Having already established his place on the scene with a breadth of rich and warming releases these last few years, New York-based artist Evan Isaac returns to the fold once again to deliver his shimmering new single 'Watch It In The Wind'.
Capturing more of that warm and effervescent indie-pop aesthetic he has been building for himself since he first arrived, 'Watch It In The Wind' makes for a beautifully rich and endearing listen. With his spellbinding vocals spread across a euphoric production from start to finish, he continues to shine as a true innovator on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The very old upright Steinway piano that my parents bought me for very cheap when I was about 11 without knowing much about pianos. It has history in an old barroom, before belonging to the owners who sold it to us. I like to believe it influenced my music forever.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
As a young teenager I was obsessed with Green Day’s “American Idiot” and Smash Mouth’s “Astro Lounge”. As I got a little older into high school I became enamored with The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. I learned pretty much every Beatles song and my favorite part of the day would be going to my old upright piano and playing those songs with all my heart. I think I sounded pretty good.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Smash Mouth’s Astro Lounge or Backstreet Boys Backstreet’s Back.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
“Ojala” by Silvio Rodriguez or “My Song” by Labi Siffre.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I think showing up is the most important thing. A little hint I would give people is: start one thing, work on it for a bit, don’t become attached and then after maybe a short break start a second project. Usually, that second project will be even better than the first. The first one is there to get yourself out of the weeds and get the juices flowing. I try to cultivate my presence in the moment in all aspects of life in order to allow my creativity to flow naturally when the time arises.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Labi Siffre, A.G. Cook, Janet Jackson, and KNOWER are all artists I’ve been really into recently.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I’m going to have to go with Frank Ocean. Wouldn’t that be something!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding part is both the creative process itself, and being able to connect with other people through music. Whether you are in a collaborative environment with other musicians or writers, performing at a show, or just speaking to people through your records the whole process is very meaningful and impactful, even though at times it can seem like a trivial pursuit.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating part has to be the expectation of becoming a master of social media before even beginning to be taken seriously by anyone in the industry.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Abandon all hope of fruition! It’s a phrase from Buddhism, it’s very hard to come to terms with as an artist but the more you embody it, the more things can actually come to fruition. I certainly haven’t mastered it!
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Evan Isaac's new single 'Watch It In The Wind' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.