We recently connected with Zan Fiskum and have shared our conversation below.

Zan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I suppose the answer to this question comes in two parts. I’ve always been obsessed with the expression of feelings through music since I was a little girl. Writing, singing, and especially performance have been an innate part of who I am since the beginning. As a young person, it didn’t feel like a conscious choice to pursue music but more so that creating was just an authentic response to who I am as an individual. It was just what I did and loved so why wouldn’t it be a part of me forever? The simplistic beauty of adolescence.

Fast forward to my early twenties, somewhere along the way I had started to struggle with self-confidence and lost sight of my feeling of purpose, belonging, and even just the joy of creating. I didn’t really see myself as a capable musician anymore. At that time, I was working for a church and had been invited to go see Lennon Stella in concert at the Neptune Theater in Seattle by a coworker I’d known since childhood. She was a bit older than me and we never got the chance to become very close, yet we always shared a love and admiration for one another. I remember standing in the center of the Neptune Theater painfully watching this performance, not because I didn’t like it but because I deeply was envious. It felt like Lennon had something of mine and I wanted it back. My friend, pulled me towards her, looked me dead in the eyes, and said “You know you could totally do this and be really good at it right?” The unwavering confidence in her tone of voice and eye contact was intimidating but I knew she really meant it. This friend I’d admired most of my life, maybe without even knowing it offered me a course correction to return to my authentic self. That was the moment I decided to pursue a full-time career as a musician/artist and have never looked back. I’ve even performed on that same stage at the Neptune Theater since then.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born and raised in Maple Valley, Washington into a big, loud, crazy, and super artistic family. We were homeschooled and living on five acres, we volunteered weekly at a local dinner theater and traveled with my dad on fishing, skiing, horseback riding, hiking, camping, and you name it kinds of trips. My love for the arts and outdoors started young and you’ll find that nature is a very big influence in the music I create today. I loved growing up and living on such a spacious property. I felt the freedom to sing as loud as I could and hear my voice echo and boom into the forests and great spaces before me. Although we were quite far from the neighbors in our area they would often call my parents chuckling and let them know they could hear little Suzannah singing her heart out again. I’m thankful for the grace of my family and neighbors who endured my many many hours of songs.

I decided to become a full-time musician in 2019 after a friend of mine helped me re-find my confidence and love for music at a Lennon Stella concert. She turned to me while I was watching Lennon live out my dream and said, “You know you could totally do this and be really good at it right?” Apparently that was all I needed to take the leap of faith. But the daunting question was, where to start? So, I decided why not try to get on a TV show I’ve always dreamed of being on?! I auditioned for season 18 of The Voice on a whim and ended up making it to the Top 9 which spearheaded my two self-released records with over 3 million digital streams. I started a band and began touring nationally and regionally and have been blessed to share the stage with John Legend, Dave Mathews, Prateek Kudah, Robert Glasper, Joey Landreth, and others at some of the most beautiful and inspiring venues I’ve ever been to.

In most recent years I have started to settle into my sound and style as an artist. Having dipped my toes into all kinds of genres and inspirations in the past, I’ve found that my heart lives in the americana/folk world of storytelling and bitter-sweet melodies. My connection to the natural world and relationships rule the heart of my songwriting. While I’ve started to fit more appropriately into the americana genre I believe I also bring a unique approach of polished and technical vocals, which you don’t often find in this style of music. My goal as a writer is to be very honest and say what is so often left unsaid. It seems that many people attending my concerts often find my music helps them explore the emotions they’ve needed to feel. One person said to me recently “You helped me feel my grief and then made it okay again” which is honestly one of the best things I’ve ever been told.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I am so often asked, usually by older more established adults, “How can I support artists these days?”

I grew up in a world where you bought the album, constantly wiped it clean to prevent scratches, and put it in your well-organized CD case. Well, that’s not our reality anymore, and for better or for worse we can listen to whatever we want whenever we want. As an artist who has poured thousands of hours and dollars into making records I’m proud of and having decently good online streams I still only see a couple hundred dollars every six months or so which isn’t super sustainable.

If you’re able I’d highly recommend hosting a house concert. They’re basically free, just invite a minimum of 15-20 of your friends and have an artist you love come play in your living room. House shows are almost always the most lucrative shows I play these days. All I ask for is donations.

Share, like, and comment on the posts artists are putting out. It helps boost the creator’s engagement and also gives encouragement that says, “Hey I see you just put yourself out there on the big-bad scary interwebs and I support you!”

Show up to shows and buy their merch. Since the pandemic getting people to come out is way more difficult than ever and even well-known artists are struggling to sell tickets and maintain good relationships with venues. If you like what they do – help them out by showing up!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I think one of the most rewarding things to experience is completing a song. Maybe other writers are different from me but I often feel that I have to labor over a piece of music to get it to say the right things and in a way that sounds and feels good. I also experience a lot of ups and downs emotionally from loving the piece and then hating it, from thrilling excitement and then wanting to give it up completely. Pushing through and finding how to connect all of the pieces of your inspiration and vision cohesively can make me feel so proud.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zanfiskum.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zanfiskum/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zanfiskum/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zanfiskum4112

Image Credits
Jon Taylor Sweet, Rachel Bennett, Sound Glare