Isak’s Island is Norwegian songwriter and guitarist Aksel Undset, with sounds similar to that of 60s and 70s songwriters such as Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen, with an originality.
We chat to Isak’s Island to find out more about the past year and the most recent album release…
How’s 2023 been for you so far?
Good! It has been a very productive year so far, which is always great. How did you first get into music My and my friend August Kann decided to start guitar lessons together when we were 8 and 9, and pretty soon we started writing songs and put together a rock band and played at local stages south of Oslo.
Who are your biggest musical inspirations?
I’ve had many inspirations up through the years. Led Zeppelin was the first really big one as a kid. Later i got into a lot of early prog stuff. But in terms of the singer-songwriter genre, I love and have loved the music of people like CSNY, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Sufjan Stevens, Angelo de Augustine to mention a few.
How would you describe your music?
I would say modern folk songs with focus on lyrics.
Your new album, Fallen Anchors On The Sea Bed, was released at the end of May. Can you tell us more about this album.
The album was written around a year ago and much of the material has to do with the situation I was in and feeling at the time. Longing feels like a central theme to me in retrospect. The album includes some incredible musicians – Herman Wildhagen on pedal steel, Brooke Sharkey on vocal (she is also a wonderful artist), Leo Geller on bass and Håkon Aase on strings.
What is your favourite track from the album?
Right now I think it must be Waves on the shore
Do you have any plans for the rest of the year?
Yes, I’m making another album.
Check out more Entertainment Now music news, reviews and interviews here.
