You might think with all this recent talk about the unstable economy that Schuyler Fisk would be hesitant to switch careers. Regardless, the actress-turned-musician is following her own path, set on being the persevering artist that she has been characterized as. She is stepping out from under her parents’ successful Hollywood careers – from mother Sissy Spacek’s Academy honors and father Jack Fisk’s Oscar-nominated production designs – and fulfilling her own aspirations in the entertainment industry, primarily in the indie music scene. The singer-songwriter, who channels similar harmonies as “surfer pop” and fellow female songstress Colbie Caillat, is based in Los Angeles, and swapped the camera for the guitar last year. Her independent debut album, “The Good Stuff,” is a smooth independent pop record, with folk elements that help instill an optimistic and mellow mood throughout.
Fisk’s vocals are clear and recall a contemplative tone on a sunny, quiet day on the beach, as pictured through the album photos by Ruth De Jong. The guitar riffs and Fisk’s vocals in “You’re Happening To Me” and “Miss You” are reminiscent of KT Tunstall in her hit singles “Suddenly I See” and “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.” “Cold Heart” and “Who Am I To You” are also noteworthy for their melodious compositions. Fisk’s lyrics are straightforward and simple and sometimes, that’s all that is needed. Complicated segments and lyrics are not her hallmark but it definitely fits the popular formula at the moment. I can hear “Hello” on the light radio station, with its upbeat quality, perfect for the summertime. “Afterglow” rides on its piano and vocal riffs with a catchy and cheery pitch, unquestionably the album’s perfect sing-a-long song. The album overall feels like quite the good stuff for the relaxing drive out west or the spontaneous road trip.
“The Good Stuff” comprises of fourteen tracks, all of which are written or co-written by Schuyler herself. Most are all published by Skynote and released under ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and WB Music. She does cover J.D. Souther’s 1979 classic “You’re Only Lonely” and the updated version is true to the original song’s character. It is a bit more mellifluous, coming from Schuyler than J.D. but his single is surely timeless. Her album shows potential for a promising career trajectory that can probably benefit from more experimentation and lyrical and thematic diversity. Her talent is noticeable and is illustrated by her collaborations with other artists. She has performed with Sheryl Crow, Rachael Yamagata, the Cary Brothers, Priscilla Ahn, and The Weepies, all musicians with their own strong fan bases. It is only expected then that Fat Dot Publicity touts her as one of the top indie acts on Myspace with nearly 4 million downloads.
