Get To Know Lisa Fishman…
Town and state you grew up in: Highland Park, IL
Town and state you live in now: I’m a bit of a gypsy at the moment, but currently I’m living in Tujunga, CA – which is deep in the San Fernando Valley, right up against the mountains of the Angeles National Forest. The last couple years I’ve gone back and forth between NYC and LA, with a little bit of time spent in beautiful Ojai, CA.
First instrument: Technically the piano, but I hated practicing, so I gave up lessons shortly after starting them (which I regret to this day!).
The first instrument I actually committed to was the guitar.
Instruments you currently play: Guitar, Ukulele, a little bit of piano and various hand percussion.
First performance: Well, if this includes performances in my childhood, then I believe it was playing Christopher Robin in a summer day camp production of “Winnie The Pooh.” I think I was probably about 6 years old. :>)
Last book you read: It seems that these days, I’m mostly reading articles, stories and news online. Right now I’m reading a lot about the history of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Favorite movie: Comedy: “Airplane”
Classic: “Sound of Music”
Favorite song: This is probably one of the hardest questions for me to answer because I’m such a lover of so many songs, but if I was forced to choose, I would have to say “A Case of You,” by Joni Mitchell. “I could drink a case of you and still be on my feet…” How can you not be in love with that lyric?
Who would you most like to have Dinner with: Sadhguru (aka: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev), a ‘modern mystic,’ as they call him, and founder of the Isha Foundation. He not only teaches “Inner Engineering” (Techniques to optimize your body and mind based on ancient yoga methods), but he is a deeply wise man on a multitude of subjects, and very involved in major philanthropic undertakings. I think this man has great insight into the important Truths of life and living, how to live in balance with the Earth, how to live a more meaningful and spiritual life, as well as an understanding and perspective on solving some of the huge global problems we currently face.
Three CD’s you can’t live without: Only three?!
The only definite is Joni Mitchell’s “Blue,” and then it’s a toss up between at least a dozen or more.
I’ll just randomly pick Nina Simone’s “Wild Is The Wind” and Harry Nilsson’s “Knnillssonn,” but there are so many others I could mention! I can’t be limited to three! haha…
Guilty pleasure:
Chicago style, deep dish pizza. My favorite is from Piero’s in the North Suburbs – where I grew up. Just mentioning it, I’m beginning to salivate…
Your most recent project: Finishing up the final mixes of a whole batch of original songs, with my producer and drummer, Tomas Hjort.
Message to the world: The longer I live, the more I believe that love, respect and connection are all that really matter. Love and respect for and connection to people, creatures, the Earth, and all living things. The line from the song “Nature Boy” by eden ahbez sums it up for me: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” For me, love is what gives meaning to our lives, and without it, all other pursuits are empty.
And, I will add: We must love, respect and live in balance with the Earth and the natural world. The Earth is our Mother, our source of life, our home, our gift from Universe, and our source of health. We are part of the Earth, and when we don’t respect it or live out of balance with it, we suffer. Another Joni Mitchell quote comes to mind: “We got to get ourselves back to the garden,” from “Woodstock.” I couldn’t agree more.
