An Interview with Rhea Isabella

Dami: What inspired you to start making music?

Rhea Isabella: I had taken piano lessons from an amazing instructor, Mrs. Eunice, from second to eighth grade. During our last session together, she gave me a quick rundown on how music theory worked. This fascinated me, and I would start to experiment with chord progressions and make my own songs not long after that. I love the freedom of being able to accurately express an emotion, and without the learning the fundamentals of music. I’m not sure if I would be where I am today. I’m thankful for Mrs. Eunice since her kindness and patience helped shape me into the musician I am currently.

Dami: Who are your biggest inspirations?

Rhea Isabella: Sufjan Stevens, Imogen Heap, Taylor Swift, Sara Bareilles, Adele, Phoebe Bridgers, and Searows to name a few. I find their lyricism, instrumentation, and themes to be inspiring. I enjoy artists who are able to convey their specific experience in a way that others can relate to. Storytelling is an important element for me, and I believe that these artists nail just that.

Dami: When making music, where do you grab inspiration from?

Rhea Isabella: Either my or other’s experiences. I feel that my best songs come from a real, emotional place. If I can truly empathize with someone else’s story, I believe I am able to capture their feelings accurately through a song.

Dami: How would you describe your sound?

Rhea Isabella: Even if the instruments and vibe of each song differ, all of them create a cinematic, tender, and emotional atmosphere for the listener to enjoy. My sound’s not the type you would want to get hyped up to, but it’s definitely for those seeking music that takes them on a journey.

Dami: What’s your creative process like?

Rhea Isabella: My creative process is quite chaotic. I tend to write a song very quickly, but I need to be inspired. What happens is that I’ll have an idea for a song, scribble down some lyrics, pick up my ukulele or piano, play a chord progression that emits the mood I want, and then sing my lyrics with a random melody. I tend to go back and forth between changing the instrumentation, lyrics, and melody until they all sound cohesive. Sometimes, I struggle to find the right words, so I collaborate with my close friend, Phil, to help bring the lyrics to their full potential. After creating the bare bones, I work with my producer, Leroy, who adds the rest of the instruments to the song. I then record my vocals and harmonies. Finally, my mixing/mastering engineer, Priel, helps glue everything together. These three guys are all amazing people, and I’m grateful to have grown as an artist with their support.

Dami: You just dropped your first single titled Hazel Meteorites. What does it mean to you?

Rhea Isabella: Hazel Meteorite means a lot to me. To start, the process of finally putting myself out there was a hard one. There’s been a part of me that’s been afraid of others perceiving me through my music. However, once I finally decided to go through with the process, my confidence increased. The love and support I’ve gotten from family and friends, and those who happen to stumble across this song has cemented the fact that I should keep going. Hazel Meteorites was the stepping stone I needed to know that there’s no turning back.

Dami: What do you want listeners to take away after listening to it?

Rhea Isabella: Even though Hazel Meteorites talks about watching someone slowly fall out of love with you, there’s no animosity within the lyrics. Instead, there’s an acceptance of the end and an admittance that it was nice while it lasted. By illustrating a different dynamic in this specific relationship, I hope to challenge society’s assumptions about relationship fallouts.

Dami: What’s next for you after this single?

Rhea Isabella: I’ll be releasing more music. Depending on where (and if) I go to graduate school this fall, it may affect how active I can be. While I don’t have school, I’m going to enjoy having a lot of time to indulge in what I love to do.

Dami: What are 3 words you’ll use to describe your music?

Rhea Isabella: Vulnerable, dreamy, and cinematic.

Dami: Any artists you hope to work with in the future?

Rhea Isabella: It’s not artists I’ve thought about working with but more individuals. I want to be able to get to know people and help tell their stories through music. That way, they can feel less alone in their experiences.

Dami: What’s the most stressful part of being an artist in your opinion?

Rhea Isabella: As of right now, the managing and marketing aspects. I’m not the best at multitasking. In fact, I find it to be near impossible to do more than one thing at a time. Trying to communicate with others while working a part-time job, applying for graduate school, all while marketing my music has been stressful. I get a headache thinking about what to post on TikTok. Honestly, I’m more of a one-on-one/small group kind of girl, so I may try and share my music in more intimate settings rather than a public social media account. The way that marketing works in social media isn’t something that I enjoy participating in at all.

Dami: Where do you hope to see yourself in the next 5 years?

Rhea Isabella: I can see myself floating honestly. I want to be a part-time therapist while still making music. If I could live a life where I can simultaneously help people and work on my art, that would be a dream come true. I want a quiet life where I can stay in my little apartment, talk to clients, make music, paint, cook food, and stay connected with my family and friends.

 Check out Rhea’s latest single here