Jessica Willis Fisher Brings Willis Clan Trauma to "Fire Song"

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There are songs that resonate from the way the songwriter takes some fleck of inspiration and weaves it into the words. There are songs that are and then personal in nature that it doesn't affair if you can't relate to the experience, you tin palpably feel the emotions behind them. So there is Jessica Willis Fisher'due south "Fire Song," which takes all of these musical maxims, and sends them into hyperdrive.

The 12 children and the two adults of The Willis Family—known past the stage proper noun The Willis Association—presented the perfect picture of the functional family when they began performing together, including moving to Nashville and making regular appearances on the G Ole Opry outset in 2001.

The Willis Clan became national and international stars when they appeared on Season 9 of American's Got Talent in 2014. Then in 2015 and 2016, the family starred in their own reality Idiot box evidence on TLC. But in a development that well-nigh feels like a cliche, it was ultimately discovered that the male parent of the association, Toby Willis, had been sexually abusing a number of the children over multiple years.

Subsequently fleeing from Nashville to avert arrest, Toby Willis was eventually apprehended in Kentucky on September 9, 2016 on rape charges from incidents dating as far dorsum equally 2004. He ultimately pleaded guilty to four counts of kid rape, and was sentenced to 2 25-year sentences on two counts and two 40-year sentences on the other counts.

Jessica Willis was the oldest of the 12 siblings, the bandleader, and the fiddle player, and says she was driveling starting at the age of three. Four months before Toby Willis was arrested and at the age of 23, Jessica fled the family afterward he father shell her with a belt. It was a tip from a family friend that ultimately resulted in the revelations of the sexual abuse inside the family unit. It is not known publicly how many of the Willis Family children were abused.

The children of The Willis Association eventually addressed the issues as a family, and continue on as a performing grouping, only Jessica Willis (who married in Dec of 2016) has moved forward as a solo creative person, though says she will always be function of the family as well.

Jessica Willis Fisher will release her debut solo album Brand New Mean solar day in April. Alee of the album, she'south released the rails "Fire Vocal," which addresses Fisher'south personal story in no uncertain terms, and in a way that's difficult to not be stirred by.

"Right before I left, I was having these nightmares that the house was on fire and I was the only one who could tell, and everybody else was going most their normal lives," Fisher says. "I was shouting, 'Wake up! Wake upwardly! We gotta become out!' And I realize now that that was me, trying to say to myself, 'We have to leave of here!' So, we're starting with 'Fire Song,' because in my story, I didn't get to start over until I went through that fiery office."

"Burn down Song" is an splendid rails on its own, with the ferocity of emotion pulsating through the verses, and Jessica'due south dabble sawing through to your bones. Knowing the real life story and pain backside the song makes information technology cut even harder.

Aside from 1 cover song on the upcoming anthology Brand New Solar day, Jessica Willis Fisher wrote all the songs herself, except "Fire Song," which she worked with co-writer Jon Randall on to get everything simply right.

We all carry luggage from our pasts and upbringings that hang around out necks like a yoke, weighing us down, and often keeping us at arm'due south length from our dreams or full potential. Unburdening yourself from that weight is a difficult endeavor, but one worth the work. Using information technology as fuel to propel yous forward and stoke your inner burn down is fifty-fifty more than advantageous. This is what Jessica Willis Fisher sets out to accomplish, and fulfills on "Fire Song."

© 2021 Saving Land Music

Fire Song, Jessica Willis Fisher, Jon Randall, The Willis Clan, The Willis Family