Ismay followings her Grandfather footsteps
Interview conducted on Feburary 03, 2020
by Dan Locke
California based singer-songwriter, Ismay, has announced the official release date of their upcoming debut album;,Songs of Sonoma out February 21st. With this announcement Ismay shared “A Song In Praise Of Sonoma Mountain,” the first song on the record that immerses the listener into the region they fell in love with. The song was premiered withAmerican Songwriter. Blissful guitar strings are plucked as the field recordings of Sonoma build upon the single, showcasing the beauty of the region.
Dan Locke: Why did you pick the name, Ismay?
Ismay: Ismay came from a book I was reading a few years ago when looking for a band name, called Bad Land: An American Romance. It was all about southeastern Montana (I highly recommend traveling there, look up Badlands National Park), and in the book, there was a town. That town was created by a railroad company when they laid down the tracks, and so the railroad executive got naming power. He decided to combine the names of his children, and came up with Ismay. Interestingly enough, the town changed their name to ‘Joe, Montana’ in the ’90s as a publicity effort back when he was one of the foremost football players. I also felt an odd connection there, because I once rode a horse that used to belong to Joe Montana.
How was working and living on the family ranch?
Living on a ranch has been a deep education in the world of livestock, ecology, rural livelihoods, and navigation of social isolation. There is so much about the land and our environment that I couldn’t understand until I spent a good amount of time on a farm or a ranch. From the subtleties of how grass grows here depending on when the rain comes, to which birds indicate whether an ecosystem is “healthy” or not. I hope everyone gets to spend time on a farm or ranch, to understand the amount of life there is thriving in many of those places.
What did the ranch produce?
Cattle, horses, sheep, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. It’s a pretty diverse ranch, and I rely on it nowadays for a lot of mines & my family’s food. It’s all done organically, and we’re also restoring our creek with trees and shrubs.
Did working on the ranch help developed your musician abilities?
I certainly think it has. Cowboy poetry and songs are said to be made out of spending long days in the saddle. For me, while I don’t write most songs on horseback, but there’s a lot of time on a ranch without structure or companionship. That gave me a lot of opportunities to write. When I was living here completely alone, I would go out to the barn after dinner and just write with my electric guitar, knowing no-one could hear me (which is a huge asset to a songwriter!).
You were introduced to the musical world through the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival which was created by your Grandfather Warren Hellman. What type of person was he?
He was an intense, humorous, self-effacing, dynamic person. He used to wake up at 4 in the morning so he could play banjo for hours before going to work. I’ve met so many people since he passed that felt very close to him after only meeting him a few times—he had a way of being open and often forged strong bonds in his interactions with others.
How did you learn how to play?
I learned to play as most kids do, by buying a guitar at a shop at 15, and learning my favorite songs at the time—Cat Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens. I played little open mics at my high school several times, and each time someone would come up to me and say “I didn’t know you played music!”. But I really got my start in being more serious about music when my grandfather passed away, and we put on a few memorial concerts. There I got to sing with his band, and found amazing support from his friends who helped me build my musical career as it was just beginning.
How did you get your first musical instrument?
I grew up playing piano, very reluctantly I may add! Getting me to practice I’m sure was a nightmare of parenting unto itself.
I got my first guitar though at a local shop called Bananas at large. It was a Takamine, and the employee kept saying, “try it out” but I didn’t know any chords so I was just strumming open strings which sounded terrible. It took me a long time to be able to play through a song, and I think I’ve blocked many of the memories of the frustration of learning the guitar.
You are a musical family. What do your family members play and are they in any bands?
I have four siblings that all play music in some way, as well as my dad, many cousins, and aunts and uncles. They’ve all got a ton of bands, probably 5-8 all together with different combos of family members. It’s so wonderful to see us all playing music, and all of these bands really formed after my grandfather’s passing in the same way my music began then.
I play in a Lucinda Williams tribute band with my dad Mick.
You played for the first time at your Grandfather’s memorial. How nervous were you?
I was so nervous I couldn’t even play guitar. My hands would shake so much I couldn’t form chords or strum at all. Luckily I do ok singing when I’m nervous, though I generally do better when I’m relaxed. Some people say they play better when they’re nervous but I don’t think that’s true for me. If I’m shaking then generally it ain’t so good!
What do you think your Grandfather would say about you being in the family business?
I hope that he’d be glad that I’m playing music, knowing that his having started Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is really the reason I am doing it. He loved bluegrass so much, which might seem strange for a Jewish Banker from San Francisco/New York. But Bluegrass is an art form that resonates beyond its origins.
You have opened for the likes of Steve Earle, Mandolin Orange, Justin Townes Earle, Robert Karl Keen, Chuck Prophet and the Mother Hips. What learns did you teach you about the world of music?
Each time I see one of these artists play, I relearn a fundamental lesson—that they are great artists not because they are all similar, but because each of these artists has a remarkable uniqueness. They’re all genuine, and the only ones who could write and play the songs that they do. Some of these artists are loud, some are quiet. Some are exacting and perfecting, some are loose. Some are deeply troubled, others aren’t. Some are old, some are young, but they’re all incredible artists that I look up to.
What style of music do you play?
I consider my music to be “indie/alternative folk”, because it’s heavily based on the folk music traditions, but it also seeks to push the styles that bind traditional folk music. I hope that the songs I write make the listener feel something deeply. Whether that’s sadness, excitement, a desire to create themselves, nostalgia, hope, or something else, I think music is a powerful force to help us feel.
Tell me about A Song in Praise of Sonoma Mountain?
‘A Song in Praise of Sonoma Mountain’ is the song I chose to start my record because it centers it on the core intention of this project–to create music about a connection to place. For me, Sonoma Mountain is where the world begins. It’s where I live and work on a ranch, and it’s where I made this record. I included field recordings in the track, of birds, frogs, and wind from the mountain itself, because in my mind all of these elements are their own songs in praise of the mountain. The mountain is at one time seen as an entity within itself worthy of praise, but simultaneously made up of the things that are praising it.
Do you think of yourself more of a songwriter or a performer?
That’s a great question! I would say more so a songwriter.
For people who are more of performers, I could imagine that they perform, and then write songs to continue doing that.
For me, songs come first always, and I perform to share the songs.
What was the first song you wrote?
When I was about 8 or so, I wrote a song on the piano about Halloween. I was beginning to learn about minor chords, and so Halloween fit that aesthetic perfectly for me. The lyrics went:
“In the haunted house where people are still sleeping
Ghouls and ghosts come creeping…” and so on
Any plans for any touring this year?
Yes indeed! I am doing some West Coast shows in March, and heading out to Montana and possibly Colorado. I’ve also got some exciting festival announcements, including things I’m working on myself!
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
I hope I am a person that is more self-accepting, and that I continue to make art that inspires me. That would include songwriting, recording, audio storytelling, and whatever else I enjoy. I also hope that I’m serving my community, whether through environmental work, supporting farmers and ranching, or encouraging everyone to be the creative person they are deep down.
Anything in closing?
Thank you so much for having me on this interview. I am so grateful for all of the help music journalists provide to help us get our work out there. It’s an important service you do to curate and celebrate music, and I know it’s a labor of love.
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