Izzy Burns makes a confident and heartfelt entrance into the folk scene with her debut album, Diary of a Hopeless Romantic, released July 25, 2025. Hailing from Moscow, Idaho, Izzy teamed up with longtime collaborator Mellad Abeid and producer Taylor James Carroll, recording at Bear Creek Studios, the same space that shaped projects by Brandi Carlile—one of Izzy’s biggest inspirations. Drawing on the intimacy of her personal experiences, Izzy transforms diary entries into vulnerable and relatable songs. If you love Lumineers, Josh Ritter, and Fleetwood Mac, you will love Izzy.
The opening track “Recovery” lays the groundwork for the album’s honesty. Catchy acoustic riffs and a steady rhythm anchor Izzy’s melodic, thick voice as she bares her heart with fragility and playfulness. It’s a tune that tugs at your emotions while still making your foot tap. Then comes “Dreaming on Overtime,” a warm, drenched ballad where Izzy sings with such melody and tune in her thick, warm, sonorous voice. Izzy admits to being wired for constant over-functioning, singing lines like, “I am always dreaming on overtime/I don’t think I can sit still, blame my never-ending to-do list.” Her delivery captures that delicate push-and-pull between exhaustion and restless ambition, something that resonates with so many of us, especially those with ADHD.
Later in the record, “Hard to Forget” lifts the tempo with chiming guitars and an infectious beat that drives and pumps the blood of the song. Izzy’s vocals soar with hope and uncertainty as she sings about the way she has been worrying about her current relationship, wondering if it will last, only for an insight to light up in her head, that connection might not last, but is already unforgettable. It’s equally joyful and bittersweet, that tells us to enjoy what we have til it lasts.
Honest, melodic, and unafraid to wade into life’s messiest corners, Diary of a Hopeless Romantic feels like a private journal set to music, and one you’ll want to keep revisiting. Check it out on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan