Daily Inspiration: Meet Isaac Anderson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaac Anderson.

Isaac, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Since I was six, I have been captivated by music. My Father was an Evangelist, and my mother was a singer, so I spent my childhood (and teen years) performing at Churches all around NC. While piano was the first instrument I performed on, I quickly picked up skills on others. This was not because I was put in lessons or anything, it was purely because there was not many people I knew that could play certain things, so in order for me to bring my weird ideas to life, I needed to learn how to hop around. As much as I loved music, the thing I was most captivated with was story. My Father had an amazing way of telling a story in the pulpit, and I also grew a love for film, the storyteller’s domain. As I got older and life shaped me into who I am, I have had a passion for telling stories through the art of music. Also, since I learned how to record on cassette tapes, I have stuck to analog formats/mindsets of recording my music. This is not only to keep the music honest but to keep my storytelling honest and pushing myself to be a better musician than I was before. For the last few years, State of The Secretary has been the outlet for me to tell my stories in the form of music.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s most certainly is not always smooth! There are many things against you as an artist: finances, competition, and so much more. One of the biggest things to overcome is self-doubt. Music is an art form that makes you very vulnerable, and that is terrifying. When you do work in an office, send a text, or whatever, you can usually hide behind whatever it is you are doing. Music and songwriting is directly from the songwriter, and having people express their opinions on that is basically a direct judgment on you (or at least that is what it feels like). The biggest thing for me trying to make something I feel proud of, and I believe the people that like that sort of thing will support it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
State of The Secretary is the musical project of multi-instrumentalist Isaac Anderson. His music combines pounding drums, airy pianos, and honest lyricism into analog-fueled indie-rock melodies. Being a native of Zebulon, NC, and the son of an Evangelist, Isaac grew up performing in churches all around the state. As he got older, he grew a love for songwriting and started performing in different bands. He also became obsessed with recording to analog tape, using its limitations and sonic palette to further each song. Now, Isaac combines the vulnerableness of gospel music, the sound of indie rock, and the limitations of analog recording into his music.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I have taken many risks in my life. I won’t mention a good amount of them here cause some are so embarrassing. My arms may revolt and just fall off. A risk I am willing to share is the creation of my debut album. This is a project I have been working on for years, and have decided to put everything I have into it (money-wise, creative-wise, everything-wise). Going to different studios, organizing tours, and planning the release is a very exciting yet terrifying time. It is a risk to do something this big anytime, but I feel like I am pushing myself further than I have ever been. It is a risk, but a risk I am very much willing to take.

Contact Info:

• Email: isaac@stateofthesecretary.com
• Website: stateofthesecretary.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/stateofthesecretary
• Facebook: facebook.com/stateofthesecretary

Image Credits
Photos: Kendall Bailey Photography www.kendallbaileyphoto.com