Press release –
Today, Montreal-based singer/songwriter Daniel Isaiah shares “Too Far To Run,” the first preview of his sixth solo album, Western Medicine, out April 17. Anyone familiar with his past work will immediately notice his continuing musical evolution, with the new 10-song collection being his most compelling to date — a tour de force of roots music song craft, conjuring images of Leonard Cohen fronting The Band, and Randy Newman recording in Neil Young’s barn.
Legendary filmmaker Robert Altman once said that 90 per cent of directing is casting, and Isaiah took that approach on Western Medicine, reasoning that by choosing the right musicians, the rest would fall into place. Spontaneity turned out to be the key ingredient, giving songs such as “Too Far To Run” an easy-flowing groove that complements a vibe Daniel compares to seeing the first bird of spring. The group chemistry propels another standout track, “How The Tiger Got Her Stripes,” which could be mistaken for an early ‘70s Dylan outtake.
The sound of Western Medicine is also in large part a reflection of the confidence Isaiah has built over the three years since making his previous album To Live A Wild Life, the result of improving his sight-reading skills and immersing himself in old songbooks.
Daniel says, “Songwriting started as a hobby, something I did when I needed songs for a band or a record. Now it’s part of my daily life. I can’t really imagine living without it.”
Working in a practice room on the top floor of a building with a panoramic view of Montreal, Isaiah honed the 10 songs on Western Medicine, some of them right up to the album’s recording sessions in May 2025 at Montreal’s Mixart Studios with a band comprised of drummer Robbie Kuster, bassist Mishka Stein, pianist Jérome Beaulieu and guitarist Warren Spicer, who also oversaw engineering and mixing.
“I had almost no preconceived ideas of how the songs should take shape in the studio,” Daniel admits. “Before the session, I made rough demos of all the songs—just me on guitar or piano—and sent them to the musicians. We had one rehearsal where we played through each song once or twice. That was the extent of preparation.”
Still, it’s Isaiah’s lyrics that form the core of Western Medicine. “Fire In The Night” pays tribute to a friend who struggled with mental illness and tragically lost his life in a cabin fire north of Montreal, while “Champion Is Down” grew out of images of Mussolini and Gaddafi being done in by their own citizens. Elsewhere, Daniel was inspired to write “Old Ram’s Horn” after inheriting his grandfather’s shofar, an essential symbol of Jewish culture, while “Total Eclipse Of The Sun” was written in the immediate aftermath of the April 2024 solar event.
If Daniel Isaiah’s Western Medicine accomplishes anything, it is indeed opening our eyes and ears to fleeting moments of beauty. And once a listener does that, there can be no argument that this is one of the best albums of the year.
Track Listing:
01 Too Far To Run
02 Fire In The Night
03 Western Medicine
04 Old Ram’s Horn
05 Until I Lay Me Down
06 Long March To Your Grave
07 Champion Is Down
08 How The Tiger Got Her Stripes
09 Total Eclipse Of The Sun
10 Shadow World
