David Isaac: His world is a mix of music and politics

David Isaac was president of the student body at Lee College.

In his younger days, David Isaac’s idea of fun was reading almanacs. If he wasn’t learning about the presidents and how political parties work, he was studying different countries and cultures.

There also was music. With his sisters, they would record over tapes to create their own radio shows. And on holidays, they did their best Temptations impersonation at family gatherings.

Today, David’s world is still filled with music and politics. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

Let’s take politics first.

At age 29, David is considering running for U.S. Senate. That might seem like a pipe dream for someone who has never held public office, but he doesn't mind playing the role of underdog.

“I’m exploring the possibility of running in the Texas Democratic primary to motivate youth and black voters,” he said. “I know it sounds kind of crazy. I’d probably be the youngest person, and the only black person, to put their name on the ballot.”

But David has never shied away from the political spotlight.

While attending Lee College, he won the race for student body president. Holding that position as a 21-year-old in 2009, he also ran for mayor of Baytown.

“I wanted to give a voice to people in the community who might be afraid to stand up and speak for themselves,” David said.

Then, in 2015, he was among the candidates for Lee College Board of Regents.

“Overall, I feel that people just want a seat at the table. If at least that much can be achieved, then I think a lot of us will feel better about the political system,” David said.

“There’s a movement taking place. I really think the structure of politics will change drastically in the next 10 to 15 years, and I want to be there.”

David, back stage with bands Hikes from Austin and Tricot from Kyoto, Japan.

Then there’s the music.

When he’s not visiting family and friends in Baytown, David is working as a “music impresario” in Japan.

As president of his company, Dead Foxx, he is a music promoter for bands from Japan and the United States.

David also manages bands and works as a music producer. On occasion, he even performs as a freestyle rapper.

After putting together shows in Baytown involving local bands, David became more serious about the music business when he created Dead Foxx in 2011. He expanded to shows in Houston and Austin, before making the leap to Japan.

Currently, he’s putting the finishing touches on plans for a summer tour in Japan for The Fall of Troy, a mathcore trio from Mukilteo, Washington. They will be joined by Hikes, an Austin-based band.

“This will be the first time for The Fall of Troy playing in Japan, and it’s definitely the biggest show of my life as a promoter,” David said.

“They are a very important band to me. Their music has meant so much to me for years. I feel extremely blessed that they are putting their faith in me as their guy in Japan.”

And why the interest in the Japanese music scene?

“Japan has a very rich culture, a very rich history. It has always appealed to me as a country,” David said.

“What many people don’t realize is that it's the second largest music market in the world. I knew there was potential there. I just wanted to see it for myself.”

David isn't shy about taking the stage to freestyle rap.

While he enjoys introducing U.S. bands to Japanese audiences, David also likes to bring Japanese acts to the states.

“Not only is it cool to expose people here to the Japanese culture, but they quickly learn that they also play really badass music,” said David, who has managed the Japanese band, The Otonana Trio, for several years.

When he’s in Japan, David calls Machida, Tokyo, home. And as a 6-foot-5 African-American, he tends to stand out.

“Because of my appearance, I get a level of attention there that I would never expect here in America,” said David, who has been interviewed a number of times on TV in Japan.

“I never experienced that before. In fact, being African-American in my hometown, in my classrooms or anywhere really, it sometimes felt like it was a detriment. Or there was something for me to be self-conscious about. But in Japan, it’s completely opposite.”

With his work visa in hand, David will return to Japan ahead of The Fall of Troy’s tour kickoff in June. While continuing to try to make a living promoting and managing bands, he also will seek additional employment.

As a freestyle rapper for about 15 years — he uses the stage name David Isick — he has his eye on a job in Kyoto teaching a hip-hop class.

“As someone from the Houston area, where rap culture is so strong, I’d be more than happy to teach them how to rap,” he said.

While he has a girlfriend in Japan and intends to continue working there for the foreseeable future, David doesn’t plan to ditch his Texas roots. He still considers Baytown his home base.

While his Texas roots run deep, David now spends most of his time living in Japan.

On the education front, David is working toward a bachelor’s degree in public service leadership development through University of Houston-Clear Lake.

“In the near future I would like to open up the Pumphrey Foundation and use it as a vessel to help foster talent, especially for those who are disadvantaged, and shape them into new leaders,” he said.

“Pumphrey Elementary closed down several years ago. It was a school I attended in first and second grade. Their thesis was largely about inclusion and diversity. Their message was: Together we can. That’s a message I’ve used in many of the political campaigns I’ve been involved in, and I want to bring that back.”

David has come a long way since moving with his family from Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, to the states when he was about 4 years old.

As he reflects on those early years when his nose was in almanacs, learning about the world and all of its possibilities, a mantra of the 1990s streams in his head: You can be anything you want to be.

“I recall hearing that all the time as a kid, and I still think of it as a privilege,” David said. “It’s still something I am pursuing. It’s still something I am trying to live up to.”