Daniel Isaiah

Daniel Isaiah - Hour Montreal cover story

Daniel Isaiah at Casa del Popolo!

After a standout performance at this year’s edition of M for Montreal in November, Daniel Isaiah will be performing a proper homecoming show on January 25th at Casa del Popolo. DANIEL ISAIAH HOMECOMING SHOW OPENING ACT: GRAND CHEVY WEDNESDAY JANUARY 25th CASA DEL POPOLO || 4873 SAINT-LAURENT 8$ || DOORS 8PM Buy your tickets here RSVP on Facebook

Consequence of Sound - Daniel Isaiah on Top Ten Sets of M for Montreal

A local troubadour, Daniel Isaiah and his band coaxed festival goers into an easy state of mind with his Mark Knopfler-style of soaring and soulful guitar riffs and his Chris Isaak-like voice (complete with pompadour). The female drummer for the band had an amazingly dedicated light touch that helped propel this live show above many of the other folk-oriented acts.

Alan Cross on Daniel Isaiah

But within 30 seconds of his band coming onstage, I was transfixed. Three people with Daniel and his guitar partner providing a twin reverb-drenched twin hollowbody guitar twang attack. Think Dire Straits meets Chris Isaak with a slight David Lynch twist. Extremely evocative, atmospheric and even slightly ominous. The songs were great.

Meet You at the Show reviews Daniel Isaiah in Montreal

a beautiful set of heart-plucking songs that would build up into intense, moving climaxes. People underestimate how full a three-piece band can sound. The guitar, bass, and drum combination made for a rich, honey-sweet listening experience, and Daniel’s beautifully sad vocals left you mesmerized and floating into space. Come to think of it, it felt like his voice had a bit of a bluesy, Timber Timbre tinge to it in some parts.

Pop Matters reviews High Twilight

High Twilight is a record full of all sorts of twists and turns, keeping delighted listeners well on their toes.

High Twilight - Pieuvre.ca review

Tantôt sérieux, tantôt tristes et parfois drôles,... ses textes sont solides et bien inspirés ... Ses collaborations sur l’album sont bien choisies et paraissent bien naturelles. Omniprésentes, les guitares sont pures, nettes et riches. On écoute Isaiah pour la première fois et on a l’impression de déjà le connaître un peu. Alors, on s’empresse de l’écouter encore… et encore.

High Twilight - Wicked Local (Boston) review

At what point does an artist have so many influences on display that he rises above them to become something completely unique and interesting in his own right? I’m not sure, but I think Montreal’s Daniel Isaiah has passed it ... Familiar but never derivative, 'High Twilight' is a low-key coup.

Daniel Isaiah - American Songwriter Interview

Make room in your iPods for High Twilight, the stunning debut from Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Isaiah. The Montreal native with the warm, lived-in voice and ability to hop styles like trains has earned comparisons to Bob Dylan, Will Oldham, Bright Eyes, Leonard Cohen and Calexico. We asked the artist and occasional filmmaker about the nuts and bolts of songwriting, and the one song he wishes he’d written....

High Twilight - Herohill review

"Hints of Canadiana, spacey pop, warm organ notes and even Dixieland are introduced with a deft touch, but Isaiah works best when he’s delivering Gold-era Ryan Adams nuggets like “High Twilight” and “Anita, On the Banks” ... without question High Twilight is a record with many rewards."

High Twilight - Aspen Times review

There's a little bit of Leonard Cohen when he sings in French on “J'habite un pays” ... a little latter-day Bob Dylan on “The Hours”; and a whole lot of artists like Calexico, Fleet Foxes and Josh Ritter, who are rooted in folk but adamant about using the full range of instruments and production techniques available.

Montreal Hour - High Twilight review [4 stars[

Opening song Anita on the Banks, one of two tracks recorded with Plants and Animals frontman Warren Spicer, is particularly convincing, sounding just like vintage Dylan.

High Twilight - Charleston Gazette review

an ambitious and well-crafted collection of songs that shows off both his versatility and taste.

Daniel Isaiah's High Twilight is out today!

Big day here at Secret City as we release Daniel Isaiah’s debut album, High Twilight. Daniel is no stranger to many of us here in his native Montreal, having quietly established a reputation in recent years as one of the city’s best songsmiths. When he signed to Secret City based on the strength of a few demos he recorded with Plants and Animals’ Warren Spicer, we knew he’d put together a good record. But we didn’t know just how great it would be. Dan writes songs in a sort of sacred/profane lineage, in the tradition of guys whose names are thrown around a lot (maybe too much) as reference points: Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Ray Davies. Forgive us if couldn’t resist doing the same, but we think anyone who still goes back to these icons because it’s what they love, will find plenty to love on High Twilight. It’s available in stores across North America, on iTunes, Amazon, and directly from us. Daniel is launching his album this Thursday in Montreal with an intimate show at the Divan Orange (4324 St. Laurent), at 8pm. Tickets are limited and available at the door only. He’s also got shows lined up in Toronto at Lee’s Palace (June 14th) and New York at Piano’s (June 24th). Details can be found at his artist page. You can also follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

High Twilight the Wheel's Still in Spin mini-review

"Montreal singer-songwriter’s debut album is diverse, but at its base it sounds like a modern Dylanesque songwriter with a voice like Paul Simon."

High Twilight NBC New York preview

"Keep your eye on this fellow."

RSL Blog preview

"soft, rapturous intent-filled debut of an album ... the results are beautiful and kind of chilling... I can't say enough good things"

Daniel Isaiah reveals debut, High Twilight

Secret City Records is pleased to announce the release of the debut album from Montreal singer-songwriter Daniel Isaiah, High Twilight. It will be released on June 7th in North America. High Twilight is an ambitious work that makes no reservations about diving into big classic themes like love and death, sex and myth. Musically the motifs are each given their own respective treatment, as the record features everything from Americana to French chanson and even a touch of Dixieland. But it’s Daniel’s voice, both literally and figuratively, that strings the album together and manages to make it somehow sound both contemporary and timeless.

High Twilight Direct Current preview

"Sounds like: an appealing mishmash of styles that somehow works, helped in no small way by Isaiah's voice, an instrument that seems to take on a different personality and sound in each song ... What we like: the gentle, toe-tapping "Emma Grace"...graceful, hymnlike album opener "Anita, On the Banks", slowly building to majestic release ...jangling, light-fuzzed guitar riffs that ride the persistent beat of "The Naked Night"..

High Twilight premiere on My Old Kentucky Blog

"With poignant lyrics and a deft handling of a century of popular music styles High Twilight would be considered an ambitious record for an established artist; coming from a relative unknown, it verges on breathtaking. This is a record that literally demands repeat listening, and savvy music lovers will detect traces of fellow Canadians Leonerd Cohen, Luke Doucet and Robbie Robertson, as well as that Dylan fellow from up in Hibbing. And while mainstream popularity may elude Isaiah for now, I feel like he’s just too talented to be kept a secret for long. "