Isabella Isherwood (Exclusive Interview)
Tell us about your show! The process?
I approach every show like I’m crafting a record. I want to guide the energy and the experience of the audience so that by the end of the night, we’ve gone on a journey together. This art that we create is all about storytelling. I’m constantly finding new ways to tell old stories that we have inherited and bringing old sensibilities into telling new stories that are all mine. Working with my fellow musicians, within the framework of these songs and stories, we explore, converse, and learn about ourselves and each other in the process.
What's your favorite genre of music to create?
Jazz. I was raised on the music of Sarah, Nina, Oscar, Erroll, Frank, Billie, Ella, Louis, and so many other brilliant artists, both old and contemporary. I love the way the music constantly evolves, mirroring our own evolution as the people and artists who play it. Every night is new and finite, and we get to explore and expand these songs which will never be played the same way twice. I love the musical conversation of it all, the way that you can sit down on a stage anywhere in the world, regardless of any language or cultural differences, and communicate through music. We are storytellers, and to me, this is the art form that allows us to most immediately divulge our current state, thoughts, tribulations, and emotions, from moment to moment, through the notes we play.
How is your family involved in music?
My grandfather was a jazz pianist and vocalist in Detroit, Jerry Libby, so I grew up listening to his records, and all of his favorite artists. My mother was a classical pianist which was what first got me to start studying classical piano at age 4. I remember just sitting in the music room, listening to her practice Chopin and Debussy and being awestruck at the way the music washed over me, changing the state of my world in a matter of moments. It was magic and I wanted to be a part of it. My little brother is a brilliant musician too, and I love getting to bounce ideas off of him, listen to him practice, and play together on the rare occasion that we can.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Everywhere. I don’t mean that to be an ambiguous answer...I view all of life as art and inspiration. That’s why I think I've gotten into so many other art forms as well - painting, photography, acting, writing, dancing. These are all ways of deepening our human experience and enriching our ability to feel and express it. I am inspired by the beauty of the world: I am an avid traveler and have just gotten into diving this year too. The ocean is a real place of rebirth and artistic inspiration for me. I am also deeply inspired by people. Every person you see walking down the street has a million stories, some universal, and some completely unfathomable, and I love listening to people share their experiences. It’s so important as artists that we stay hungry and open for stories and inspiration. They can come from anywhere at any moment.
What do you want your listeners to learn from you?
I’ve talked a lot about telling stories, and I think the ultimate goal of sharing these intimate parts of ourselves with each other is to inspire more empathy. As our world has become increasingly divided and self-centered, it is more important now than ever, that we open our hearts to each other and reach out to carry each other through this challenging and beautiful existence. I want my music to embody that. My band members carry each other, listen to each other without judgment, remain uninhibited and open, and express our love through the notes that we play and the words we sing. I can’t imagine anything more human than that.
