From relatively unknown DIY artist, to a favourite on national and international airwaves, local neo-soul darling Isabel has undergone a period of metamorphosis these past twelve months.

Starting out with just her keyboard, soulful vocals and heartfelt tunes, Isabel made a few DIY-releases before teeing up with local producer Steve Thornely to create her 2016 breakout hit Fences.

With over 3 million plays on Spotify, airplay on Triple J and a top charting position on Hype Machine, Fences catapulted Isabel’s career, earning her a legion of fans along the way.

Last year, whilst in Berlin, she released her second single Stay, and 2017 sees her return to Australia with her new single Patterns, which dropped last week.

As she prepares for what may be her biggest year yet, we asked Isabel to share with us some of the moments she feels set her on the path to success. Here’s her moments of metamorphosis…

MOMENTS OF METAMORPHOSIS BY ISABEL

  1. Working with my producer Steve Thornely. He’s helped not only to move my music to the next level, but has also helped shape my song-writing process and kickstarted my love affair with Ableton.
  2. Going to a music conference in Berlin this year called Loop. I’ve never been surrounded by so many other inspiring people and like-minded creatives. Sometimes I feel the stigma of pursuing a creative career, but I remember walking away from that conference feeling excited and inspired to embrace all forms of creativity in my work.
  3. Playing the first original song I wrote on the piano at home. It was a song I wrote called Move On and was about the irrational stress we all felt in grade 12 in high school. I remember my brothers had overheard me and came over to sit down and listen. It was the first time I realised I could write okay-sounding songs.
  4. My Fences single launch at Black Bear Lodge. I remember feeling extremely nervous before the show, since it was the first time to perform with my new setup with Ableton and my Launchpad. I would say that was the most fun I’ve ever had on stage! I felt so connected during the performance and could feel the energy from the audience.
  5. Having Fences played over 3 million times on Spotify. It really was a crazy realisation for me that one of my own songs could be heard by that many people around the world. It proved to me that I could write music that not only a few people in Brisbane wanted to listen to, but that even people in Norway (it was number 1 in Oslo for ‘Where People Listen’ on Spotify at one point!) and around the world listened to it. I also saw a video of a dance company in the US dancing to Fences. Crazy!

 

Isabel is supporting fellow Brisbane darling Airling at Black Bear Lodge tis Saturday, 27 and Sunday, 28 May. All event and ticket info available HERE.

PATTERNS – ISABEL