IZZY HELTAI RELEASES DEBUT LP FATHER
It’s a slow burn, a nuanced build. Yet, the harmonies create a cascading whisper of beauty - American Songwriter
Through 10 tracks of honest, contemplative perspective and welcoming songwriting, Father elevates Heltai’s voice to a level of maturity that suits the stories he tells, with every detail complemented by the hearty strum of warm Americana. - WBUR
Izzy Heltai has a talent for demonstrating nostalgia and incentivizing reflection - The Wild Honey Pie
Heltai's powerful voice, which at times recalls Jeff Buckley, goes a long way in giving his songs the necessary passion to convey their messages to listeners - Bay Area Reporter
Heltai’s timbre is Villagers meets Neil Young. He knows that a steady percussion and light guitar are enough to placate, and allow the listener to reminisce...There is an irrefutable cleverness and touching way in which he weaves years of relational trauma and pain into only one stanza. - Atwood Magazine
Izzy Heltai has the contemporary indie folk vibe nailed down perfectly. With a song that has both widespread appeal on the pop edge and layers of musicality...one not to be missed - Americana Highways
The track leans towards lighthearted Americana; 'Songbird' trades the dull moments of tour life for an optimistic view of open highways and spirits as high as Heltai’s vocals at the tail end of the chorus. It’s a tried-and-true take about living on the road that’s nearly too rosy to be real. Nearly. - Vanyaland
A precocious songwriter developing informed, heartfelt Americana - For Folk’s Sake
Delivering messages of empathy and accountability to the masses — at a time when they are, perhaps, more important than ever - Underground Music Collective
Izzy Heltai…is fast becoming one of our most played artists. Determined, striking and lyrically intelligent, this is top stuff - The Yorkshire Times
There’s an undeniable emotional connection between artist and song…Heltai sings with an emotional maturity that we all need and can all learn from. Empathy, absolution, and acceptance are sought and expected in return - Mother Church Pew
His writing style straddles the line between the pillars of Americana and the underbelly of gothic folk music. He has the emotional brutality of David Bazan or Simon Joyner and lacks none of their lyrical power - Country Queer
Photo: Joanna Chattman
Today, Massachusetts-based singer/songwriter Izzy Heltai releases his debut full-length LP Father. “The songs on this album were all written between the ages of 19 and 23, a coming-of-age paralleled in the arcs and narratives encompassed by a lot of the tracks on this record. These songs, simply put, reflect my transition from childhood into adulthood,” Heltai explains of the nine-song effort. “Finding myself as an adult has largely been about how the people who have always been there for me can fit into my life in a new way.”
With brutal honesty towards himself and forgiveness for those around him, Izzy Heltai’s music walks the elusive line between confessional and relatable. On Father, Heltai dives deep into his fascination with human relationships, and specifically the way that those relationships change and reorganize themselves over time. Throughout the record, Heltai braves the exploration of not only interpersonal and societal relationships but also his own relationship to himself; as a trans person, Heltai offers unique insight into the process of becoming and accepting who you’re meant to be.
“As a transgender person I have always lived in a world where self-affirmation was necessary for my well being,” Heltai told Atwood Magazine in their premiere of the album’s title track and its accompanying video, which features footage of Heltai as a child, carefree and unencumbered by the hardships of the world.
“As a young trans person, I was forced to know myself more than some people ever will. A world that always told me I shouldn’t and couldn’t exist demanded that I have confidence enough in my own identity that I could go out and prove that I knew exactly who I was. Due to my experiences, I was armed with the tools to radically reflect and affirm my identity from a young age. This instilled in me an obsession with knowing myself to the fullest, in any given moment. I am made up of moments. I live in the constant wake of what was,” he continued. “This song is about the people I see myself in. Seeing the roots of where, and who, I come from. The process of sifting through these home videos was a concrete and visual form of processing the amalgamation of all the moments I am made up of.”
The production is raw and full, with subtle harmonies and guitar lines weaving their way unexpectedly through the mix almost as if they were grown in the song. There is no sign of musical overthought, allowing Heltai’s emotional vocals to shine organically.
Whether he’s commenting on betrayal and discovering that things aren’t always as they seem (“The Stranger You’ve Become”), lamenting the effects of anxiety and depression on those you love (“Marching Song”), offering insight on the non-glamorous side of a troubadour’s life (“Songbird”), or realizing the world isn’t black and white, but rather a full spectrum of color (“Father”), Heltai approaches life’s questions with maturity and introspection. With his overwhelming empathy for humanity and willingness to search for personal responsibility, Heltai’s Father will not leave your heart or your ears unchanged.
Father is available for purchase at iTunes, Bandcamp, and Google Play. Be sure to watch Izzy Heltai’s full-band performance on Bandsintown’s The Outskirts series on October 26th at 4pm ET.
FATHER TRACK LIST:
TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF
THE STRANGER YOU’VE BECOME
MARCHING SONG
HUMAN
SONGBIRD
WHAT YOUR APPETITE
ANYONE TO ANYBODY
CATACOMB
FATHER
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