Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Isabella Lavalle

THE RELEASE

Isabella Lavalle, a multifaceted talent, is a singer, songwriter, and producer who has honed her craft in her home studio. Drawing inspiration from renowned artists such as Taylor Swift, Joni Mitchell, and Billy Joel, Lavalle masterfully combines her unique perspective and voice with the influences of these iconic musicians. Adept at blending diverse styles, her music is a refreshing addition to the industry, appealing to an audience craving authenticity and depth.

Lavalle's latest single explores the complexities of pursuing a relationship amidst the judgment and whispers of others. With a modern and mainstream sound that resonates with younger, college-aged listeners and those in their twenties, the song showcases Lavalle's ability to captivate a wide demographic. As the catchy melody and relatable lyrics unfold, listeners are transported into a world where love defies societal expectations, and the passion between two people shines brighter than any obstacle. With this release, Isabella Lavalle solidifies her place as a rising star in the music scene, and it's clear that her unique style and talent are here to stay.

THE INTERVIEW

What song or moment in time sparked your passion for music?
It’s really hard to pinpoint just one moment because I feel like it’s been a passion and a love that’s grown overtime. As a child, I was always running around singing and performing but I don’t think younger Isabella actually had a fully thought out perspective on what music meant to me and if I wanted to do it forever - it was always just a pipe dream because I had to do something serious and adult. Anyways, back to the question, I think the first time I had a moment where I was like, “I can write music, I can write an album” was when I was about 13-years old and going into seventh grade when I first heard Fall Out Boy for the first time, specifically their Save Rock and Roll album. Before that I just enjoyed music but when I first listened to them I experienced what it was like to feel music. This led me down a rabbit hole of their discography as well as similar artists to them, but the witty songwriting from Pete Wentz is something that definitely inspired younger me to write, and all my music was super emo which is something I simultaneously cringe at but am proud of looking back.

Then I stopped writing music for a little while because in middle school I started playing in my high school band and classical music became my passion up until the pandemic, which, for a lot of classical musicians who normally would play in a group and connect through music, lost that. So, for the rest of my high school and my first few months of college, I was lost and didn’t have something that grounded me. The moment that reintroduced my passion was after a really messy breakup that happened (right before my birthday, might I add) that really shook me and I felt that even though I talked so much about it to those around me, I still had more to say. So I just wrote mountains of lyrics and songs about how I was affected and mourned, and ever since then I’ve been writing.

If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?

Geez, that is so hard because I could name so many for so many different reasons! At the moment, I’d have to say Taylor Swift, I mean she’s obviously a lyrical powerhouse and someone who me and many other songwriters look up to and admire. Her candid way of crafting a song really inspires me to be as honest in my songwriting process as I can. Obviously, I have to include Fall Out Boy (they count as one person in this scenario, okay) for reasons I already mentioned. Third would be Billy Joel. As you can probably tell, I really value the power of lyrics and I just adore his storytelling. Lastly, Jeff Buckley is getting a spot up there. He was so crazy talented and it’s so sad we lost him so soon. To me, his music, his lyrics, his voice - everything is perfection and I can only strive to be as talented as he was.

How does your creative process work from the moment you develop the idea to the completion of the record?

So I have a bunch of ideas written on my Notes app, some are just fully written out lines I have saved and maybe I can put them into something one day. The others are just words I think are cool and would like to use in a song. The best creative moments are when everything happens so organically and everything flows out perfectly the way you want it to. However, that is usually not the case for me. Usually, I’ll start off by singing a line that has been stuck in my head or I think is cool and then I start developing music for it and let the lyrics come naturally.

As for this release, who is the producer and what about the production moved you?

I produced it! I would love to work with an actual producer one day who is much more talented than me because my abilities as a producer are little to none, but I produced this mainly because I want to be capable and self-reliant as an artist because I just don’t have money to spend on studio sessions, and I just always have ideas and not an infinite amount of cash.

When it comes to the songwriting on this record, what is the message you want to get across to your listeners?

Well, besides the actual story the song is telling, I think my main message is moreso being open and vulnerable to listeners, some who may even be able to relate to it and can realize they aren’t the only person in this world that has had this feeling or is going through what they’re going through.

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