Stephen Fearing might be The Empathist. And he’s definitely a member of Blackie And The Rodeo Kings. But he is not a walking musical encyclopedia.
So when the prolific singer-songwriter was approached by former Uncle Tupelo / Wilco drummer Ken Coomer about recording together, Fearing had no idea who he was. Long story short: One fruitful Google search and a trip to Nashville later, Fearing has emerged with a fantastic new album — the aforementioned Empathist — that sets his smart, literate songwriting against Coomer’s rootsy-rock backdrops. From his home in Victoria, Fearing Zoomed in to chat about his vast catalogue, life as an independent artist, what’s in store for Blackie and lots more — including, yes, empathy. Enjoy.
