Al Fisk’s ‘Feelin’ It’ Captures the Volatile Rush of a Heart on the Brink
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
After three decades spent as a professional drummer, touring with a diverse roster of Australian artists from The Re-Mains to Wanita ‘Honky Tonk Queen’, Allan “Al” Fisk has turned his focus to his own project, stepping out from behind the drum kit and into the spotlight. As a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and sound engineer, Fisk’s music is a gritty mosaic of his influences, blending Alternative, Indie, Country, and Punk-Rock into a sound that is uniquely his. His lyrical narratives, often detailing a young musician’s wild journey on the road, now turn inward to explore the trials of love, lust, and their inevitable aftermath. His latest single, “Feelin’ It,” is a powerful example of this shift, capturing a moment of profound vulnerability with an unfiltered country rock ‘n’ roll spirit.
“Feelin’ It” is a compelling showcase of Fisk’s versatility, made even more personal by the fact that he recorded, played, mixed, and mastered every note himself in his new home studio. This self-contained production approach imbues the track with an authenticity that is impossible to replicate. The song pulses with a restless energy, driven by a raw guitar riff that feels both melodic and unpolished. The rhythm section, laid down by a veteran drummer who knows exactly how to build a groove, is both tight and subtly dynamic, mirroring the building anxiety of the lyrics. The instrumentation doesn’t just support the story; it embodies it, creating a soundscape that feels as intimate and volatile as the emotions being described.
Lyrically, “Feelin’ It” dives headfirst into that exhilarating and terrifying moment when a casual relationship crosses the threshold into something more. The song perfectly articulates the shift from hanging out to “getting personal” and the physical manifestation of this change: “you can feel it in your chest.” Fisk’s storytelling is brutally honest, capturing the emotional seesaw between exhilarating hope and crushing uncertainty. He pinpoints the specific, vulnerable moment of decision—when you’re not sure if they feel the same way and you have to “find out so you look for the right moment to ask.” It’s a beautifully rendered narrative about a small, life-altering risk, and the courage it takes to confront it.
In “Feelin’ It,” Al Fisk proves that his three decades of experience on the road have not only honed his technical skills but have also deepened his understanding of the human condition. The song is a brilliant sonic postcard from a seasoned artist, capturing a universally relatable moment of emotional reckoning with raw, self-produced integrity. It’s a testament to his belief in the power of music to be both a confessional and a rock ‘n’ roll anthem, all at once.