Jodi Marie Fisher has visited Costa Rica three times — once on a ministry trip for five days, the following summer on a ministry trip for five weeks and most recently, to study abroad for five months.
Planning her fourth trip back, the singer/songwriter hopes to stay for five years. But before she leaves, the University of Idaho music and spanish graduate will play Bucer’s on Saturday.
“It’s kind of like my last hurrah,” Fisher said. “I’ve done so much music in the last two years that I haven’t performed here that I really want to share.”
Fisher grew up in a musical family. Although her dad was a Civil Engineer, he previously earned a music degree in 1976. Her mom has a beautiful voice, she said. Fisher would perform with Moscow’s Talent Team or Palouse Performers in productions, such as Grease, and she sang in Moscow Arts Commission Youth Choir.
“When I was a kid, I wanted to be a rockstar,” Fisher said.
LaDene Edwards, music teacher at Lena Whitmore Elementary School in Moscow, was a big inspiration for her, too.
Growing up with artist inspiration, such as Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, N’Sync and Backstreet Boys, Fisher formed a band called “Sage,” with a friend in high school.
When watching MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL), she heard Michelle Branch explain that one of her songs was easy to play on guitar. “Just the chords G, C, D,” Branch said.
So, Fisher asked her dad how to play guitar. He handed her a book and tuned the guitar for her to teach herself.
Flash-forward to 2013 and Fisher, 27, finished filming a music video in Boise to go along with her first studio-recorded track, “I Miss You,” one of 75 songs she’s written in the past 10 years. She hopes to have it compiled and edited for release June 10.
Fisher said she was able to have the music video completely funded through a website called kickstarter, where $1,585 was pledged for the project.
She compares her voice to Christina Perry’s and her style to an acoustic version of Coldplay — simplistic, with guitar and piano. “I love harmony and I love open-mic nights,” Fisher said. “I don’t limit myself to specific styles.”
Fisher’s father, Ed, said it was an awesome experience having Fisher be a twin, because while Fisher is a musician, her twin sister is a civil engineer — both Ed's avocation and occupation.
“Jodi is free spirited,” Ed said. “I can relate to both of them.” Ed will play drums with Fisher on Saturday.
“I’m glad to see she is carrying on the Fisher tradition,” said Ed, who emphasized a family history of musicians.
Fisher said if she can make it in Costa Rica, a country of almost 5 million, as opposed to the U.S., a country of 314 million, she can come back to the U.S. as a success.
But much like her “I Miss You” lyrics, she said she will return, but for now Costa Rica will be her home:
“If home is where the heart is, then I’ll come home to you. I miss you. I love you. My home sweet home is you.”
To listen to Fisher’s music, visit her website at www.jodimariecreativity.com or her YouTube at www.youtube.com/JodiMarieMusic.
Treffry can be contacted at ltreffry@inland360.com or (208) 883-4640.
If you go: WHAT: Jodi Marie Fisher performs at Bucer’s WHEN: 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Bucer’s Coffeehouse and Pub, 201 S. Main St., Moscow, Idaho COST: Free.
