Rodney Fisher: People Connected Because the Story Felt Real, Even If Told Cheekily (Singer, Musician, New Zealand)

Rodney Fisher Interview

"Often it’s overheard fragments or small moments in everyday life that spark ideas."

Q. You’ve worn many musical hats—from Goodshirt’s alt-pop energy to the intimate textures of Art School Dropout. How do you decide which “musical voice” to bring forward in a project?

It usually comes down to instinct and I try not to overthink. If it feels more vulnerable or personal, it seems to fit in my solo work. The recent album was focused on a natural reflection of my everyday life and creativity.

Q. Looking back, what did Sophie and those early 2000s hits teach you about connecting with an audience that still influences your songwriting today?

They taught me the value of honesty wrapped in a hook. People connected because the story felt real, even if it was told cheekily. That balance of truth and playfulness still drives my writing.

Q. If you could take one Goodshirt track and completely reinvent it in your current style, which song would you choose, and how would you reshape it?

I think it would be fun to play around with blowing dirt, as all the melodies and interplay could be interesting to layer up.

Q. Beyond the studio, where do you draw inspiration for lyrics - quiet moments, conversations, or unexpected encounters?

All of the above. Often it’s overheard fragments or small moments in everyday life that spark ideas. I love when something mundane suddenly feels loaded with meaning.

Q. If one of your songs could come to life as a short film, which track would you choose, and what would the story look like on screen?

I fiji baby. I imagine it as a surreal, slightly comedic film where everyday frustrations spiral into dreamlike sequences - half kitchen sink realism, half wild imagination. Well, that's where we were headed with the music video at least lol.

Bio

Rodney Fisher is best known in New Zealand as the singer of Alt-Pop Rock band Goodshirt, who had a string of hit songs in the early 2000s, such as; ‘Sophie,’ and ‘Fiji Baby.’

Rodney’s solo career began in 2005, when he recorded the ‘Songs From The Backyard’ album in New Zealand, before touring with Zane Lowe’s band Breaks Co-Op in NZ and the UK.

Fast forward to 2023, and his current project working with Christchurch music producers The Response, which Fisher has described as bringing a new sonic palette and an honesty to the songs themselves, has been releaded in 2023.

Follow Fisher on Instagram

Interviewed By Irene Elina Eldhose