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!

Recording "The Flow"

 By Isa!

My favorite part of recording "The Flow" was 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.

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I want to thank Isa! for taking the time to share this story with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and pre-save The Flow to be sure you won't miss it!

Thanks again Isa!

The Story Behind "The Flow"

By Isa!

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. It's also different from my other originals because it was born out of a school project actually. It was my first project for my music technology class for freshmen, and the professor was extremely strict, so I knew I had to give it my all! (and I'm also a bit of a perfectionist, so... ). I had one week to complete the task, during midterms, and I remember having no ideas whatsoever for a song, while the deadline was getting closer and closer. I was however obsessed with this song called "Parco Sempione" by the Italian band Elio E Le Storie Tese. I kept playing and practicing that. I've always loved that song, the afro grooves and vibe just stick with you. It's awesome (and it reaches a whole new level of greatness if you also explore its meaning... but that's a different story). 

Anyways, as I was playing this groovy track, I was also practicing a similar groove for another piece my drums professor assigned me. And at one point it just clicked: no one was stopping me from creating a song with the same vibe! I'd never done that before too. It had never occurred to me to write something with such a clear reference and model, and it's awesome to see how that evolves into your creation. 

So, I got to my room, got out my midi, and pulled put a crazy

afro-latin groove intro situation, which was awesome. It could have worked perfectly if it were played live, but that once presented to my professor was ROASTED brutally . The guy was right. It had no point whatsoever. It was just things happening . So I got back to work, locked in over a whole weekend. Moved into the Public Library with my lil midi for extra focus, and pulled out The Flow. I handed in the project literally at 11.59, and risked failing completely. But instead got full grades on that (and the professor was happy). 

What was surprising was that the morning after handing it in, I woke up with my mom who sent the song to her best friends, and sent back to me all their amazed and excited texts. They were all in awe. They weren't captured by the fancy musical things happening, and they weren't phased by the dorm quality of the first demo. They were just moved by it I guess. That was the moment I realized that song had something to say. I had something to say.

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I want to thank Isa! for taking the time to share this story with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and pre-save The Flow to be sure you won't miss it!

Thanks again Isa!