It gives me a pleasure to introduce to you Isaac Harris the one who invented Emerald Bluffs. Isaac’s been concocting his own brand of music, and nothing testifies that better than his new song, “Autumn’s Eve.” It’s just like a warm hug wrapped in melodies that seem to know how you feel and comfort your soul.And guess what? A whole album will be out on May, “FORMATIONS.”
Finally, Isaac is all about telling stories through music in a personal manner. His “Autumn’s Eve” can be perceived as a captured moment with his memories, for instance, the passing romantic relationships and the beauty of nature. Through Emerald Bluffs, Isaac gets to make music, but he has fellow talented musicians on board realizing his visions.
They cruised everywhere, even in stylish spots like Bend, Oregon and Carbondale, Illinois. It’s a labor of love that demonstrates Isaac’s passion for his work and his talent to creating something enduring.
However, I leave the stage and let the star speak to you directly. Isaac, what’s the lowdown with Emerald Bluffs? And what’s the reason behind it? Where did you take it from?
Listen to Autumn’s Eve below
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What is your band name?
My band is Emerald Bluffs! It is a solo/collaborative project that I started back in 2020.
Is there a story behind your band name?
There is! I grew up in Southern Illinois and have always been inspired by the landscape of my home region. I stole “emerald” from my Dad who wrote a piece about a particular swamp in our area and called it an “Emerald Kingdom”. Then, one of my favorite features of my home are the unique rocky bluffs. Throw the two together and violà, Emerald Bluffs.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration lyrically in nature and through experiences in my life. I’d say I find my inspiration for my instrumentation through fiddling around, learning new things, and by listening to a lot of music.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
In the early years of my life, I took my musical cues from my parents. My Mom had grown up playing piano so when my sister and were kids she tried to get us into it as well. Of course, I hated it and before long, I had quit. From there, it seemed I was destined to live a rhythmless life, much like my Dad, who occasionally struggles to keep tempo with the band at local basketball games (sorry Dad).
Thankfully, my parents were lovers of music beyond learning instruments, and I was introduced to the likes of Cat Stevens, ZZ Top, and The Beatles at an early age. My love for those artists and many more only grew as my Mom, sister, and I drove to and from school every day, singing our hearts out. It wasn’t until 2020 that my I realized my years of horrible car singing had paid off. I could carry a tune, so I picked up a guitar and here I am.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
When COVID hit, I was fortunate enough to have access to a guitar my friend Luke had given me a year prior. It had been rotting in my truck, so I was happy to get it out and give learning a go. I quickly realized my favorite thing to do was not to learn covers, but to write my own songs. The only problem was I had 0 practical knowledge of how to do that.
So, I learned a few chords and slowly began writing piece by piece. As I needed/wanted to learn something new, I would just go to YouTube and watch a video. This process of learning has been one of my proudest achievements. It was something I did not think I could accomplish.
How could you describe your music?
I would describe my music as an indie blend with folk and 90s alternative influences. Some folks have compared my music to that of Phantom Planet and Coconut Records.
Describe your creative process.
My process currently is quite the long one. “Autumn’s Eve” along with most of the songs on my upcoming album have been written piece by piece over the past 3 years. Normally, I just sit down to write or play and see what happens. If I discover something new for a song, I discover something new, if not, I don’t sweat over it. I have about 60 half written songs because of this process, but I appreciate how organic it is.
What musician do you admire most and why?
I would probably have to say Yusuf/Cat Stevens. I love his lyricism and his incredible skill as a guitarist. He also stays true to his values in the face of adversity, which I feel like can be a challenge when you have a celebrity status.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
Free time. As an artist who has yet to make money off this craft, I must work for a living, which makes it hard to find time for playing and writing music. I am fortunate that up to this point I have worked seasonal jobs that have allowed me a lot of free time during the winters. Those winters along with late nights have allowed me to come as far as I have in 4 years.
What are your interests outside of music?
I enjoy getting outdoors and spending quiet time in nature. I have also recently picked up climbing. It is a great way to build hand dexterity for guitar playing and it also gets me off my butt. Not to mention, it is a thrill.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
I’d say there are 3: free time as I mentioned before, money, and inconsistent collaborators.
When it comes to money, I have 100% put more in that I have gotten out. I am okay with that but is hard to constantly be putting money into something when your income isn’t livable or consistent. That being said, I have found a way so far and have yet to be hindered by a lack of financials. For this I am incredibly thankful.
For the most part, my collaboration with other artists has been incredible and “Autumn’s Eve” along with my upcoming album would be nothing without their excellent and consistent contributions. There have, however, been some heartbreaking let downs and some collaborators who have backed out on me at some of the least opportune moments. I have learned a lot about working with others through this experience.
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
This one pretty much named itself. When I realized what I wanted to do lyrically on this track “Autumn’s Eve” became a no brainer.
What are your plans for the coming months?
I plan on finishing up production on my album ‘FORMATIONS’ and releasing it. From there, I plan on working on my skills as a guitarist and a singer so that I can start performing more live sets.
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans?
I do! I plan on doing some work with the boys over at Little Egypt. Another band that was also started in Carbondale, Illinois. Beyond that, I am sure I will continue to include several of my friends in upcoming Emerald Bluffs endeavors.
What message would you like to give to your fans?
My first album, ‘FORMATIONS’, is coming out in May! Follow @emerald_bluffs on Instagram for all the latest updates. Thanks for all the love y’all!
