Isabel has returned to the public music stage, releasing her first self-produced single ‘Sparks‘. This release comes after a 3 year hiatus from Isabel, since her release of ‘Patterns‘ in 2017.
For those who may not have had a chance to hear Isabel’s dreamy music previously, she offers “I would describe my sound as neo-soul with hints of RnB; it’s the kind of music you could listen to on a lazy Sunday to chill out, yet there are also parts of it that have a darker, sultry and brooding vibe at times that you can hear from artists such as Meg Mac, or JOY. My upcoming music I feel takes a bit of a cross-section of that, along with taking inspiration from more upbeat and electronic styles of music.”
The burning question is.. who is Isabel and what inspired her to create and release ‘Sparks‘?.. We had the honour to delve into these questions with Isabel.. and below, you can learn all about what makes up this creative artist?
Who is Isabel?
Isabel is a Melbourne based singer-songwriter and producer.. She grew up in Brisbane, where she first began to develop her music and songwriting skills.
“To be honest I don’t remember a time where I wasn’t involved with music, and I feel like I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I was enrolled in piano lessons when I was about 6 years old, and singing lessons soon after that. I played saxophone throughout school and also picked up the guitar when I was about 11. I was basically that kid in high school who was in about 6 different bands and choirs.”
She began her songwriting journey in her later high school years and it didn’t take long before she was working her way around Brisbane, playing acoustic folk and soul music.. performing by busking at markets and playing in various live music venues.. Isabel was hungry to evolve her sound further.
“It wasn’t until I started working with a producer on my music, when I started to really develop and craft my sound as an artist, and that’s when I started to delve deeper into the more electronic side of soul and RnB style of music.”
Isabel then spent the next year and a half playing in a Sydney based band and learning about music production. She then moved to her current home in Melbourne, where she continues to write and produce music.
Where has her hiatus led her?
A lot has happened for Isabel since 2017, when she released her single ‘Patterns’.. She has spent the time evolving musically and personally.
In this time, she celebrated her graduation from university in Brisbane.. relocated to Sydney to study music production and joined a band.. finally, she has now settled in Melbourne, where she has been working to build her skills as a musician and producer.
Inspiration behind ‘Sparks’
From listening to ‘Sparks‘ we can hear the smooth, dreamy feel and can hear the passion.. but what is really behind the track?
Isabel says “I’ve been listening to a lot of great electronic/RnB artists lately such as Cosmos Midnight, Young Franco and KAYTRANADA, and have been really inspired by that kind of upbeat and energetic production and wanted to bring those elements into this track ‘Sparks’.”
“A lot of my music I’ve put out previously has been more minimal in terms of the percussion and drums, and wanted to experiment with more complex and sophisticated beats and percussion in my music.”
“Lyrically, the song reflects on certain things that can easily spark our interest for a split second; whether it be relationships, fashion or the latest trends – only for us to quickly lose interest and be passionately invested in the next thing. It also talks to the noisy world we currently live in, and how it can sometimes be hard to stay focused and invested in one thing at a time when everything is calling for our attention at once.”
What does ‘Sparks’ mean to Isabel?
“It’s been about 3 years since I released my last single, and so this song, to me, marks my return to the music scene and gives listeners a taste of the kind of style and sound they can expect from more of my upcoming music.”
“It’s also my first release under Isabel that’s fully self-produced, and so it’s also in a way an homage to how I’ve grown as an artist as well as a producer in the past couple years. I’m definitely proud of this one, and hope listeners enjoy it too!”
“This song to me is about going out of my comfort zone and experimentation with new styles and approaches to music. I think the first message I’d like to convey is about continuing to evolve and experiment with new ideas and not feel tied to old patterns or approaches, whether it be the kind of music you make or even any other aspect of your life.”
“To me the song also reflects on the desire for authenticity and to stay genuine; thinking twice
about what really matters and is important to you.”
“Things don’t need to be absolutely perfect, but taking that first step can ease a lot of the stress when releasing new music.”
Isabel
What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
“For me, I knew that it had been some time since I last released music, and I think a part of what was holding me back was the fear of not having things absolutely ‘perfect’ for the release.”
“A lot about the release cycle and especially the business side of music is a big grey area for me, and can be daunting and overwhelming at times, especially as an independent, self-managed solo artist. “Okay so I have a new song – what’s step 2? How do I release it properly? What’s involved in that process? Who should I talk to?”
“I had a lot of questions, but for me the biggest thing was not to be bogged down by all of the unknowns, and rather take a deep breath and break things down into smaller steps, and most importantly – start somewhere! Things don’t need to be absolutely perfect, but taking that first step can ease a lot of the stress when releasing new music.”
What does the future hold?
Isabel has been busy writing music over the last few years and has so much ready to go. She is planning to release an EP in the new year.. she is also getting ready to release her debut album within the next 12 to 18 months and is getting involved in some collaborations with other artists.
Where to find Isabel:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24rICjDPZpOYK7ZBLuWvrV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsabelSMusic/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/_isabelmusic
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl0MZBU8dwCJApFFjx4aW1w
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.