Interview
1. CRU CRU Michael Isaak, super nice to have the chance to chat with you! First and foremost what got you into music?
There was never a moment that I made an active decision to become a musician. Since I was little I was drawn to music. I learned to play piano by ear at age 9, later teaching myself ukulele, guitar, and electronic music production in my teens. I even got my first production credit at 15. I began writing my own songs at 18.
2. What's "hey boy" and who is the boy on it?
I wrote ‘hey boy’ as a love letter to my younger self. The song is an ode to personal growth, resilience, and the enduring power of self-love, evoking the universal experience of growing up and finding one’s path. There’s so much I would say to my younger self, and I wish I could, but I’m also confident he’ll be able to figure it out on his own.
3. What album from the indie folk scene inspired you the most?
My favorite indie folk albums are songs by Adrianne Lenker or Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers. The way that these artists use the guitar to its unimaginable ability and recall such complex emotions with extreme clarity is absolutely incredible.
4. What’s the best place you ever visisted?
In December 2022, I visited Egypt, my place of heritage, for the first time in my life. I had a spiritual experience seeing all of the monuments and historical sites that I’ve only studied in books my whole life. It was magical to see where my parents and grandparents grew up, and it made me realize how important it is to never forget about where I come from.
5. What's your top singer/ songwriters of all time?
If I had to pick a few, I’d say Elliott Smith, Phoebe Bridgers, and Joni Mitchell.
6. How much influence does nostalgia has on your sound?
Reminiscence for the past is a huge part of my lyrics and music. I write a lot in states of reflection and often gravitate to the sound of my adolescence–Lorde, Frank Ocean, and other early 2010s music.
7. Do you see yourself as a bedroom artist?
My new song “hey boy” and my EP to follow were all originally written and recorded in my bedroom. I definitely consider myself a bedroom artist but I would love my next project to be a studio album.
8. What's your favorite music to relax to?
I have a playlist for relaxation that contains a lot of songs with soothing guitar patterns. Clairo’s album Sling is one of my favorites for mindfulness and unwinding.
9. Did you see the Boyhood film? If yes, did you like it?
This film has been on my list for a while but I still have not had a chance to see it. Some works that inform the themes of boyhood in my music include J.D. Sallinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, and Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
10. Do you agree with the Pigeon?
Huge thanks to the Pigeon for having me for this interview, it was a pleasure.
Review
Michael Isaak's "hey boy" is a song that rises from a sea of nostalgia, the waves created by the acoustic strings of Michael's dreamy guitar. Michael undoubtedly has a gift with words, portraying himself as the boy who lived in the country, and it would be a crime not to mention the production of this song, which does more with less by bringing rustic and intimate textures to the night. I also want to mention the guitar solo and the drums that make "hey boy" slightly more dynamic as it progresses - an indie gem that ends up being a hymn to childhood!
The Pigeon added the new single to his Weekly Gems playlist on Spotify. You can check out the released music below. If you like what you hear, make sure to follow along so you can stay on top of future releases!
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
This coverage was created via Musosoup
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