Jessica Willis Fisher Cultivates Hope and Resilience in Lush New Album “Blooming”
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
Following a powerful solo debut that chronicled the arduous journey of survival and the tentative steps toward a new beginning, Jessica Willis Fisher returns with “Blooming,” an album that radiates with the vibrant energy of a season of thriving. Produced by Ben Fowler in Nashville, this collection of nine songs is a spirited and expansive exploration of folk traditions, invigorated by Fisher’s distinctive fiddle work and her deeply emotive voice. With eight of the tracks penned by Fisher herself, “Blooming” is rich with evocative nature imagery and deeply rooted in the themes of continuous growth and profound healing. It serves as both a wanderlust-infused soundtrack for life’s adventures and a deeply personal and resonant work of art.
“There are some flowers that bloom one time and that’s it, but how about we go with the flowers that come back every year?” Fisher muses, drawing a poignant parallel to her own artistic and personal evolution. “I aspire to be a perennial, if you will. Beautiful things take time to grow, to let things evolve. That’s where I feel all these songs have come from. This is the next chapter of both my story and my artistry. For me, those are linked in every way.”
Beyond the sonic landscape, Fisher embraced the visual elements of “Blooming” with a keen artistic eye. “It’s not just the music, but everything else that goes along with it, too,” she explains. “The album cover, which of course is the main visual everyone gets to see, was another way to flex my creative muscles. Once we decided on the title, ‘Blooming,’ I knew I wanted to tie in my long-standing obsession with Tennessee wildflowers. Then the purple Echinacea flowers are an ode to the garden of my great grandmother, and the Dogwoods, my favorite, always bloom around my Spring birthday. Everything you see there has a deeper meaning to me.”
The acoustic foundation of “Blooming” allows Fisher’s pure soprano to soar, intertwining seamlessly with her thoughtful songwriting and her signature fiddle playing. Drawing from a love of literature and the captivating influence of Celtic music, she masterfully blends elements of folk, Irish, bluegrass, and Americana into a cohesive and uniquely her own creative vision. This open-minded musical approach shines particularly bright in “Dogwood,” a song that stands as one of the album’s most revealing and heartfelt moments.
“‘Dogwood’ is about embracing the uniqueness of who you are, accepting every part of yourself,” Fisher shares with a gentle wisdom. “Even our deepest wounds can have a special kind of beauty. The world is better for having all of us, and our differences.”
A powerful sense of renewal permeates “Healing,” a rousing anthem that seems destined to ignite festival crowds with its infectious energy. In contrast, the joyful “June” sparkles with the bright anticipation of a fresh season, while “One of a Kind” unveils Fisher’s tender and romantic sensibilities. “Build a House” beautifully conveys the profound importance of companionship, unwavering commitment, and maintaining a curious and open heart towards the vastness of the world.
“Overall, this is a pretty positive record. I’m living a life I didn’t think I was going to have, in many ways,” reflects Fisher, who found love and married her husband, Sean, in 2017. “I have a lot to be grateful for, a lot to celebrate just seeing how far I’ve come in the last few years.”
Yet, “Blooming” doesn’t shy away from the shadows of the past. Moments of vulnerability emerge, most notably in “Honest,” a track that embodies the heartfelt transparency Fisher has cultivated with her audience and, crucially, with herself. “‘Honest’ is my way of maintaining my integrity,” she explains. “Being honest isn’t easy all the time, and I think we have an idea in our head about what love might be, or what honesty might be, or what courage might be, and then the lived experience of it is so much more nuanced and even conflicted.”
That internal conflict finds a poignant expression in “Seeds,” as Fisher sings the introspective lines, “How do I grow when I’m tangled in the weeds? What if it dies? What if it seeds?” Acknowledging the lingering presence of the past while resolutely focusing on the present, she observes, “There were seeds planted in my life that I do not want to grow. Those toxic things need to be weeded out. It’s an ongoing process.”
At the captivating intersection of old-time and Irish musical traditions, Fisher discovered the inspiration for “Find a Lover,” a delightfully catchy tune that possesses the timeless quality of a song passed down through generations. With a touch of playful imagination, she describes it as, “It’s as if Dolly Parton was Snow White in the Appalachian Mountains.”
In a similar spirit of honoring her musical roots, Fisher infuses her own vibrant energy into “The Fox,” a beloved folk song from her childhood that beautifully showcases both her deep appreciation for traditional music and her own effervescent and skillful approach to the fiddle.
With “Blooming,” Jessica Willis Fisher emerges with a newfound confidence in her unique artistic voice, harvesting authentic and deeply poignant material directly from her own life’s journey – embracing the wounds, celebrating the blooms, and offering a powerful testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Blooming Track Listing:
- Healing
- Dogwood
- Build A House
- Find A Lover
- Seeds
- Honest
- June
- One Of A Kind
- The Fox
About Jessica Willis Fisher:
Jessica Willis Fisher’s debut solo album, 2022’s “Brand New Day,” marked a significant turning point in her career. The intensely personal songs on that record captured a dramatic period of transformation as she bravely explored the complex emotions surrounding her departure from her family’s band, the Willis Clan, a necessary step in breaking away from the devastating impact of her sexually abusive father. Today, she stands as a powerful advocate for survivors, openly sharing her own story with others who have faced similar traumas, offering a beacon of hope and the possibility of forging new paths forward.
Following the publication of her poignant memoir, “Unspeakable: Surviving My Childhood and Finding My Voice,” Fisher returned to songwriting, channeling the experiences of a new era in her life and career into the creation of “Blooming.” The album’s title itself speaks volumes, suggesting that her story is one of ongoing growth, resilience, and the beautiful unfolding of a life reclaimed.