10 Questions with ... Nan Fisher

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Record stores. MCA, Capricorn, Columbia. Atlanta, L.A. New York, and Atlanta again. Then NFPromo. Now Concord.

1. After 30 years in the record business, what are your memories of when it began at Capricorn Records?

It began way before Capricorn. There was this thing called records, and you could buy them in a magical place called a record store. My first store was literally modeled after The Wizard Of Oz. Yellow Brick Road, flying monkeys, tape castle. Worst of all, we showed The Wizard Of Oz every Sunday on our huge projection TV. If I never see that movie again it'll be too soon. Then other retail. Then MCA Records here and in L.A. So Capricorn was a mid-career stop. A lovely stop, but mid-career.

2. It was 16 years ago that you formed your own company, NFPromo. What led you to Concord Music in April 2018?

Things went south (myself included) with Columbia -- they made changes, and I was part of them. I got a call from Gary Spivack, who was at Capitol at the time (I wonder if he even remembers) asking me to work his records. After saying no a bunch of times, he closed me. Little did I think that it would last a month, much less all those years. With Concord, I worked several of records for and with them - and with each record, the relationships grew stronger, and eventually, they brought me on. Jill Weindorf is, hands down, the best promotion executive I have ever worked with. She gets it like nobody else. She's remarkable. The promo staff is incredible, and has welcomed me with open arms. I am so lucky to be here, and I remember that every day. And Angelo, Elias and I are all from Queens. It must be the water.

3. How would you describe your promotion style?

Blunt. I may not be the most creative, but I do my damndest to be the best prepared. Knowledge is power.

4. You have new music from The Revivalists to kick off August. Tell us about the new single "All My Friends." What else will you have coming up for Alternative Radio this summer?

"All My Friends" is, to me, such a special song, not only because it's so good, but because, selfishly, I get to help with things that as in indie I was rarely privy to over the course of running NFPromo. We are very collaborative, and I am thrilled beyond belief how the song has been welcomed at radio... It has literally been stuck in my head since the first time I heard it. And the album is so great. For reals. We have a new (to the U.S.) band from Australia called Castlecomer (some of you may have seen them play in a fucking cave at The Gathering) -- "All Of The Noise" is getting some nice looks at this early point in the life of the song. They will tour forever, and they'll be everywhere, not in a cave, throughout the foreseeable future. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are touring, Manchester Orchestra is touring, The Record Company is touring, so radio will be involved with them. I'll remain mysterious from there. And summer is almost over. Crazy.

5. Where do you get your greatest pleasure in doing record promotion?

Taking a band or artist to the next level. Turning people onto things they otherwise never would have paid any attention to. Putting a square peg of a song into a round hole of radio, and having it sound great in the mix. There can be doubt and skepticism about records that sound different. Proving that different is GOOD.

I'm also a spin dork. It's the only math related thing I do relatively well.

6. What is your favorite part of your job?

The results, if it breaks your way. And hearing my songs on the radio. If that ever gets old, it's time to do something else.

7. What may surprise people the most to learn about Concord Music?

It's a huge company. We're not a little indie label. There is way more that I don't know about it than what I do know about it but I'm loving the learning process. We have everyone from Elvis Costello to St.Vincent to Ghost to Lucas Nelson to Prophets of Rage to Kidz Bop. Take a look at Concord.com - it's incredible.

8. Where is your favorite market you like to visit and why?

I love Seattle. The water, the trees, the people, the food, the lack of humidity. And there is some pretty good radio there, too!

9. What would surprise people the most about you?

That I'm a cancer survivor. So I'm learning not to sweat the small stuff. No matter how bad a day I'm having, at least I'm not doing chemo. That adjusts your attitude pretty quickly.

10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _______?

Roothie, Briscoe, green tea, Springsteen and M*A*S*H after work.

How did you become a Braves fan?

I was actually a Mets fan as a kid. I really became a Braves fan while lived in L.A. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, or something. We've had some rough years, nice to see things getting better. I just hate it that they moved to Cobb County. We locals call them The Burbs.

What are weekends like for you?

Trying to recharge -- go to Piedmont Park, eat some type of Asian food on Buford Highway, take Briscoe out for longer than normal walks, catch up on stuff on the DVR. The treadmill and I will get reacquainted soon, too. Just started Handmaid's Tale. Yikes. We just got our pool re-done; I'd like to actually use it.

What are your hobbies?

I read a lot; I love to cook both indoors and out, getting into Atlanta United Soccer, too. The Atl is a huge soccer town. And going to shows -- not as many as I used to, but the ones that matter.

Anything else you would like to add?

Vote. Not saying for whom, just vote.