The Story Behind "Summernights"!

I absolutely love the recent single from Isa!, "Summernights". Coming off her epic release, "The Flow", she certainly kept the momentum going with this recent offering. If you're anything like me, when you love music you want to learn all you can about it. Luckily, Isa! was willing to help us all out with that by answering some questions about the release for us. 

Hope you enjoy what she has to say!

What do you want listeners to know about Summenights?

Summernights was born out of a songwriting session with a classmate, Lukas Vargas. We were together in a seminar for freshmen and the professor kept encouraging collaboration, even if we were a bit shy or we weren't planning for it; to give it a shot in short. I had already worked with Lukas and I felt like our interests could work well together - he wanted to work on his producing skills, I wanted to try and topline more - and so one day we organized a session. We met up in a practice room and from the moment he pulled out those chords I knew it sounded like summer and friends and nostalgia. The song was born in less than one hour.

I think everybody can relate in some way to Summernights. For me, growing up in Italy, it's about the summers spent in that same "holiday" town, with your "summer" friends, a bond so strong and that most people here have in their life and know. Even though personally I had a strong bond with a town but not many friends there, I saw what that felt like thanks to my best friend: she invited me to her special summer town, Oltre Il Colle, and there I saw what it meant to grow up with the same kids, to have these parallel friendships that resumed every summer as if no time passed at all. It was special and precious and I wanted to capture that for her and for all the people that had that in their lives!

How did you come up with the name for the song?

Fun fact, the very first draft was called "Who We Are"! But very soon I realized it needed a more dynamic, special name, with something unique to it. "Summer nights" are the first two words of the song, and I liked their sound and how perfectly they captured the vibe, so I merged them and that was it!

What was it like developing the cover artwork?

I knew I wanted a summer night on the cover. Back during winter break, my best friend - who had already heard the first demo and was in love with it - sent me some wonderful pictures she took to use as covers or promo images. They all pictured the tiny town she goes to during summers, the same town that inspired Summernights! I knew I was going to use one of her photos, and when I saw a wonderful picture of the night sky she took I knew that was it: I drew the title and artist name on and it was ready!

Do you have a favorite lyric from the song?

I think the part of lyrics that resonates with me the most is the second verse:

"Summer finally made its way to us

Like when we were young

High school's over, an era's over

Again here we are

Sitting on the same bench in our park

But it's new talk

'What ya doing, where you going

Where will your new life be"'

When I first heard the chords I knew it sounded like summer with your friends and growing up. Back in early Fall, I had just moved out (across the ocean) and a new life was beginning for me, so I felt like I needed to capture this excitement and anticipation and fear in the lyrics too. Everywhere around me were freshmen who were just now starting ro get used to the new life, and it was unbelievable that just a couple months ago we were all still in high school.

Do you have any favorite memories of the recording process?

Unlike The Flow, there wasn't actually much recording involved with this song! The only instruments tracked live were acoustic and electric guitars, bass and voice. I hold particularly dear the first time me and Lukas worked on the first demo, a few days after writing it: we were in Lukas' dorm, where he had set up a small studio, and we were tracking acoustic guitars. That was one of the first times I realized I had some affinity for arranging and production: as we were recording, I started having more and more ideas as to what to add and where. For example, the electric guitars in the chorus were my idea, and they came to me so naturally it felt almost magical to realize I had a vision for the song. Summernights of course also became the second project for my music technology class, which meant helpful feedback and a deadline to finish the demo. The first version included some midi percussion tracks, bass tracked by another friend back home and vocals recorded late at night in a practice room. When it was time to release it, we simply updated the instruments, having bass re-recorded by my friend Sommer, percussions reworked by me and producer friend Raza K, vocals re-recorded at Guscio Recording Studio in Milan and the mix and master finished by Marte Recording Studio also in Milan. So proud of the final result!

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Be sure to follow Isa! on Instagram, and stream her debut single The Flow! Also, be sure to check out all of here appearances her on Section 36 Music!

Thanks Isa!

My First Show

By Isa!

My first show as an original artist was such a memorable moment for me. To finally be able to bring my own music on stage was really incredible, especially if looking back on my evolution from being only a drummer other people call into a songwriter who writes her music and leads the band.

I knew this one was going to be special from the very beginning: I was invited to play by my dear friend Simo, who manages the jam sessions at the famous Rock’n’Roll Club in Milano: I’ve been going to those jams for three years now and that really gave me my confidence and presence on stage, plus the community there is so welcoming, they’re my second home, they’ve seen me grow, play, turn 18 (I had my birthday party there!!), prepare for Berklee and then leave to study in the US. So needless to say it was just going to be full circle to play my first show in such a special place for me. And when I saw another friend of mine in the lineup I knew it was going to be awesome!

Preparing for it was challenging but overall everything went smoothly, I am glad for my previous experience I’ve gotten over the years. Once you send clearly organized charts and demos and you make sure all the questions are tackled most of the work is already done! Plus I had also called really talented musicians so I knew I was playing it safe! Fitting rehearsals in everybody’s schedule was difficult, but this only means that you got good, busy musicians!


