It’s been a long few years since Esh & The Isolations released his debut album, 2020’s Idiot Fingerz. The world has changed dramatically, as has the life of Boston’s hybrid artist Esh. But Esh, like the world, is still here, and on his sophomore album Nowhere, to Be Found, he’s got a lot to reflect on. We’re proud to be premiering his new record, a uniquely inspired blend of hip-hop and indie.
It’s a miracle that the songs on this album are able to be heard at all. Early versions of these songs were rescued from a hard drive that survived an otherwise devastating house fire. And as tragic as the situation was, it’s metaphorical for the album; perseverance, be it willing or unwilling, is a theme that permeates the whole release. The album’s lyrical content is melancholic and introspective, though some songs swap out despondence for wit. Esh has said of the album, “[it] is about longing for a fading connection and ultimately finding solace in embracing life’s inevitable changes. It reflects on aging, the pursuit of authenticity, and the complex, bittersweet nature of love.” These themes come through on every track, often in ways that are harshly honest or reflectively balanced.
Songs like “No Shame On My Shadow” and the closing title track peel the curtain way back, with Esh getting direct and honest in the detailing of his life and thoughts. “Looking for a crisis so I can write shit,” Esh raps on “Shadow,” an eerie mission statement for the album’s general tone. “Flower Girl” and “Lost Balloon (The Anxious Attachment Blues)” are proto-love songs, but they come complete with the similar self-doubt and brutal honesty of the other tracks. On the flipside, lead single “2 Late 2 Die Young” is a tongue-in-cheek bemoaning from Esh, who didn’t get to join the 27 Club. This kind of dark comedy peeks through at times and helps keep the album from becoming a fully downtrodden affair.
Esh has made a name for himself as a rapper, but he’s always had streaks of other genres throughout his music. Take the Isolations for instance: not a true backing band but Esh’s occasional collaborators. This wide-ranging sound has grown increasingly true on this album, which often strays outside of the hip-hop world. Part of this is due to a full-album collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Jesse Mark Russell, who helps guide these songs through a number of influences and ideas. Esh’s desire to ignore genre barriers is always apparent and seemingly always works to his favor.
“Something Real” is the truest rap song on the album, and is smartly placed right at the album’s midpoint. It’s an old-school sounding track, heavy on flow and percussion. It’s also the only song on the album that feels squarely centered on hip-hop. The opener “Bad Muse” and late-album track “Come Home” are both assisted with pop verses from Peryle, with the latter sounding like a true pop ballad. “Culture of Comparison” sounds close to a rock song, with a droning guitar line and sung vocals. And the aforementioned “Lost Balloon (The Anxious Attachment Blues)” is one of the standouts musically, a ballad with rapped verses and horns that somehow results in a winding alternative song. On the whole, the album tends more towards ballads and tender songs. But there’s a healthy mix of nearly everything across the record, a triumph of Esh’s multi-genre mastery.
Just like Idiot Fingerz, this album serves as a full-scale exercise in genre blending and self-meditation. Lyrically and musically, it hits points of both exasperation and cleanliness, points of both heavy hip-hop and peaceful indie. There’s something for nearly everyone here, an invitation for all to come into Esh’s world and choose the musings that are personally relevant. The record is, above all else, human.
Nowhere, to Be Found is officially out today and can be streamed below in full. Esh & the Isolations will be playing a release show on June 15th at Warehouse XI in Somerville.
Here is the video for “Nowhere, to Be Found”: