Q&A: Isaac Anderson on New EP "Fingers Crossed" and Upcoming Headline Tour

Q&AMusic

Sep 26

☆ BY CAM KHALID ☆

SINGER-SONGWRITERS ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST STORYTELLERS — and that’s exactly what Nottingham-born Isaac Anderson is when it comes to his music. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, soundtracked by guitar-driven sounds, captivating lyrics and warm vocals, he opens up his world for all to listen and feel.

From writing in his bedroom to playing wedding venues with his band and touring the globe as a session guitarist for One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Anderson is no stranger to the music scene. But this time, he is planning to show the world his singer-songwriting chops as a solo artist.

Armed with an arsenal of songs, he began to tease them on social media during the first lockdown in 2020. By early 2021, he amassed a combined 140,000 streams across YouTube and Spotify. To officially mark his first foray into his solo career, he then debuted his EP Love In Conversation. The four-track EP makes for a great introduction to his novel blend of acoustic pop, folk, soul, and alternative songs, complete with relatable narratives. It’s a testament to the emerging pop-rock star’s storytelling ability to connect with the audience on an emotional level.

This year, he is back with more, starting with a vibrant pop offering, “Mess Me Up,” followed by catchy singles “This Could Be Paradise” and “St Pancras” that easily put a spring in your step. Most recently he released the raw, reflective song “Hanging Up,” which took three whole years to make, with the final version introduced at his performances as the opening act for Only The Poets. The singles are part of his upcoming six-track EP, Fingers Crossed, slated to be released on Oct. 7. A bold departure from his first EP’s theme, this one is all about “heartache, hope, and existential dread."

Read on below to find out more about Isaac Anderson’s new EP, upcoming tour, and his incredible experience as the guitarist for One Direction star Louis Tomlinson.

LUNA: We know Isaac Anderson as the indie singer-songwriter. But in your own words, could you tell us who Isaac Anderson is?

ANDERSON: That’s a tricky one to start on, actually! I’m a guy from Nottingham in the UK who loves music. I sing, I play guitar, I write songs. I’ve been in loads of bands in my time and also worked as a touring session guitarist. I'm a big fan of dogs. That’s about all there is to tell, I guess!

LUNA: You've also appeared on Louis Tomlinson's (of One Direction fame) Live From London virtual concert in 2020, as well as on his Walls World Tour. What is it like to be the guitarist for one of the most famous artists out there?

ANDERSON: Working with Louis and being part of his band has changed my life. I’ve ticked off a lot of stuff from my own career bucket list in terms of the shows we played on that tour, and I learned so much. Not just the obvious professional stuff that comes with being part of a tour of that size but on a personal level too. Experiencing the way Louis runs his operation has been such a valuable lesson in the importance of positivity and kindness above all else. I’ve met some friends for life within the rest of the band and crew — the whole thing felt like a big family. I’ll be forever grateful for the experience, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without Louis. I owe him a lot!

LUNA: Speaking of tours, you recently announced your own headline tour of Europe for 2023. What are you looking forward to the most about this tour?

ANDERSON: I’m so excited for the tour and can’t quite believe it’s happening! Everything I’ve done up until now with my music has largely been online, which of course has its own validity. But I find it hard to gauge where I’m at by just sitting and looking at things happening through the lens of Twitter, Instagram, etc. You question if the numbers actually mean anything. I guess that’s the imposter syndrome talking! So when the tour went on sale and the shows started selling out it was a bit of an “Oh shit, maybe people DO actually like this!” kind of moment. I’m so excited to experience that in real life. I know a lot of people coming have been following what I’ve been doing for a few years now, so it’s going to feel really special.

LUNA: Will you be doing an international tour soon?

ANDERSON: I’d really love to. There are loads of other places around the world that are on my radar to play as soon as possible (Latin America is a big one!). I don’t have a manager or much of a team at the minute so finding ways to get around and make it work just takes that little bit longer. But it will happen!

LUNA: What is the best thing about performing live on stage?

ANDERSON: For me, it’s a reminder of why you got into doing this in the first place. I’ve always said that I want my music career to be an even split of writing and performing, as they’re the two things that have always fired me up, ever since I can remember. Writing is incredibly fulfilling and exciting, but I find that it can sometimes come with a lot of baggage. I overthink my every move when I write songs and then even more so when it comes to releasing them. When you’re onstage, you have to be in the moment — you’ve got no choice! So for me, that’s one of the only times I can switch my brain off and really soak in the euphoria of the moment. It gives you a buzz like nothing else, and I hope I can keep doing it for a very long time.

LUNA: We’re sure you’ll be performing your latest single, “Hanging Up,” too. Could you tell us more about the single — the story and inspiration behind it, as well as why it took three years to make?

ANDERSON: “Hanging Up” is a song I wrote about toxicity and dependency in relationships. It’s about being desperately committed and in love with someone (or something), even when you know it’s no good for you, and finding yourself coming back time and time again, even when you tell yourself you shouldn’t. I feel like that’s something so many of us have been through in one way or another. It doesn’t even necessarily have to be about a romantic relationship — it could be about a friendship, an unhealthy family situation, or even someone’s relationship with their job. I loved writing this one, and it only took three years to make because of my own chronic indecisiveness! I was constantly tweaking the lyrics and production — it was never quite right. There must be about three or four different demo versions floating about on my hard drive. I’m glad I persevered, though. I love the final version.

LUNA: You’ve also announced your new second EP, Fingers Crossed, featuring six songs about “heartache, hope, and existential dread.” Beyond that, what would you like fans and even new listeners alike to take away from the EP?

ANDERSON: I can’t wait to get this EP out. I feel like it’s a bit of a “best of” from my last few years. All of the songs on the EP (bar one) have been around for a while now, so the record as a whole feels like a carefully curated showcase as to what I can do as a songwriter and producer. It’s like I’m nailing my colors to the mast for the first time and showing the world who I am. I have another EP that I released last year, Love In Conversation, that I’m very proud of, but that was very much a nervous toe-in-the-water compared to the full dive that Fingers Crossed is. I feel like I’m finally ready to do this properly. I hope that people come on board!

LUNA: Let’s get personal: What does the EP mean to you personally?

ANDERSON: The EP title comes from a line in the first song, “Mess Me Up”: “fingers crossed that everything will be alright.” That’s the mantra I’ve been living by for the past few years — essentially just hanging on for dear life as the world throws curveballs at you, hoping things will work out in the end. That’s the thread that runs through all six songs. They’re lyrically quite different but all stem from the same sense of disorientation and confusion in some way or another. There’s a nervous vulnerability to the whole record. I think the whole thing is very me!

LUNA: Who has the biggest influence on your music, especially while working on the new EP? Any particular artists you’ve got playing on repeat?

ANDERSON: I wanted to make something that was equal parts rock, pop and singer-songwriter — something with heart and soul, and big choruses that wouldn’t sound out of place with a band in a live setting. I’ve had James Bay’s newest album on repeat recently. I’m a big fan of his stuff, and he’s a big influence vocally. Same with Sam Fender — he’s got a real knack for storytelling in his lyrics that’s been a big inspiration for the EP. Sonically, I’ve been referencing Holly Humberstone, The 1975, Dermot Kennedy, Mimi Webb, and a whole load of others.

LUNA: Lastly, if you could collaborate with someone, dead or alive, who would it be?

ANDERSON: Taylor Swift. Hands down!

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