As the leader it was on me to take care not only of the music but also of everything else too: promotion, merch (which I crafted myself!), outfit and cohesion… every little bit was a huge lesson for me, I am so glad everything teaches me.

I will forever remember the show itself. This was my first time properly handling a show by myself as a drummer and a singer: this meant constantly having to switch between drums and front of the stage, interacting with the audience, checking on everyone and directing the ensemble when needed. It was challenging, but I am so glad for the feedback I received from those who were there! Lots of people really appreciated my presence on stage and compared the performance to a musical, which is such an awesome compliment for me because that is in a way how I perceive my music, as a soundtrack to my life and those of others. I guess I see life as a musical, so might as well act it out in my concerts! I am also glad that my introductions to the songs were appreciated, it was my first time properly introducing the full set but I was told it felt perfectly fit, so we got that! For my next shows (which are going to be next Friday and next Sunday, I am so excited!) I will prepare and refine my speaking bits even more, to have the full performance come together!

I am also extremely grateful for all the little things that went wrong, which may sound weird, but it really isn’t! This show was, as I said before, literally a home game for me: it was the most welcoming and forgiving environment I could have ever wished for, so I could figure out and learn how to deal with technical mishaps and misfortunes without the judgement of bigger shows. You only learn through mistakes, the best thing that can happen to you is to be in a relaxed environment that is by your side when they happen. I am now stronger, a better leader and more prepared for my next concerts!

Music is all about relationships, and this concert was a perfect representation of that. Everyone in my band had a special relationship to me somehow: some people I met at the renowned Berklee Clinics at Umbria Jazz, some I had seen once in my Conservatorio admission last year; some I met in Berklee (despite living in the same city!), some I met for the first time in rehearsals, but the vibe was just perfect. It’s all about relationships. Having all friends in my band is awesome, it becomes something more than just having people play for you. And seeing the audience resonating with what you’re singing, seeing them enjoying themselves and forgetting about the hardships of life for a moment and being there blissfully is priceless. I look at them, and I know them personally, it’s my family, my closest friends, and I can read it in their eyes that they are full of hope and that they believe in me. In a way, I am the chance they may never have gotten. And I am very well aware that even though they may not physically be with me in Boston or wherever I will be, they are still with me, their presence and trust and faith is with me and gives me strength. So with my playing and my music I am there to bring joy and hope. This is what is behind every show.

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Be sure to follow Isa! on Instagram, and stream her debut single The Flow! Also, be sure to check out all of here appearances her on Section 36 Music!

Thanks Isa!

Questions About Isa! and "The Flow"

I'm sure that you all love the debut single from Isa!, "The Flow". Personally, I can't stop listening to it. Whenever I find music I really enjoy, I want to learn all I can about it. I'm guessing that you feel that way as well. Luckily, Isa! has been willing to share her thoughts and stories about the single so we can all appreciate it even more. Here are a few specific questions she was kind enough to answer.

Here's what she had to say!

What was your favorite part of the recording process?

I'll probably say the main recording part. Even though all the moments were special in their way! Anyways, I was extremely lucky and managed to record most of the band in one session. It was the beginning of the spring semester, and I was planning recordings of another song (yep... soon hehehe) when my engineer friend asked me if I could also cover a full band session. Mind you, this was less than a week after my landing back in Boston after winter break so I was JET LAGGED  Anyways, I managed to pull through the sleepiness (and the flu) and got together an awesome band that could work with me. My goal initially was just to get a good take out of drums, and we encountered quite some challenges with the equipment that made me fear we'd run out of time, but instead we managed to get a magical piano moment and awesome flute takes too! Bass and percussions were rerecorded separately (and these are two other hilarious stories), and the vox recordings were an odyssey, but so worth it.

You currently attend Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right choice for you?

I guess something inside me told me I had to get my shot, it was my time to go overseas and get the life I wanted. The combo of professors, network, facility, location... that's difficult to beat probably. There were and there are many, many challenges, from the financial burden to dealing with loneliness and being so far away from home. However, once I got into the groove, every piece just fit into place. I've grown so much it is incredible to describe, and The Flow is just the perfect example of it: I landed in Boston a drummer and singer who kiiiinda knew there was some poetic voice in there and now I'm about to release my first single of many and have my first shows as an original artist. All of this while thriving as a drummer, arranger, producer, musician. The challenges are big, but I'm gonna fight to stay there. As long as I feel that's where I can grow the most I will stay and thrive.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Right now, my gods are Tool. Danny Carey is just incredible, his approach is incredible. The more I grow as a musician, the more their kind of music intrigues me. I am addicted to that, I know one day Ill do it too. I already have something in the works, I just need the perfect band.Another of my greatest influences is Steve Gadd. The way he plays is just - UUGH - sooo good. So perfect. I'm not the kind of drummer who enjoys overplaying, I'm different I guess haha. I'm fine with one hit, if it's what is needed. And mr Gadd knows his thing, he knows. And again he's so innovative, he never plays what you'd expect but somehow that's always the perfect choice. Time and listening and practicing and playing, I'll get there too. I can't not mention my forever ever favorite band Led Zeppelin, they were the ones who really got me into music and the big dreams. My *Throwback to when I played Whole Lotta Love for my middle school final exam to a crowd of shocked professors*. After that exam my parents gifted me my first guitar, an Epiphone Les Paul that looks just like the one Jimmy Page used, and her name is obviously Jimmy. Honorable band mentions: Metallica, my first ever REAL show and the band that really got my family to play all together (oh yeah we have a family band hehehe); and Muse, I just love them , the vibe, the innovation, the synths... then how can I not mention Radiohead, their music is just so perfect, it touches you right where it needs to. I could go on forever, let's stop like this for now :)

What are your immediate music goals?

