#17 - Isla Rose
#17 - Isla Rose
London-Based Songwriter and Indie-Pop Producer, Isla Rose shares part of her artistic world.
Welcome back, readers, to a new edition of Small Ears !
This week, we’ll bring you another artist who is destined to leave an indelible mark on your heart. I hope that you are ready to delve into her world, unraveling the inspiration behind her songs and her artistic vision because it starts now !
Can you present yourself in a few words? Where is your artist name coming from?
I'm a small town American girl living in London discovering new parts of the world and myself. I always liked the name Rose, there’s a lot of symbolism in a Rose. I’ve always found it interesting that we pick flowers for our own satisfaction, meanwhile killing it in the process. Even a Rose, the icon of love, has thorns just so that it isn’t picked. Nevertheless, we pick it anyway. Isla came on a whim. There were already too many artists with the name ‘Rose’. So I did a little digging and found Isla and thought it fit the music nicely. It was delicate while also feeling strong and unique.
How do you start your day?
The snooze alarm a few times, then coffee, and I’ve recently started time blocking my day. Surprisingly it really helps me be a lot more productive! It’s like I have an invisible boss telling me when to get things done, which is good for me.
When did you start your musical career? What motivated you to start it?
I started my music career in March 2020. Crazily enough, it started out as a Covid hobby. I never thought I’d make my own music. I had just finished a 2 year production and sound engineering school in Dec 2019, thinking I’d work as an engineer or at a record label. I started looking for jobs in the industry, but then covid hit and no one was hiring. Then being so secluded from people, and going a bit crazy in my own thoughts, I needed some type of outlet. I thought, well I might as well make my own music so that I don’t go totally insane and have something to put all my thoughts and energy into. I was also in a very reflective stage of my life. So it was really therapeutic putting all my thoughts and experiences into a piece of art.
What genre of music do you play?
Indie-pop / Alt-pop
Is there an event, an artist or a band that inspired you?
Growing up with a father that loved rock’n’roll (he would even give me a quarter for every artist or song I knew on the radio) really implanted in my brain that I would love music. Then finding artists like Mazzy Star, Lana Del Rey, and Glass Animals became a pivotal step toward shaping my musical taste. Upon moving to the UK and going to my first music festival (Glastonbury), where I got to see some of the most famous acts in the world, furthered my infatuation for music and how it brings people together. Not only was the atmosphere incredible, but everyone there was on a similar mission to just enjoy themselves, and dance to some of their favorite tunes. I love how music does that for people.
Is your music your principal work?
Music is my principle work, but I do have a side hustle (online marketing) that helps give me some cash!
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What is the process behind your mind while creating a new piece of music?
Usually I get a song idea in my head and I’ll record it on voice memos, even if I’m out for a walk or with friends, I’ll go record it immediately as I don’t want to forget it. That’s how I write most of my music. Otherwise if I’m feeling in the mood to release some energy, I’ll sit down at the piano and just play around with some chords and if something inspires I’ll sing a melody over it. Writing music is my favorite part of this journey and where my passion mostly lies.
Where do you perform most of the time? On which platform is your music available?
I’m not performing yet, as I’m busy trying to get my next EP out, but once that’s in a good place I’m going to start performing :) My music is on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music, Deezer and Soundcloud.
Where is THE place or country you would like to perform?
I’d love to start performing around London as there’s a great music scene around here and where I’ve gained a lot of my inspiration.
What are the songs you want to share with people that don’t know your music?
I’d probably share My Adeline and I’m Sorry with them first as those were my singles and favorites. I feel like they are both quite different from each other from the songwriting to the vocal style, so I’d hope potentially one would connect with them.
Which artists do you listen to when you are composing or playing your music?
I like to listen to a lot of different genres so that I can take inspiration from artists different from me. Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Florence & the Machine, Cigarettes After Sex and Coldplay’s first couple of albums.
Do you have other hobbies? If yes, can you tell a little bit more about them? Was there a moment you wanted to give up on music?
I love traveling, it’s a great way to meet new people and connect with different cultures. There’s not been a moment yet that I’ve wanted to give up on music, but I do find myself extremely burnt out at times because I can be quite a perfectionist and never am happy with things. Sometimes I need to step away from it and get out of my own head. Traveling can be the perfect cure for when this happens as it helps me reset, have some new experiences, and inspires my creative brain.
Is there an artist you would like to make a song with?
I would love to make a song with Glass Animals. I’m so inspired by their music. They have great beats and melodies that resonate with me.
What do you feel about the music industry these days ? Is it crowded ? Do you think anyone can find a place ?
I think the music industry is in a relatively good place these days as artists have more control over their identity and brand compared to a decade or two ago. Although social media for me is a very love/hate relationship, having it allows artists to control their narrative, be more authentic with listeners and build an audience on their own. With the avenue of social media and anyone being able to showcase their art, it does make it very overcrowded. But that doesn’t bother me. I’m just happy to have the avenue and outlet. As for me, I’m not in it to reach monumental fame or money. If my music can be a source of comfort or inspiration for someone, then that’s all I hope for.
What is the song you are the most proud of?
I think I’m most proud of ‘I’m Sorry’, because it is such an emotional, high intensity track that I didn’t realize I had in me. Even the music video was a big performance for me. But I cared so much about the song that I wanted to give it my all. For only being my second music video, I was proud of myself for putting myself out there and doing it.
What are you using to record your performance ? Are you doing everything by yourself ?
Yes, I record my vocals on my own in my small flat in London on a Shure SM7B microphone.
If you could recommend a small group or artist to people, which one would it be and why?
Lately I’ve been really into Annie Hamilton’s music. When I first heard her song ‘Exist’, the lyrics, melody and harmonies really resonated with me. Her use of the violins is beautiful, and I love the authenticity in her music.
Do you have any new songs in preparation? If so, can you give us a little hint about it?
At the moment I am hoping to get my next EP out by summer 2024 :)
What are the places where people can follow you ?
You can follow me at @islarosemusic on Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter and Facebook
Do you want to add something?
Thanks for the interview! xx
As we close this interview, we want to thank Isla Rose for this beautiful peek into her world, but also to all the readers for joining us on Small Ears. Your passion for music is what drives this newsletter, and we can't wait to have you back with us next Friday for another edition.
