Rodney Fisher is delighted to announce the release of his new single created with The Response, ‘ICU,’ out today, 28 April, 2023.
Fisher and The Response (producers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Victoria and Andy Knopp) have joined forces to create a beautiful and pensive full album Art School Dropout, due for release in July, 2023.
The first single, ‘ICU,’ heralds in this new, gorgeous body of work. Fisher describes the track as exploring “the inner turmoil from trying to be true to yourself, feeling lost and found at the same time. When you’re in love, but can’t stop sabotaging the relationship, and all the times you hoped things would work out. Perhaps it’s an ode to those who stick by you, through thick and thin.”
‘ICU’ can be read as ‘intensive care unit’ or as the text abbreviation of the song’s lyrics ‘everytime I see you I hide, taking on the world with a thorn in my side.’
The track is accompanied by a simple yet powerful music video, directed by Mike Braid.
Goodshirt frontman Rodney Fisher is an eminent artist in the Aotearoa music scene. He is a talented producer, guitarist, singer and songwriter, a successful musician, serial band former, gig facilitator, passionate music advocate, and mentor. Hell-bent on leaving no creative stone unturned, Fisher is deeply excited for this new collaborative project with such a vibrant alt-pop duo as The Response.
It's evident Fisher lights up when working collaboratively and this energy radiates through the new album. “Connection is at the heart of this album” he shares. “I have made a conscious decision to put these things back into my life, I really wanted to work with a team of people, rather than in isolation. Working with Victoria and Andy Knopp I had realised that the collaborative aspect of creating is something that energises me.”
The collaboration came about when Fisher met the duo after hearing their cover of Goodshirt’s ‘Fiji Baby’. “We got talking, and I made plans to send them a track to get their take on a remix version. I loved their treatment and new direction. They gave the track so much, it really blew me away,” he exclaims. “They had somehow made it sound more like me, and brought influences I have always had but never explored.”
Art School Dropout is an introspective album unlike any of his previous works. “This album feels intimate and personal, and that has a lot to do with when I was making it. The feeling of the album is largely a result of the environment it was made in - it was made at home, when the kids were sleeping, and that was my time to really focus on my music. ”
Debut single ‘ICU’ releases today via Aotearoa New Zealand indie music label Bigpop Records.