Published: July 2, 2009 12:25 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight July 2009 Edition
Fixer
Fixer Photo By M. Holden Warren
This next group has an amazing sound that showcases the band's enormous talent and their love for rock music. The best part to this band is their melodious tunes that will make you an instant fan. Recently, Front man Evan Saffer of Fixer recently spent some time with our Webzine talking about the band's music, his own personal experiences in the music business, and what Fixer will bring to the music industry. Enjoy!
Isaac: Let's discuss the band's beginnings including how Fixer was formed.
Evan Saffer: I had just come back from Philadelphia leaving behind another failed rock n roll project. I was sort of hopping from band to band trying to find people I connected with anywhere on the planet. I have been in bands everywhere from Paris, France to New York City. I finally moved back to the city of my birth and was scouring the New York City scene when I finally came upon Rev (drums) and 2 other Fixer members who are no longer in the group. They were performing under a different name until I arrived. From then on, we became Fixer. I guess it was fate and certainly took a long time to find them and then to gel and become a musical force. 9 years later, Fixer is still alive and Rev and I are still here along with Tommy Zamp (lead guitar) and Adam James (bass). I feel so different as a person and a musician since those beginning days. I've opened up so much to so many styles of music that I wasn't into in the beginning. Therefore, my writing and interests in what good music is has also evolved.
Isaac: Have you always wanted to be an entertainer or do you have a hidden passion?
Evan Saffer: It was either this or the circus and I'll tell you, I can juggle and ride a unicycle. hehe. I do like to entertain but recently I've sort of secluded myself and have spent more time alone writing, than ever before in my life. I grew up an only child and I think that compelled me to always want to be around people and gave me a love for the camaraderie of being in a band. Recently, I've learned to embrace the down time, to be alone and really use the isolation to educate myself. I'm reinventing as we speak.
Isaac: What do your family and friends think about what the band?
Evan Saffer: We're like Rocky Balboa, all heart, never quit and just keep moving forward. They love our band but I think people also love our dedication and commitment to our craft. It is still very difficult, even though I've been in Fixer for 9 years and making music since I am five years old. There is a constant battle for an artist to live and function as a part of normal society. Money and material possessions are a secondary thought and the craft is number one. However, since there is rent, health insurance, mobile phones, happy hour, movies, magazines, parties, fancy cars, ponies, orgies, hotel rooms, and all sorts of stuff that require money, it's hard to live in a shell. I'm constantly battling this psychosis and in the end, the artist wins and I continue to translate that frustration into music.
Isaac: What is the concept behind Fixer?
Evan Saffer: I think Fixer began as something and over time, with new members and a natural evolution (as I described earlier), it's become something else. Each record marks a moment in time and a new chapter so I'd rather let the music do the talking as to where we are at this time, as a unit. However, if you want to know our concept up until now, I would highly recommend buying our latest release "Before the Sun" off of our website www.fixermusic.com. It is the best effort culminated from all the years since the formation of the band up until our next album is released.
Isaac: What has been the biggest hurdle that Fixer as a band has had to overcome in the music industry?
Evan Saffer: As with any art, THE biggest hurdle is always getting the fans and the industry to love and feel the way you do about your music. However, I think what many artists do is fall in love with a vision they have for themselves and their music, and not necessarily the actual music or art they are making. They can see it in all its glory but forget to focus on it, and therefore can't imagine why they are not bigger and being accepted more in the industry. I think that is my most recent perspective on things which is why I've chosen to self evaluate my life, my music, and exactly what I'm putting out there. We're all so good at dreaming, but the craft comes with the hours, days, months and years of dedication. Personally, I have always had a huge satisfaction with simply performing my guts out. However, recently it's all about the writing to me, and that's what I'm doing right now.
Isaac: I suppose the financial burdens of being a full time musician and touring band within a crumbling framework of a music industry devoid of pioneers. We have found a few though and to them we give our respect.
Evan Saffer: Again, I still believe the pioneers are out there and where there's a will there's a way. I don't want to crawl onto the whining defeatist attitude band wagon and blame others for any shortcomings I perceive in my own life. I have deliberately separated myself from people who talk and act like the world owes them something. I'm going to continue doing my thing and at the end of it all it will be my life's best effort.
Isaac: What do you feel has been Fixer's biggest reward since the band decided to become a group?
Evan Saffer: The biggest reward is the latest album we put out "Before the Sun", because it's realized and took most of our career to make. We wrote the songs, produced it, recorded it and released it all on our own. Then, we booked and masterminded our own tours. Then, we got signed, the album was re-released, we kept getting more and more respectable representation and a bigger fan base. We toured relentlessly and got an even bigger reward as many people seemed to get what we were doing, and it gave them something special in their lives. I am very proud of that record. Fixer is recording another album now.
Isaac: What do you think you will bring to the music industry that has not been done before?
Evan Saffer: If I could describe it, I would be a better politician than a musician and a writer. So I choose to express it in the music that I put out. If you can listen and open your heart, hopefully you will feel what Fixer feels, what I feel, or any artist for that matter.
Isaac: For those new fans who are about to listen to your music for the first time, how would you describe the band's music to them?
Evan Saffer: In less than 3 seconds you can get online and go to www.myspace.com/fixermusic and listen to the music and form your own opinion. I think you'll LOVE it. Then be sure to order the record and pick up a t shirt!~ We usually throw in free stickers, posters, and other goodies when orders come in so do it now.
Isaac: What do you feel will be Fixer's biggest contribution to the music industry?
Evan Saffer: I think up until now our biggest contribution has been the live show. We stuck to our guns in performing and writing blood pumping feel good music in a time dominated by shoegazing everything sucks in life music. So people would come to our shows and see us going nuts on stage, smiling, dancing and feel our thunderous ROKKING goodness and say, what the f@ck?! This is awesome....and we say....cool.
Isaac: Where can fans locate Fixer online and what can we expect from the band in 2009/2010?
Evan Saffer: Find all things fixer at www.myspace.com/fixermusic and buy our record and paraphernalia at www.fixermusic.com. You can expect better tours as we continue to work on our new album. The latest tour to be confirmed is in Australia as part of the Rock Out 2009 Festival series. We should be going to Australia for a month of touring starting in September 2009. More information will be posted on that shortly on our websites.
Isaac: Give shouts outs to your family, friends, and fans....
Evan Saffer: I'd like to thank everyone for continuing to check in, read our road journal, and spread the word of Fixer even though we've been off the road for a bit. I think that's the true test of a fan. To stick together and stick with you even though you're not playing that night. Keep it up and keep sending people to www.fixermusic.com to buy our schwag, we need the money to keep recording! Of course the deepest affection goes out to our families and loved ones who continue to support us emotionally, spiritually and financially throughout the turbulent and extreme nature of our lives.
Isaac: Final thoughts from Fixer....
Evan Saffer: Thank you Isaac for interviewing me. I can see that you have a real love for music and sometimes you have to dig deep and have patience to find the stuff that really moves you. I'm a big fan of music criticism and I read many different music news sites, books, magazines, and listen to as much new music as I can find. So thanks for interviewing me and taking an interest in Fixer.
