Jake Isaac

Singer and songwriter Jake Isaac folds classic pop, soul, folk, and worship traditions into tuneful, emotionally direct material. After issuing a series of self-produced EPs that began with Hearts & Parables in 2012, he released his first full-length album, Our Lives, in 2017, followed by Honesty in 2021 and For When It Hurts in 2023.

Raised in South London, Isaac took up drums in early childhood and later added piano and bass guitar. As the child of a reverend, he grew up steeped in worship music. By sixteen he was already teaching drums, and in his late teens he began working as a part-time session musician and songwriter for Duffy, Natalie Imbruglia, and Cynthia Erivo.

He soon turned to writing for himself, self-releasing the EP Hearts & Parables in 2012. Steady live work led to the concert recording Back to You the following year. He also continued behind-the-scenes collaborations, including sessions with British soul artist Gabrielle. His next studio EP, War Child, arrived in 2014. After opening for Ella Eyre and Joan as Police Woman, he made his major-festival debut on The Other Stage at Glastonbury. The appearance drew the notice of Elton John, who signed him to Rocket Record Company and released the EP Where We Belong in 2015. Isaac subsequently toured with Paloma Faith, Ella Eyre, Angus and Julia Stone, and Elton John himself, while also headlining his own shows.

Back in the studio during 2016, he issued his debut album, Our Lives, the next year through Island Records and Virgin EMI. After signing with AntiFragile Music, he returned with the EP Things I’ll Tell You Tomorrow in 2020 and his second album, Honesty, in 2021. Conceived during the opening weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, Honesty featured collaborations with Wildwood Kin, Tertia May, and India.Arie on a notably intimate set of songs. Following a successful U.K. tour in 2022, Isaac recorded his third album. Its first singles, the emotionally charged “Start Again” and the laid-back acoustic funk and soul track “Still Have You,” preceded the full release of For When It Hurts on Oil+Water in early 2023.