Nottingham songwriter Isaac Neilson unveiled his latest single, ‘Getting Better‘, on 19 June, extending a year defined by relentless creative drive. Originally from Buxton, Neilson is 170 days into his self-imposed challenge to perform live every day of 2026, operating entirely independently. His work has drawn the attention of tastemakers including Dean Jackson, John Kennedy, and Charlie Ashcroft, with airplay spanning Radio X, BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, Amazing Radio, and BBC Introducing. As a collaborator with Sofar Sounds and The Ivors Academy, and an MPG Self-Producing Artist longlistee, Neilson sustains a disciplined release cycle, sharing new material every eight weeks and documenting the realities of touring, exhaustion, and small triumphs across his social channels.
’Getting Better‘ marks a striking progression in Neilson’s distinctive fusion of anthemic and introspective indie. Produced by Tayte Nickols (Pale Waves, Bodywater) and recorded at ARC Studios with Matt Taylor (Frank Turner, KT Tunstall), the track channels Neilson’s narrative lyricism through a dynamic arrangement that intensifies with each measure. It opens on a bed of atmospheric piano, soon propelled by urgent drums and sharp guitar motifs, culminating in a sweeping crescendo. Neilson’s vocal delivery remains central: unvarnished, immediate, and melodically compelling, it cuts through the dense instrumentation with palpable emotional clarity.
Isaac Neilson had this to say: “This track is the scariest release I’ve made to date. The vocals are so raw and upfront, with nothing to hide behind, it feels naked, and exposed. I’ve never made anything like this, and that’s exactly why the risk of this song, and its deliberate building intensity excite me.” He added: “This song is unknowingly, a microcosm of the year I’m experiencing so far with the gig a day challenge. I initially wrote this about a fleeting romantic interaction which never went anywhere beyond an evening, however it has since morphed in meaning, and has become analogous to everything I’m earning this year. In the last month I’ve had a series of unexpected wins, and just like the song says, I’m in this limbo of disbelief as things seem to truly be getting better. But there always looms the self doubt nestled in the background.”
Stream ‘Getting Better’:
