This article is part of SCAD Radio’s SXSW collection, in which some of our radio members visited the music portion of the SXSW Festival and Showcase in Austin, TX.
Izzy Heltai is a singer-songwriter from Massachusetts who recently moved to Nashville, TN. When asking how he describes himself and his music, he told me if there’s one thing he hopes people take away is that he’s kind. “I try to make people feel comfortable. I like people a lot.” In terms of music, his songs don’t have a genre, but if he had to categorize it, it’s indie/folky.
His musical inspirations are in the realm of indie and folk genres as well as singer-songwriters. He explains, “Songwriting that has great melodies, good lyrics, really good integrity to kind of like the next stage, by melding cool production, like indie rock stuff.” A big inspiration for Izzy is Bristol Maroney. He became buddies with him when he moved down to Nashville. Nashville has a great community of artists that all support each other. He states, “It’s really not a competitive space at all in Nashville. At least I found with the friends I have.”
Izzy’s favorite part of his career has been playing at Newport Folk Festival. He explains, “They have these after-parties, and there was this after-party curated by Marcus Mumford, where it was a bunch of artists just doing one song at this old theater after the festival closed down.” In addition to Marcus Mumford, the lineup included one of the women from Mountain Man, one of the members of Sylvan Esso, Nathaniel Rateliff, Lucy Dacus, Tyler the Creator, a member from Dawes, Blake Mills, and Natalie Merchant. “It was such a cool experience,” he exclaims. Izzy disclaims that he is no where the level of all of the bands listed, but he was able to play with them because Marcus Mumford has been of fan of Izzy and was really kind to him. It was the first time in his career where he was in a space and get to be a community of people he’s always looked up to. Izzy adds, “because at the end of the day everyone’s so nice, and you don’t feel like it’s a room full of people you’ve just grown up listening to, you just feel like it’s a room of just incredible songwriters.”
I mention in response, “What’s really cool about being here at SXSW and everything is seeing how tight knit the music community has been. And the fact that everyone kind of knows each other and supports each other. It’s just amazing.”
“I think when you’re not in the music scene, it’s really easy to romanticize it,” Izzy replies. He reminds the audience, “At the end of the day we all are doing something that we love but it’s our job, and it’s more fun to work with your friends than not.” In conclusion, one of his favorite parts about doing this as a career is making a lot of really cool friendships.
Izzy Heltai performing at the Iron Bear in Austin, TX, at SXSW, March 17, 2023.
Izzy tries not to make a bucket list and live in an expectations. He tries to stay in the present and to just keep doing what feels good. Izzy describes this interview on the podcast “Dax Shepard and the Armchair Expert” where Dax interviews Ed Sheeran and “he was basically just talking about in his head he’s always had things where he mentioned how his goal is just to get to Wembley Stadium, and to sell out Wembley Stadium, and then Ed’s like, ‘…then I got there, and played, and I got off, and I didn’t feel any different.’ Because when you get lost in expectation, it just keeps you out of the moment.” I mention to Izzy that I appreciate this perspective because a lot of bands, and people in general, have these big goals for themselves, but Izzy’s statement reminds us to remember to live in the moment and not to get caught up in expectations. I think it’s okay to have goals, goals are what push you, but if you get caught up in what could happen you can get lost in what is happening in the present. We don’t know what the future consists of but we can try and make best of the present. Izzy mentions how it definitely oscillates. He struggles with mental health and it’s hard to get out of the mindset of comparing yourself to others. What helps him is to stay present. He expands, “When I’m on the road and doing exactly what I love, which is just playing for people that seem to like my songs, I’m just like, ‘Yeah, I’ve made it.’ No matter where it goes, or if it grows or not, or if I stopped doing it, well I’ve had those moments. And that’s been fun.”
On the topic of mental health, I asked him if he has any advice for people that are in the music industry. He mentions how his team is an integral part by being assertive. “Therapy is really important; I think. I also got anxiety medication so I’m on Zoloft and Wellbutrin, and that’s been really helpful,” he reveals. It also helps if you have a routine, Izzy is a big runner and cyclist. Doing those distance activities is very meditative for him, and fitness in general. And lastly, it’s helpful to have a support system.
Izzy on vocals and guitar, George on guitar, Henry on drums; performing at the Iron Bear in Austin, TX, at SXSW, March 17, 2023.
Izzy’s single “All This Beauty” just came out! “It’s a song about getting caught up, you know, like I do and like a lot of people do with what you don’t have yet in your life, and trying to be thankful and present with the good things in my life. People, music, you know, the thing is that I enjoy it.” His favorite song to perform is “25” because the lyrics are clever and the song is fun; and people seem to like it too.
His favorite thing about SXSW is seeing his friends. “You get to see a lot being in music and traveling, it’s like you meet a lot of people and make a lot of friends that don’t live where you live. And things like this is an excuse to see everyone, and it’s awesome,” Izzy affirms as we wrap up the conversation.
Check him out: https://www.izzyheltai.com/
Listen to the new single: https://audiosalad.ffm.to/allofthisbeauty
