Isaac Soren Talks "BAIT," Honest Songwriting, and Why Simplicity Still Matters

The Los Angeles songwriter is carving out a space that feels both timeless and unmistakably his own. Drawing from generations of blues and folk while filtering everything through a distinctly modern perspective, his music isn't interested in chasing trends. It's interested in telling the truth.

That approach comes into focus on his latest single, "BAIT," the first glimpse into his upcoming EP and a striking introduction to an artist who believes great songs should be able to stand on their own.

Starting With the Hardest Emotion

While many debut singles are designed to make a first impression, "BAIT" serves another purpose. It opens a conversation.

The song began after a simple observation from a friend.

"A year ago, a friend told me, 'You've never written an angry song before.' He was right, and it got me thinking that anger might be worth exploring."

Instead of avoiding that emotion, Isaac leaned into it.

"'BAIT' became an exercise in doing just that, reflecting on relationships throughout my life where I've felt used up and tossed aside, like bait."

That honesty is exactly why the song works. Rather than dressing anger up in metaphor, he lets it exist plainly.

"I think about how we process challenges, and anger is often the first wall that has to be crossed," he says. "I think 'BAIT' was my expression of anger about many aspects of my life that some of the later songs on the project spend more time handling with care and understanding."

He knew it was the right place to begin.

"It felt honest to lead with that, to let people meet me at my rawest before I ask them to sit with anything gentler. It's the front door to the project."

Letting the Song Come First

Spend a few minutes with Isaac's music, and one thing becomes obvious. Nothing feels rushed.

That's intentional.

"I feel that in modern music, the art of writing a song, something that can stand on its own two feet with just a voice and a guitar if it has to, has sort of been diluted," he explains.

While he's open to experimentation with production, he never wants it to overshadow the songwriting itself.

"To me that has to be in service of the song itself, never a replacement for it."

That philosophy extends into every part of his creative process.

"There is so much humanity that comes from a strong song because it takes time and care. You can't rush a true feeling into existence. I'd rather spend three extra weeks getting a line right than release something polished that doesn't mean anything."

It's a refreshing perspective in a landscape that often rewards speed over substance.

Finding a Modern Voice Through Old Traditions

Isaac's music carries echoes of artists that came long before him.

Growing up, his father introduced him to blues and folk records by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Howlin' Wolf, and Bob Dylan.

What stayed with him wasn't simply the sound.

"What stuck with me from those records were two things: truth and joy."

Those influences remain present today, but Isaac isn't interested in recreating another era.

"My voice, my sound, it all comes from that lineage," he says, "but it's filtered through my life, my city, my age."

Then he puts it simply.

"I'm not trying to sound like 1962. I'm trying to sound like I mean it, the same way they did."

That balance between tradition and individuality gives his music its identity. It feels rooted in history without ever sounding nostalgic for nostalgia's sake.

Creating Space for Listeners

There's something intentionally understated about Isaac's work.

He isn't trying to overwhelm listeners. Instead, he creates space for them.

"I think it's in being open that you build connection," he says.

When writing, he'll often pull back details that only make sense to him personally, allowing the emotion itself to remain universal.

"More often than not, when truth is presented plainly, others can relate to it without me engineering that on purpose. The specificity of my life turns out to be the doorway, not the obstacle."

It's a philosophy that quietly defines everything he writes. The more honest the songs become, the easier they are to step inside.

Looking Beyond "BAIT"

Although "BAIT" is the first chapter, Isaac sees it as the foundation for everything that follows.

"Sonically, 'BAIT' is the thesis of the project. Everything else builds outward from the palette it introduces. The rest of the EP takes the emotional register it opens with and pulls it in a few different directions."

Even the setting where these songs were written became part of their identity.

"Los Angeles is quite important to this project. These songs really live here, in the specific light, the specific traffic, the specific quiet you find if you know where to look. I don't think I could've written this EP anywhere else."

Playing the songs live has also begun changing the way he thinks about songwriting.

"Watching my band interpret something I wrote alone in a room has taught me a lot about where a song's identity actually lives. It's not fixed, it breathes differently every night."

That realization has already started shaping what comes next.

Music That Meets You Where You Are

At its core, Isaac isn't trying to offer solutions.

He's simply hoping someone hears these songs and feels a little less alone.

"I hope they feel less alone in whatever they're carrying."

He continues:

"I'm not trying to hand anyone answers. I don't have many of my own yet, but I want the music to feel like proof that someone else has stood where they're standing. If a listener can hear one of these songs and think, 'I've felt exactly that and never had the words for it,' that's the whole job done as far as I'm concerned."

When asked what he hopes lingers after "BAIT" ends, his answer captures the spirit of the song perfectly.

"Anger isn't usually where people expect closure to come from, but I think there's a strange relief in hearing it named clearly instead of dressed up. If the song stops and someone exhales a little, feeling understood rather than alone in that anger, I've done what I set out to do."

With "BAIT," Isaac Soren isn't chasing trends or trying to recreate the past. He's writing songs that trust honesty over spectacle, patience over immediacy, and connection over perfection.

If this first single is any indication, his upcoming EP is shaping up to be one of the year's most compelling folk releases.

Stream "BAIT” by Isaac Soren out now.

Photography: @zoharvaradi

Single Artwork: @vivienner0se

Model: @gabriellorcy