PureVolume

Members: Graham Isaacson

To categorize Graham Isaacson as a typical singer-songwriter, one would be missing the point. On his debut (due January 2008), Memories in Shadows, Portland, Maine-based indie singer/songwriter Graham Isaacson sounds like an old soul. His Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen-inspired music evokes feelings of intimacy, truth, and heartfelt emotion. His straight-from-the-heart lyrics would make most think hes been around the block more than the rest of us. And yet at 24, its clear his gifts have only just begun.

Graham Isaacson began his interest in music as a piano-noodling toddler and began writing his first songs as a teenager. When I first heard David Greys White Ladder and Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, it completely changed my way of thinking. Thats when I started to write pretty seriously. You can still hear traces of both of those artists in Issacsons current setlist. Once Graham ventured off to college, his songwriting became all-consuming. Thats when I realized I wanted to be a performer. Hes been performing ever since and, in the process, amassed a respectable local following and a sizable MySpace fanclub as well.

Memories In Shadows was produced by Melodromes Robby Baier at SubStation Recording in Housatonic, Massachusetts. Recorded in an old train station, Memories In Shadows manages to be both sweeping and beautifully raw in its delivery, with Grahams voice and lyrical guitar lines often taking center stage. In fact, its exactly those qualities that contributed to Graham landing Second place honors in the 2006 International Songwriting Competition (ISC), no easy feat considering the whos who panel of judges: Tom Waits, Norah Jones, Joss Stone, and LeAnn Rimes. Its also worth mentioning that the ISC received close to 50,000 entries from 82 countries throughout the world, of which Grahams was one. American Idol be damned.

Grahams uniqueness and dedication have also gained him the notice and respect of another of Portland, Maines notable residentsRay LaMontagne. Hes been really supportive and weve become good friends. Theyve also written a few songs together that will hopefully be on the next album. Graham has also recently begun co-writing with other established brethren like Joey Degraw, Jeff Cohen, and the Spin Doctors Chris Barron. At 24, an old soul indeed.