Following the overwhelmingly positive response to the digital release of his two 2024 singles, ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Endless Night’, Empathy Test singer / songwriter Isaac Howlett is re-releasing both tracks as an EP on 7th February 2025, with remixes from Emmon, DSTR, The Foreign Resort and Aiteall (JD Tucker from Grendel).

Produced by Walter Kazmier (NYXX, Danny Blu), the original tracks ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Endless Night’ have already established Isaac as a serious solo artist, and demonstrated the breadth of musicality we can expect from his forthcoming solo album, ‘A Year Without Light’, slated for release in the fall/autumn of 2025. While ‘House of Cards’ surprised with its up-tempo beats and dancefloor-pleasing bass groove,‘Endless Night’ packed an entirely different punch, praised by Synthpop Fanatic for its "...beautiful vocals and heartfelt lyrics" and described by Blitzed Magazine as an “ethereal gem”.

Drawing on contacts gleaned from ten years of touring with Empathy Test, Isaac has invited a host of well-known alternative electronic musicians, most of whom have previously supported Empathy Test and will perform at the upcoming one-day music festival “Empathy Fest” at Leipzig’s Anker on 15th February, to remix one or other of the two singles in their own individual styles. Isaac has already previewed the incredible remake of ‘House of Cards’ by Swedish electro-clash queen, Emmon via his SoundCloud and Bandcamp pages.

The ‘House of Cards / Endless Night EP’ contains 28 minutes of quality music and releases digitally on 7th February 2025. You can pre-save it now on Spotify, Apple Music, or pre-order a limited edition Digipak CD and/or limited edition 7” picture disc on Bandcamp. A new digital single, ‘Dreaming of Trees’, will follow on 14th February.

Preorder link for digital download / CD / 7" vinyl:

https://isaachowlett.bandcamp.com/album/house-of-cards-endless-night-ep

Spotify pre-save link:

https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/1uoYPrVBp6D9aYMT99Sxwi?si=3dc8d473b3834332

Links to all plaforms:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/isaachowlett/house-of-cards--endless-night

BUY / STREAM

House of Cards / Endless Night EP

"House of Cards" is the stunning debut solo single from @IsaacHowlett, best known as the singer and songwriter behind the internationally renowned British synth-pop band, @EmpathyTest. 

While not a million miles from the dark, emotional, and cinematic tones we've grown to expect from Empathy Test over the years, "House of Cards" finds Isaac's poignant and arresting vocals bolstered by the energy of a punchy uptempo beat and angular synth-bass groove.

With lyrics confronting the brutal reality but eventual relief of escaping a toxic relationship, the first taste of Isaac Howlett's solo material will have you dancing with tears in your eyes.

"House of Cards" releases everywhere digitally on 28th February 2024. Preorder begins 14th February.

Links to all platforms:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/isaachowlett/house-of-cards

House of Cards

Buy / Stream

House Of Cards

"...beautiful vocals and heartfelt lyrics" - Synthpop Fanatic 

Get ready for an early Christmas gift in the form of "Endless Night"; the mind-blowing follow-up to Isaac Howlett's hugely successful solo debut "House of Cards". It's set to release digitally on Friday 13th December.

An orchestral waltz in 3/4 time, "Endless Night" utilises a grand piano, sparse percussion and lush strings, slowing the tempo and ramping the "feels" up to eleven. Isaac's ever-poignant lyrics are lifted by a magical soundscape that builds to an epic crescendo under the deft hand of producer Walter Kazmier.

A physical release is planned for early in the new year, bringing together "House of Cards" and "Endless Night" on vinyl and CD for the first time, with remixes coming from DSTR (Daniel Myer) and Emmon, both slated to perform at the upcoming "Empathy Fest" in February. "Endless Night" can be pre-saved on Spotify and pre-ordered on Bandcamp now:

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1ZkujL1oem50v3zfw1x9G7?si=ZJPMMA1_TWGKqya115Wwng&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A3X7ETymSIHZ0b3mGWsbCLs

Buy on Bandcamp: https://isaachowlett.bandcamp.com/album/endless-night

Artwork can be downloaded here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wqshdj9s8k6a2xd99mz5h/Endless-Night-Artwork.jpg

And a press shot here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xekancoiqzwvk3h3qscj2/Isaac-Howlett-by-Raven.jpg

LYRICS:

Hope comes and goes
I hold her so close but I know
She slips through my fingers like snow

I flirt with disaster
Though she's not who I'm after
It's lady luck, picks up the slack again

And I sink
Deeper and deeper inside
My endless night

Life laid me low
She dealt me a blow but I know
I'll feed on these seeds when they grow

I spoke with my father and he told me hereafter
You're out of luck
Everything's downhill from here

And I sink
Deeper and deeper inside
My endless night

I thought I was broken beyond repair
You stepped from the shadows as if from nowhere
Although it soon felt, like you'd always been there
And I sink
Deeper and deeper inside
My endless night

I thought I was broken beyond repair
You stepped from the shadows as if from nowhere
Although it soon felt, like you'd always been there
And I sink
Deeper and deeper inside
My endless night

Endless Night

House of Cards (Aiteall Remix)

House Of Cards / Endless Night

Endless Night (The Foreign Resort Remix)

Remix of Empathy Test's Isaac Howlett's second solo single, Endless Night, By DSTR, AKA Daniel Myer.

Endless Night (DSTR Goth Burial Mix)

The fantastic remake of Isaac Howlett's debut solo single "House Of Cards", by the Swedish electro clash queen, Emmon. Part of the House Of Cards / Endless Night EP, available to preorder now on Bandcamp on CD and 7" picture disc:

https://isaachowlett.bandcamp.com/album/house-of-cards-endless-night-ep

House Of Cards (Emmon Remake)

Isaac Howlett is a British-born musician now living in Linz, Austria. He's best known as the singer / songwriter behind the internationally renowned synth-pop band, Empathy Test, as well as for his collaborations with Aesthetic Perfection ("Save Myself") and Bop x Subwave ("Storm in a Teacup").

Working with US producer Walter Kazmier, Isaac self-released his debut solo single, a synthwave-tinged, dance floor-ready track called "House of Cards", on 28th of February, 2024. It reached #1 on the German Alternative Chart (DAC) and #2 in the bestselling synthpop tracks on Bandcamp.

Isaac Howlett's second solo single, "Endless Night" arrived on 13th December 2024. It debuted at #2 on the DAC and #3 on the Klangwald Radio Chart. Synthpop Fanatic included it in their "10 best synthpop songs of December 2024", praising its "...beautiful vocals and heartfelt lyrics", while Blitzed Magazine described it as "an ethereal gem". 

Isaac is planning to release a third single, "Dreaming of Trees", in February 2025 and his debut solo album, "A Year Without Light" later in the year. He makes his solo live debut at Eastside Open Air Festival in Germany in July.

"crystal pure hypnotic vocals" NewRetroWave

"dreamy synths and buzzing bass” Obscure Sound

“upbeat and invigorating” - At Cost Magazine

"Stunning" - Synth City

Isaac Howlett

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