Michael Isaak on Arabesque Folk, Diaspora Identity, and The Carpet Maker

Host Becky Boyland interviews Los Angeles–born Egyptian American musician Michael Isaak about his journey from church hymns, Arabic classics, and early FL Studio production to creating a new sound he calls “arabesque folk.” After making indie folk influenced by Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens, a first trip to Egypt at 19 sparked deeper cultural immersion; he brought home an oud, later transferred to Columbia University, studied Arabic language and Arab music history and theory, and joined the Arab Music Ensemble. Michael shares how experimenting and jamming helped Arabic motifs emerge naturally instead of feeling forced, his critique of the “world music” framing, and his goal of building in-person community through intimate shows. They discuss his debut album The Carpet Maker (May 15) and lead single “Hold Your Keys” (March 6), reflecting on diaspora, displacement, and the hope of return.

https://youtu.be/YiRyILUz2Jc

Connect with Michael Isaak:

• https://www.instagram.com/michaelisaakmusic
• https://tiktok.com/@michaelisaakmusic
• https://youtube.com/@michaelisaakmusic
• https://open.spotify.com/artist/559rQJZL0GYH9lVU6zi5ey?si=KXUULlsqT16kSTJggFiQ8A
• https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michael-isaak/1644644907
• https://michaelisaak.us

Sponsors:

• Attitude Creativity: https://attitudecreativity.com
• She Produces Music: https://www.sheproducesmusic.com

Featured Song:

• ”Hold Your Keys” by Michael Isaak, written by Michael Isaak & Sohail Bagheri (used with permission). All rights reserved.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Teaser: Michael Isaak Interview
• 00:38 Introduction
• 02:12 Meet Michael Isaak
• 03:26 Learning to Perform and Produce
• 06:05 Taking the Leap From College
• 07:38 Finding an Arab Folk Identity
• 13:29 Oud Origins and Obsession
• 16:40 Blending Arabic and Western Sounds
• 26:39 Beyond World Music Labels
• 30:51 SPONSOR: Attitude Creativity
• 31:24 SPONSOR: She Produces Music
• 31:59 The Carpet Maker Album Story
• 38:17 Marketing vs Meaning
• 40:46 Building Community Through Shows
• 43:57 Advice and Influences to Explore
• 47:17 Where to Find the Music
• 48:08 Release Dates and Farewell
• 48:51 Coda
• 51:16 Featured Song: "Hold Your Keys" by Michael Isaak, written by Michael Isaak & Sohail Bagheri

Stream all the released music from Second Verse any time! Add the official Songs from the Second Verse Podcast playlist to your Spotify now! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5lPUAY9uBYVVg9fmy03Bj3?si=5211c2db80334285

Or to your Tidal now!

https://tidal.com/playlist/c84934ad-2723-4d1a-919e-2aebd4b4974d

Starting your own podcast? Sign up with Captivate to host your show today! https://fas.st/t/ZHbLxEpe (affiliate link)

Prin’s Second Verse: From 9/11 Hospitalization to Wellness-Centered Music Production

Host Becky Boyland interviews New Jersey-based music producer, author, and educator Prin, who began playing piano by ear at age three, worked as a paid musician by 15, and built a thriving NYC gigging and composing life while at Fordham. After graduating in 2001, untreated bipolar disorder and substance abuse led her into a free inpatient case-study program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, where she was hospitalized on 9/11, prompting a renewed commitment to mental health. A back injury halted performing for years, shifting her into counseling, education, and writing. After leaving higher ed, she was hit by a car and suffered lasting left-hand nerve damage, later returning to gigs and releasing her first album in 2016. Subsequent car accidents, disc replacement surgery (2019), the pandemic, and her brother’s death after COVID led her into music production, sound healing, and an ambient grief project, “The Calm Principles.”

https://youtu.be/OPJ9_mkKL1g

Connect with Prin:

• https://www.facebook.com/musicbyprin
• https://www.instagram.com/musicbyprin
• https://www.tiktok.com/@musicbyprin
• https://musicbyprin.com

Sponsors:

• She Produces Music: https://www.sheproducesmusic.com

Featured Song:

• ”A Long Time Coming” by Prin, written by Princess Yvonne Duma (used with permission). All rights reserved.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Teaser: Prin's Interview
• 00:26 Introduction
• 01:30 Meet Prin
• 01:53 Early Piano Roots
• 03:16 Stage Fright Breakthrough
• 06:40 Fordham and NYC Hustle
• 09:15 NYC Artist Community
• 11:55 Fear of Original Music
• 13:24 Mental Health Pivot
• 16:30 In the Hospital During 9/11
• 19:36 Back Injury Ends Gigging
• 20:46 Career In Counseling Education
• 22:23 SPONSOR: She Produces Music
• 25:22 Quit Job Then Car Accident
• 28:57 Return to Music and First Album
• 30:45 Finding New Creative Tools
• 31:36 Album Release Gets Derailed
• 33:34 Surgery Recovery Meets Pandemic
• 34:33 Learning Production Independence
• 36:22 Grief Becomes Healing Project
• 38:54 Mental Health and Balance
• 43:19 Letting Songs Be Imperfect
• 47:50 Reinventing Old Songs
• 52:26 Production Tips and Tech
• 01:00:34 Artist Identity and Where to Find Me
• 01:03:05 Coda
• 01:06:20 Featured Song: "A Long Time Coming" by Prin

Stream all the released music from Second Verse any time! Add the official Songs from the Second Verse Podcast playlist to your Spotify now! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5lPUAY9uBYVVg9fmy03Bj3?si=5211c2db80334285

Or to your Tidal now!

https://tidal.com/playlist/c84934ad-2723-4d1a-919e-2aebd4b4974d

Starting your own podcast? Sign up with Captivate to host your show today! https://fas.st/t/ZHbLxEpe (affiliate link)

Embracing Multiple Selves: A Journey into Music with Sophie Bickerdike

In this episode of Second Verse, host Becky Boyland welcomes Sophie Bickerdike, an indie artist who shares her journey of exploring multiple musical identities under different names. Sophie talks about how she started creating music out of necessity during COVID for her yoga studio and evolved into producing meditative tracks, healing frequencies, and experimental sounds. She discusses the challenges of coming to music later in life, the joy of playful experimentation, and the power of finishing small projects. Sophie's story is an inspiring reminder that it's never too late to start a new creative journey.

https://youtu.be/Qze1Cxw-jNY

Connect with Sophie Bickerdike:

1. Web: www.lunalightmusiclabel.com
2. Facebook: www.facebook.com/sophiebickerdikemusic
3. Instagram: www.instagram.com/sophiebickerdikemusic
4. Bandcamp: https://lunalightmusic.bandcamp.com

Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Dr. Masaru Emoto: How Emotion Influences Water: https://bornastheearth.com/dr-masaru-emoto/
2. Masaru Emoto Water Experiments: https://youtu.be/1qQUFvufXp4
3. Life by XLN Audio: https://www.xlnaudio.com/products/life
4. Talent Is Timeless Community: https://www.talentistimeless.com/

Sponsors:

1. Attitude Creativity: https://attitudecreativity.com/blueprint
2. Singing / Straw: https://secondverse.com/singingstraw (affiliate link, 10% coupon auto-applied, or use code “secondverse”)

Featured Song:

1. ”528Hz Manifest Miracles - Angelic Extended Mix” by LunaLight & Sophia Bickerdike, written by Sophia Bickerdike (used with permission). All rights reserved.

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 Episode Teaser: Sophie Bickerdike Interview
2. 00:32 Introduction
3. 01:59 Welcome to Sophie and Early Musical Influences
4. 03:02 Journey into...