For this summer I want to release two more singles and work on an EP, to be released sometime. All my songs tell a story, they're the soundtrack to my life, so they all have a specific moment when they're ready to come out. If the time is this summer, good; if it isn't, also good. We'll see how things evolve. But for sure I want to work on that, trust me the amount of emotions right now are crazy, writing will just help pieces fall into place. I also want to start figure myself as an original performer out. I have three shows coming, and maybe more to come, so that will be an awesome chance to get to know myself. I want to practice a lot and explore what I didn't get to work on in Berklee, the goal is to see what I want to do and what works. And I also want to help my sister out with her music, I'm sure you'll hear of her very soon... but for now, let's just go with the flow! 

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Be sure to follow Isa! on Instagram, and stream The Flow to be sure you won't miss it! Also, be sure to check out all of here appearances her on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again Isa!

When Isa! Performs on Stage

By Isa!

I love the connection it creates. You see strangers that aren't strangers anymore, something stronger unites you now. They look at you, maybe you're playing the music they love and they've grown up with, maybe you're telling your own music and they're seeing themselves mirrored in your words, they're there and your souls are dancing together. You can just feel it. And yes, once you get off stage they'll come to you and tell you how awesome you were and everything, but you know what they are really trying to describe is how perfect that felt. That is the reason I started performing, the way music made me feel, the way I felt when I went to concerts, I felt connected and I wanted to be there and give that awesomeness back. The world needs more of this, we need more music and connection and peace and sincerity and community. Music gives you that Some venues are amazing, I can't not think about this place called the Rock'n'Roll Club in my home city Milan: they hold rock and metal jam sessions every two weeks, and you'll find anyone there. From young rockers, to adults who've just learnt how to play an instrument, to 5 year old kids who scream Pink Floyd on stage, to veterans of the industry, You find everyone there. And even though I may not know everyone when I step in, the moment the music starts we're all together. I play not to be crushingly good, or to flex, that would ruin everything. I give it my all to create the magic. As a drummer I have a talent to make everything come together, that's the superpower of my instrument. If I'm solid and I do my job, then the magic happens. And when people come up to me to compliment, I know it goes beyond "you're soo good". No words can capture that, but it's part of the magic. And when someone comes up to me and says that I've inspired them to play or given them new faith, then I know I've done my job.

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Be sure to follow Isa! on Instagram, and stream The Flow to be sure you won't miss it!

Thanks again Isa!

New Music From Amira Noor, Asmi Aderay, Pragya, Isabelle Gitlin, ISA!, Céline Marie, Pitch Slapped, Georgia Chess

"Tried" - by Amira Noor

Release Date: May 30, 2025

What You Should Know: "Excited to share this special song with you guys."

Find It: Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Amira Noor Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Confess to Me" - by Asmi Aderay

Release Date: April 11, 2025

What You Should Know: "Confess to Me is more than just a song to me - it’s a late-night emotional confession set to melody. With every note, I’m sharing the heartbreak and feelings we often keep hidden. I hope it connects with you like a secret between friends."

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Asmi Aderay Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Picking at the Seams" - by Pragya

Release Date: May 9, 2025

What You Should Know: This debut EP is one you won't want to miss!

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

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"It Still" - by Isabelle Getlin 

Release Date: May 23, 2025

What You Should Know: "Thank you to my family, particularly my grandmother Zoya. She served as an inspiration for me on this and I want to dedicate it to her. She was a talented working actress from St. Petersburg, but was unable to continue pursing her craft and passion after immigrating to this country for her family."

Find It: Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Isabelle Gitlin Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"The Flow" - by ISA!

Release Date: June 6, 2025

What You Should Know: "This song is particularly special for me as it was not my first first first ever written, but for sure my first fully finished and produced all on my own. "

Find It: Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36",  "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36:  More ISA!

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"Showtime" - by Céline Marie

Release Date: June 6, 2025

What You Should Know: It’s an EDM / Techno track, a fusion of the sub-genres Peak Time, Industrial and Minimal Techno, and the lead single of her upcoming EP “Showtime”.

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

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"Are You That Somebody?" - by Pitch Slapped

Release Date: June 6, 2025

What You Should Know: A must-listen release from this incredible group.

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

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"Ascot" - by Georgi Chess

Release Date: June 6, 2025

What You Should Know: "“Ascot” is this really bitter song about unrequited love. I’m not really into writing “sappy” love songs, because music like that makes me feel a little hopeless. So majority of my “sad” songs end up becoming these angry, gritty rock tunes, because that feels more empowering to me in a way."

Find It: Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Amira Noor Visits Section 36 Music!"