Tim Isaac
cello + voice
I first picked up a cello at the age of nine, inspired by my grandfather, who built one from cheese crates and a wagon axle during the Depression. I like to think I’m carrying forward his passion and self-taught relationship with the instrument.Since first plugging in some 30 years ago, I’ve been obsessed with exploring the cello’s sonic possibilities through pedals, looping, distortion, wah-wah, echo, percussion and voice.Best known as one half of New Brunswick’s iconic folk and blues duo Isaac & Blewett, I also have another musical side — one drawn to experimentation, songwriting and expression that travels all over the map. From covers to originals, gritty and primal to trancy and ethereal.
My solo performances combine live cello looping, hand percussion, pre-recorded grooves and a range of effects to create evolving soundscapes and immersive musical journeys. I sometimes invite guest musicians to join me, adding new dimensions to the adventure.These are sonic and visual experiences that invite audiences into a world of close listening, where the familiar meets the unexpected.If you program a festival, concert series, house concert or special event, I’d love to hear from you and explore the possibilities.
