ve interviewed singer-songwriter Jeremy Fisher, he’s frantically on the move.

Today he’s stuck in gridlock traffic just outside of Toronto. He’s on his way to pick up a musician for a tour that makes a stop at the Arden Theatre on Friday, Oct. 17.

Fisher just released The Lemon Squeeze, his sixth studio release, and it’s picking up some interesting chatter. It’s quite different from Fish Hooks (2010) and Mint Juleps (2012). About the only thing they have in common is food in the title.

Whereas Fisher, a double Juno nominee, has earned his stripes in the folks-roots realm, The Lemon Squeeze switches gears to the pop world.

Up until now, the bricks and mortar of his musical foundation was folk-roots, but the Ontario-based artist is also a huge fan of mass-market piano pop. Mega keyboardists such as Randy Newman, Billy Preston and Ray Charles have influenced the direction of his music.

“This new album lets me explore both sides of my personality,” said Fisher.

After Mint Juleps, the vocalist was interested in recording a folk-pop album. However, when he sat down to play the guitar, the songs refused to come. He faced a mental block.

“I decided to learn some songs on the piano and that’s where my inspiration came from,” he added noting that the piano was the first instrument he learned.

“My parents made me take it and I took it for a couple of years. Like an idiot, not knowing I’d need it later on, I quit it.”

By hosting piano parties with friends at this home, he could find his way “clumsily” over the keyboard. But he still had to brush up on the keys and learn to play in time.

He calls the 10-track Lemon Squeeze an album of singles.

By that he means that Mint Julep was a concept album. All the tunes shared similarities of instruments – mandolin, bass, and a bit of banjo.

The Lemon Squeeze instead is more lush.

“I threw the idea of a concept album out the window and made each song its own.”

Mining numerous types of relationship songs, he’s included I Love You…So?, a happy-go-lucky breakup tune, Happy Day, a birthday song, and Uh-Oh featuring Serena Ryder.

He is particularly pleased with how the writing came about.

“I wrote the songs in the spring of 2013, recorded it in the summer and mixed it in the fall. I did something different with the writing. I took a whole month, blocked it off and wrote songs.”

“Normally I write in between things. This was really fun. Instead of feeling anxious about having enough songs, I made time and was able to enjoy it. And that made me more open to new ideas.”

Providing support is bass and keyboard player Matt Ouimet and drummer Ryan Granville.

Joe Nolan, a Fort Saskatchewan born and raised roots artist, opens the concert. During his early career Nolan honed his chops as a busker at St. Albert Farmers’ Market. Today he is an emerging folk artist on the national front with three albums and a European tour under his belt. He will perform music from his Tornado album.