A lot of times I avoid writing about artists I like because I just can’t think of anything to say besides “They’re great.” I reference this constantly when I talk about this aspect of my job, but it’s a little like that old Chris Farley sketch of him asking Paul McCartney a bunch of really stupid questions. I’ve tried to interview artists I love before and it’s pretty much always exactly like this. Because if I like someone, like, I genuinely like someone as an artist, I don’t really want to talk to them. I just want to sit in starry-eyed admiration.

But this time, I’m going to make an attempt.

This song came into my inbox yesterday and whew, it’s a beauty. Just gorgeous. I want to live in it.

Oh yeah, Ismay is also a descendant of Warren Hellman. Seems like pertinent information to us Bay Area folks.

Their debut album, Songs of Sonoma Mountain, is due early next year.