We previously featured Ezra Vancil when he took us on an intimate journey of authenticity, turmoil and eventual catharsis with his masterful single, Babylove, so when we heard that the star was back with Island, we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Drawing us in with crashing waves, hummed harmonies and astral guitar riffs with celestial tones, Ezra Vancil opens Island with vivid, situational prose as he fantasizes with the lyrics, “When I make it back to the island, I hope I’m young enough for the fun, race you to the beach in the morning, chase you back to the bed when the moon is rising…”
We are immediately captivated by the escapist notions and cinematic grace that Ezra blesses us with. Again, he holds a high emotional quotient, and the power-pop adjacency is simply sublime. We are lost in Ezra’s universe, and feel the warmth and emotional resonance of what he is creating.
Ezra confesses, “Island was written a few years after my wife and I got back together. We’d gone through a divorce, a lot of hard years, and this song came from the peace that followed. It’s a song about time moving on, even when life finally feels right. We took a little trip to the beach with our daughter after a string of shows. We didn’t have much, but we splurged on a night at a hotel by the ocean. It was one of those perfect memories – sand, laughter, sunlight – and I think I wrote the song trying to hold on to that. It’s the calm after the storm.”
The addition of the Spanish language moments, and the static-radio vocal production nuances add dimensionality to the already incredible track. The luscious vocal harmonies from Cozi Vancil further tap into the sun-drenched vibes that manifest with Ty Richards’ surf-tinged guitar, Jon Estes’ bass, and Chris Brush’s subtle percussion.
We learn that Island is the second release from Ezra’s double album Morning & Midnight and the first taste of the record’s brighter half. It was recorded in a quiet East Texas cabin, and there is no doubt that the natural bleed of sound gives it a living, human feel.
At its core, Island is about survival and serenity, and the calm after chaos. It stands as the Morning of Vancil’s emotional journey – in essence, a testament to finding joy after loss. With gratitude replacing grief, he delivers a song that feels both fragile and free, and a soft reminder that peace that once was lost can indeed return.
We have added Island to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Babylove, and anticipate the entirety of Morning & Midnight!