As a nod to the minor holiday that falls every February 14th, I have decided to shed a little light into my soul and share with you an artist I truly adore: Mr. Gregory Alan Isakov.

Native to Johannesburg, South Africa, and current resident of Colorado, Isakov has notoriously stopped me in my tracks for years now – in a literal sense. Whenever I sit down to write a post, I keep the song on repeat the entire time; it’s inspiring and I generally pick out the little nuances after the nth listen. This is not the case with Gregory. I hear his music and consequently nothing else can happen. Few artists arrest me quite like he does.

“That Moon Song” is the song that I believe most people know. It is tremendous and moving and simply sensational. This was my introduction to him. I think my feet left the ground the first time I heard it.

“Words” is one of my favorite songs ever written. I have such a love affair with the irony of writing a song about the power of words. Music inevitably trumps lyrics in my mind and here he has turned that concept on its head by writing absolutely holy lyrics to the most stark, effortless music. There’s something very reminiscent of e.e. cummings in this song which obviously adds to its excellence.

I find it nearly impossible to describe “The Stable Song.” It’s like a modern day lyric poem. Everything moves so exquisitely and in such an order, I can’t help but think it’s some grand life metaphor. And geeeez that first line, that first line…