A Gentle Morning Rises in Ezra Vancil’s “Island”
- Miles Coleman
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
There is a quiet brightness running through Ezra Vancil’s “Island,” a warmth that feels earned rather than assumed. It is the sound of someone who has walked through the wreckage, brushed the salt from their eyes, and finally noticed the calm settling over the shore. As the second single from his double album Morning & Midnight, the song gently opens the door to the “Morning” half of the project, the portion shaped not by fracture but by the slow and steady work of renewal.
Vancil recorded the track in a small cabin hidden in the East Texas woods, a setting that leaves its fingerprints on every corner of the song. Instead of isolating himself behind headphones, he let the room breathe into the microphones. The subtle bleed from the speakers gives “Island” a soft and almost cinematic haze, as if the instruments were captured in the quiet that slips between gusts of wind outside. That natural texture becomes one of the song’s greatest strengths. The performance feels lived in, imperfect in just the right ways, and completely unhurried.
The musicians around him bring an added sense of depth. Chris Brush’s drums arrive with an easy confidence, never rushing the moment, while Jon Estes’ bass lines move with a warm and fluid grace. Ty Richards’ electric guitar offers a delicate shimmer that never overtakes the song, instead giving it a gentle surf like lift. Cozi Vancil’s harmonies enter the mix like a soft memory, familiar and grounding.
What lingers most is the story underneath. Written years after Vancil and his wife found their way back to each other following a painful split, “Island” reflects the clarity of a family beach trip. It recalls one night by the ocean that felt briefly suspended outside of time. The song does not try to trap that moment in amber. Instead, it acknowledges its fleeting nature while honoring the peace it offered.
“Island” is a reminder that healing rarely arrives in grand gestures. It comes in small bright seconds that return when you least expect them. Vancil captures one of those seconds here, and it glows long after the track ends.
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