Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Michael Isaak

THE RELEASE

Michael Isaak, an artist hailing from Los Angeles, beautifully blends the threads of tradition and personal freedom in his music. Growing up in an American community, Isaak brings a unique perspective to Western indie music. His early exposure to melodies and influences from contemporary folk and pop artists like Sufjan Stevens and Phoebe Bridgers has shaped his expression. Although he briefly pursued endeavors at Princeton, the irresistible pull of creativity drew him back to the music scene in LA. Since his return, he has achieved success with over 80,000 streams and captivating performances at venues such as The Hotel Cafe, The Viper Room, and The Whisky A Go Go. Isaak's forthcoming debut EP, titled “Forever Is A Scary Word,” delves into the nuances of identity and tradition through his distinct musical lens.

In his song titled "hey boy " Michael Isaak finds inspiration in a moment, where he looks back at his younger self and shares a comforting message. The song captures the idea that everything eventually falls into place with past obstacles paving the way for strength. With gentle melodies and sincere lyrics "hey boy" serves as a tender reminder of the significance of understanding and embracing one’s past self. Isaak expresses a longing to connect with his version while acknowledging that he can't. Produced by Owen Korzec and Michael Isaak featuring guitarist Declan Fines. This song resonates as a tribute to personal growth, resilience and the enduring power of self love. As listeners embark on this experience Isaak encourages them to extend kindness towards their past selves and recognize the strength that arises from overcoming lifes challenges.

THE INTERVIEW

If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?

Phoebe Bridgers has inspired a whole new generation of songwriters that push the limits of indie, folk, and pop. Bridgers has molded a lot of my lyric writing in her ability to delve into the most complex experiences with such simple language.

Joni Mitchell is the reason why we have contemporary folk music. Her use of alternate tunings, distinctive vocal inflections, and poetic style will always inspire me to step into new perspectives and grow as a musician and as a human being.

When I listen to Elliott Smith, I feel as though I am having a conversation with him, engaging in his emotions and struggles, walking down the street in east LA with him at 3am. He is the perfect example of using songwriting to build a whole different world, and he’s able to do it with just his voice and a guitar.

I discovered Neil Finn on a random day at Amoeba Music when my friend and I challenged ourselves to pick an album that we’d never heard before. Stumbling on ‘One All,” I was amazed at Finn’s advanced songwriting and production that was certainly way ahead of its time. Since this day, he has been one of my greatest musical inspirations.

Were there any specific challenges or breakthrough moments during the production of your new single that had a significant impact on its final form?

“Hey Boy” was a song that almost wrote itself. I adapted the song from a poem I’d written back in March 2022, a process that only took me about half an hour across both sittings. Production, however, was a different story. One challenge I faced in putting the song together was creating the soundscape; I really wanted to place the listener in the setting in which I wrote the song–a crowded coffee shop in New York City, evoking nostalgia of childhood and growing up. I spent months collecting pieces of field noise, downloading early voice memos from my phone, and extracting audio from baby videos. I then faced the task of putting them all in the track and making sure they fit the scene aesthetically and thematically. This seemingly small aspect of the song was one of the largest efforts I put towards this song, and my whole EP for that matter, but it was completely worth it.

Can you share insights into the collaborative process behind the creation of your latest single, including any notable contributions from producers, co-writers, engineers or featured artists?

I had two incredible guitarists, Owen Korzec and Declan Fine, that came up with their own electric parts for the instrumental breaks in the song. I couldn’t figure out which one I liked better so we ended up just blending both together. On the recording, mixed by Korzec and mastered by Adam Chamberlain, you’ll find a really cool mixture of two textures explored by each of the guitarists, which ended up really bringing the track together.

Can you articulate the impact or impression you hope your new song leaves on listeners long after they've experienced it for the first time?

I wrote “Hey Boy” as a love letter to my younger self, letting him know that things will always work out in the end. Although we never know what the future will hold, I hope that listeners take away that any challenge that arises is temporary, that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, and that everything will be alright.
The universe works in mysterious unpredictable ways, and accepting this fact is part of life, part of growing up, and part of learning to live happily.

Looking ahead, how does the release of this single pave the way for future projects, and are there any hints or clues about the direction your music might take in the coming months?

“Hey Boy” is the final single off of my debut EP “Forever is a Scary Word” which will be released on January 12, 2024. In the project, I expand on these themes of boyhood and coming-of-age, diving deeper into the depths of the mind, and touching more on my heritage as a first-gen Egyptian American. I am beyond stoked for this release, and where music will continue to take me in the future.

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