Track-by-Track: Michael Isaak Reviews His Debut EP ‘Forever is a Scary Word’

For a debut release, Michael Isaak has recorded a rather dynamic and compelling work with Forever is a Scary Word. The singer-songwriter’s debut EP was released last month, featuring six tracks that act as an introduction to his diverse musical background. As an Egyptian-American artist, Isaak combines modern indie pop and folk music with the sounds of his culture. It is deeply influenced by classical Arabic music but does not sound out of place within today’s modern pop landscape. Many of the songs reflect on his past and his childhood, looking back at the challenges and the journey that have led him to this point in his life and career.

Isaak first began work on Forever is a Scary Word in May 2022. Raised in a religious Egyptian-American community, Isaak explores this tension between respecting tradition and embracing individualism throughout the EP. It’s as if the core values of both his Egyptian and American roots are clashing together, and the results are in these songs. It wasn’t until the summer of 2021 that Isaak released his first original song, “Fabricated Love Story.” In that time, he has made some remarkable progress, with a record showcasing his growth and artistic ability.

Isaak joins us today for a special track-by-track rundown of Forever is a Scary Word. He explains his thoughts, views, and motivations behind these songs in depth.

1. “Hey Boy”

Michael Isaak: “Staring at my childhood bed at age 19, I picture my younger self waking up there every morning, getting dressed for school or church or whatever it was that day. I think about all the challenges he might be facing, all of the uncertainty he was feeling about his future, the fears he had about growing up and leaving home.

“But now, here I am, on the other side of the room, standing tall, having overcome those challenges, certain in my decision to pursue my career in music, grown up and always able to find my way back home.

“I opened my journal, and penned the words, ‘I wonder if I can channel that young person in his sophomore year of catholic school and tell him it’ll all be ok.’ This would become the beginning of ‘Hey Boy,’ a song about wishing well to the former versions of yourself, reminding them that everything will work out in the end. There’s so much I would say to my younger self, and I wish I could, but I’m also quite confident he’ll be able to figure it all out on his own.”

“‘Hey boy, I love you…’”

2. “Backfired”

“This song is my ode to Holden Caulfield, Charlie Kelmeckis, Miles Halter, Jess Mariano, and every other cynical, mysterious, and introverted character you can think of.

“When I was writing this song, I was thinking about a period in my adolescence where I felt like no one understood me, a phase I believe most young adults face at one point or another. When I played this song to my friend for the first time, she said it reminded her of Fantastic Mr. Fox. By no coincidence, that is one of my favourite stories. The comparison is actually quite fitting… A misunderstood protagonist keeping secrets out of fear and insecurity.

“This fear of being misunderstood can lead to a sense of isolation and a desire to hide inside your shell, and put on a front to the world that is quite different from who you really are. However, the truth always comes out, and that tragic epiphany is at the essence of my song ‘Backfired.’”

Michael Isaak ‘Forever is a Scary Word’ EP album artwork

3. “Okay With This”

“This song was inspired by a piece of advice my brother gave me in a time of hardship: to put a strip of blue tape on my bed frame to remind myself to think of one thing I’m thankful for every night before I sleep. This conversation was so mundane at the time, but turned out to be an important turning point in my career. It was the last meaningful conversation I had before moving back to Los Angeles to embark on my journey of pursuing music and putting together this EP.

“When I first wrote ‘Okay With This,’ the line ‘blue tape on a bed frame,’ which was almost the title of the song, was a reminder of all the pain I endured: leaving college, losing friendships, feeling way out of my depth for the path I started on. With time, recording and producing the song, and singing it live so many times, it became a symbol of hope that I could overcome hardship, and gratitude for how far I’ve come.”

4. “Love Me More”

“‘I love you so much, it hurts…’ With this song, I explored the feeling of love as an extreme. What if there is too much love? What if it hurts to love something or someone? To what extent will you go to prove your love?

“Writing this song and seeing it through from its conception to its recording was a healing experience for me, alongside the entire project. With ‘Love Me More,’ I wanted to simulate the sounds of the heart, like the low-fi delayed kick that comes in regularly like a heartbeat. The ending is a soaring crescendo with vocals and distorted strings intended to emulate a heart that loves beyond its breaking point.”

5. “North Star”

“On my last visit to Egypt, my uncle taught me how to locate the North Star. It was a surreal experience, given that growing up in a packed city like Los Angeles, you never really get to see the stars very often.

“This piece is a meditation on time, destiny, and the universe. With this one, I really want listeners to know that even if you’re feeling lost, there will always be something there to guide you… Friends, family, art, music, anything you can think of. We all have a natural inclination toward our destiny, whether we know it or not.”

6. “Plane Thoughts”

“I was on a flight from Newark to LA. This was the last time I’d see my college town for the foreseeable future. I opened up a new note on my phone, titled it ‘plane thoughts,’ and just started journaling whatever came to mind for the five-hour duration.

“In this seven-minute musical odyssey, I grapple with the thrill and fear of endless possibilities, offering a glimpse into my coming-of-age story and my experience as an Egyptian-American singer-songwriter. Since before I began putting out music it’s been my dream to fuse western indie with classical Arabic music. My collaboration with Abanoub Samir made that possible. With ‘Plane Thoughts,’ I really want listeners to sit back, relax, and enjoy this journey through my heritage.

“This track for me serves as the centerpiece of my EP. It’s an exploration of love, identity, and the intricate dance between the beauty and fear that forever holds.”

Tour Dates:

03/30 – The Echo @ 7:00pm w/ The Vices – Los Angeles, CA