Warren Heller, also known as Isador, revealed his self-directed music video for his debut track, “Falling,” late last month and we’ve been hooked ever since.
“’Falling” is about an overwhelming sense of powerlessness and fear for the future,” Heller told Billboard. We had the chance to ask Isador more about the track, and how he got his start. Read what he had to say below.
How did you get your start?
I started really getting serious about music at around 13, I’d come home every day after school and work on music until I’d go to sleep… it was the main thing I looked forward to during that time.
Who or what has inspired your sound and debut track, “Falling?”
I think “Falling” is a real coming together of a lot of my influences. The base beat is kind of a callback to 60’s British psych, and then there’s this big orchestral piece to it that comes from being deeply inspired by movie soundtracks. The chords and melody themselves have this kind of ethereal vibe that could come from listening to so much Grizzly Bear, and then my production uses a ton of sampling, layering, and chopping things together which I think is kind of a 90’s hip hop production mentality. I wrote the song right after I dropped out of college, isolated at home feeling like there was no escape in sight.
Is there a story behind your artist name?
It’s my middle name, it comes from my great grandfather.
What would be your dream tour and why?
St. Jerome’s Laneway festival seems awesome. It’d be great to tour the southern hemisphere during my winter time with a bunch of great musicians. I would also like to travel across North America via rail. Trains really appeal to me.
Tell us about your writing process; any unusual quirks?
Writing is my therapy. I’m able to work through a lot of things when I’m alone writing my music. In high school I was nocturnal so I’d go to bed right after school and then wake up around 11 or 12 at night and just write music until school at 8. I could really focus on my own stuff because there were no distractions.
What’s your favorite song to cover?
I like doing sad covers of early MGMT songs, I have one of “Kids,” maybe I’ll put it out one day.
If you were to create a “soundtrack to your life,” what songs would be on it?
Joyce Manor – Constant Headache, Solo – Frank Ocean, Shut Up Kiss Me – Angel Olsen
Would you like to add anything else?
Thanks for reaching out! Everyone please check out the music video for Falling I co-directed with my brother!
Filed under: Creation Stories, Features Tagged: Creation Stories, falling, isador, warren heller