Rising country star going back to her roots

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: STEPHEN ECHAVIA
London native Genevieve Fisher performing during New Music Night at Fanshawe in September. She’s bringing her sweet country tunes to Catholic Central High School on February 8.

Local country-singing darling Genevieve Fisher is returning to her alma mater Catholic Central High School February 8 to perform at its second annual Blue and White Gala, which raises funds for school teams, clubs and classes.

“I'm looking forward to getting back there and performing for everyone,” said Fisher. “I'm excited to get back there ... and show everyone what's been happening over the past couple years. I'm honoured that they asked me to be the main act that night, so it's going to be a lot of fun.”

Fisher noted that the importance of maintaining a connection to her roots is to stay grounded.

“For me, it's not about flaunting my talent or forcing people to come to my shows,” she said. “I have a great support system from family and some friends ... I think it's so important to stay grounded and not really change who you are because of success. That's my hope and I hope one day I won't change.”

It's been a whirlwind two years for Fisher; travelling to Nashville for a writing trip, opening for Hunter Hayes, shooting a music video in Cuba and there's no end in sight.

“A lot happened last year, and it's been a really great year,” she said. “We've been in contact with some Canadian labels, so my next goal is to get signed.”

The little girl with the big voice has real career goals on the horizon, and it all started from a very young age.

“I competed in my first competition at the Ilderton Fair when I was two,” she recalled. “I just continued to compete ... and it was around the age of 16 that I started taking my career a little more seriously and started songwriting.”

Fisher said it was her parents who made the discovery.

“At a really young age, [they] thought that I had the potential to be a singer. They said that when I was a baby, I'd always be singing and clapping in my crib, so that's how they realized,” she said.

Fisher is now in her last semester in the Popular Music program at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University.

While her reach is beyond education, it remains a top priority.

“My music career is so important, but I've always been taught that getting an education is also very important. That was definitely one of my main priorities, which was going to university and get my degree so I have that to fall back on,” she said. “And I chose Western because it's such a great university, it's in my hometown and it has a great program that I wanted to go into.”

Juggling a budding music career while finishing a bachelor's is no easy feat, and Fisher credited professors for seeing her through.

“I always make sure to tell my professors of what I do, just so they can maybe understand a little bit that I'm a busy person juggling a music career,” she said. “Especially being in the pop music program, they have been even more understanding because I'm sort of doing what we're learning.”

All in all, Genevieve Fisher is just your regular 20-something gal who listens to Avicii and Katy Perry. She just writes and records songs, with hopes of landing a record deal and meeting Shania Twain one day.

And for people thinking of following her bootsteps, she gave a few words of advice.

“Don't get discouraged,” she said. “No matter what happens, if you get shut down by a label ... take it as motivation. It forces you and pushes you to write better songs and practice and work on your craft. It doesn't come easy — it's difficult and people work really hard.”

Fisher's music can be purchased on iTunes and be sure to catch her February 8 at Catholic Central High School's Blue and White Gala. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at Centennial Hall Box Office online at centennialhall.london.ca or call 519-672-1967.