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The Lumineers Release Isabelle Fly From 2021 Film The Starling on Dualtones 25-Year Anniversary Collection
With Dualtone Records’ 25‑year celebration, The Lumineers have finally given the film‑only track “Isabelle Fly” a permanent spot in their catalog. The song, which first opened the Netflix feature The Starling in 2021, now appears on the label’s Keep Pressing On: 25 Years Of Dualtone compilation.
Written by founding members Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, “Isabelle Fly” was produced by Simone Felice and recorded with the core lineup that has defined the band’s sound since their debut. Though it opened the title sequence of The Starling, the track never appeared on a studio album or as a single, leaving it largely invisible to fans until now. Its inclusion in the anniversary set gives the song a formal home and ties the Lumineers’ songwriting directly to a cinematic project.
The Starling, directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Matt Harris, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2021. The Netflix‑released drama stars Melissa McCarthy as Lilly Maynard, a woman grappling with the loss of her infant daughter, and Chris O’Dowd as her husband Jack. Kevin Kline plays a veterinarian who becomes part of Lilly’s healing journey. The film’s narrative centers on grief, acceptance, and moving forward—themes that echo in the refrain of “Isabelle Fly”: “It’s alright, Isabelle, it’s alright / I know there’s only one way to fly.”
The Starling opened in limited theaters on September 17, 2021, and began streaming on Netflix a week later. Critics largely panned the film, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 19 % score from 94 reviews and Metacritic assigning a 31 out of 100 rating based on 23 critics. Audience scores were noticeably higher, suggesting a divide between reviewers and general viewers. Despite the lukewarm reception, the opening sequence—featuring a starling weaving through its environment and building a nest—remained a memorable musical moment, and the Lumineers’ concise melodies and acoustic instrumentation complemented the film’s emotional framework.
The Lumineers formed in 2005 in Ramsey, New Jersey, and relocated to Denver in 2009. Schultz and Fraites had been writing together long before Neyla Pekarek joined on cello and vocals in 2010. Their self‑titled debut, released in 2012, reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and produced the international hit “Ho Hey.” Subsequent releases—Cleopatra (2016), III (2019), Brightside (2022), and Automatic (2025)—have all been issued through Dualtone Records.
Dualtone, founded in 2001 by Scott Robinson and Dan Herrington, has been the home of the Lumineers’ output and the label’s flagship acts. The 25th‑anniversary compilation, Keep Pressing On, was assembled in 2026 to showcase tracks that have defined Dualtone’s roster over a quarter‑century. Adding “Isabelle Fly” to the collection not only broadens the band’s discography but also underscores the enduring partnership between the Lumineers and their label.
The release of “Isabelle Fly” does not herald a new direction for the band; instead, it simply brings a previously underrepresented piece into a broader context. The song’s themes of grief and resilience align with both the film’s narrative and the Lumineers’ established musical approach, reinforcing the intimate, story‑driven style that has carried them from their debut to the present.
In summary, the Lumineers’ decision to include “Isabelle Fly” on Dualtone’s 25‑year celebration provides a formal home for a track that had been confined to a 2021 film’s opening credits. By doing so, the band preserves a piece of its creative history while highlighting the long‑standing relationship between the group and the label that has supported their career for two decades.
Written by founding members Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, “Isabelle Fly” was produced by Simone Felice and recorded with the core lineup that has defined the band’s sound since their debut. Though it opened the title sequence of The Starling, the track never appeared on a studio album or as a single, leaving it largely invisible to fans until now. Its inclusion in the anniversary set gives the song a formal home and ties the Lumineers’ songwriting directly to a cinematic project.
The Starling, directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Matt Harris, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2021. The Netflix‑released drama stars Melissa McCarthy as Lilly Maynard, a woman grappling with the loss of her infant daughter, and Chris O’Dowd as her husband Jack. Kevin Kline plays a veterinarian who becomes part of Lilly’s healing journey. The film’s narrative centers on grief, acceptance, and moving forward—themes that echo in the refrain of “Isabelle Fly”: “It’s alright, Isabelle, it’s alright / I know there’s only one way to fly.”
The Starling opened in limited theaters on September 17, 2021, and began streaming on Netflix a week later. Critics largely panned the film, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 19 % score from 94 reviews and Metacritic assigning a 31 out of 100 rating based on 23 critics. Audience scores were noticeably higher, suggesting a divide between reviewers and general viewers. Despite the lukewarm reception, the opening sequence—featuring a starling weaving through its environment and building a nest—remained a memorable musical moment, and the Lumineers’ concise melodies and acoustic instrumentation complemented the film’s emotional framework.
The Lumineers formed in 2005 in Ramsey, New Jersey, and relocated to Denver in 2009. Schultz and Fraites had been writing together long before Neyla Pekarek joined on cello and vocals in 2010. Their self‑titled debut, released in 2012, reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and produced the international hit “Ho Hey.” Subsequent releases—Cleopatra (2016), III (2019), Brightside (2022), and Automatic (2025)—have all been issued through Dualtone Records.
Dualtone, founded in 2001 by Scott Robinson and Dan Herrington, has been the home of the Lumineers’ output and the label’s flagship acts. The 25th‑anniversary compilation, Keep Pressing On, was assembled in 2026 to showcase tracks that have defined Dualtone’s roster over a quarter‑century. Adding “Isabelle Fly” to the collection not only broadens the band’s discography but also underscores the enduring partnership between the Lumineers and their label.
The release of “Isabelle Fly” does not herald a new direction for the band; instead, it simply brings a previously underrepresented piece into a broader context. The song’s themes of grief and resilience align with both the film’s narrative and the Lumineers’ established musical approach, reinforcing the intimate, story‑driven style that has carried them from their debut to the present.
In summary, the Lumineers’ decision to include “Isabelle Fly” on Dualtone’s 25‑year celebration provides a formal home for a track that had been confined to a 2021 film’s opening credits. By doing so, the band preserves a piece of its creative history while highlighting the long‑standing relationship between the group and the label that has supported their career for two decades.