INTERVIEW WITH NEWCOMER POP SINGER-SONGWRITER ISA BRUDER
I got to chat with up-and-coming Brazilian-American pop artist Isa Bruder, whose rich vocals, emotional storytelling, and layered harmonics are just in their infancy. I asked Isa about her songwriter, culture, and what’s to come this year in an interview, which you can read below.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Thanks for answering a few questions for The Reclusive Blogger. How has your 2023
been?
ISA BRUDER: Happy 2024 to you and your readers! I am really grateful for 2023 -- I got to travel to new places, spend time with my family and friends, go to incredible concerts, and write lots of music. :)
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can you talk a bit about your background and culture and how that encompasses your music?
ISA BRUDER: Sure! I grew up in São Paulo, Brazil. In addition to loving our Samba's swing and percussive musicality, Brazilian people have a reputation for being really fierce music fans -- and I definitely think that passion is embedded in me. The crowd's joy at a concert in Brazil is contagious. It can sometimes take years or even decades for a musical act to make its way to South America, so we're extra excited and grateful to finally witness that music in real life. The energy really is on another level #ComeToBrazil iykyk
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How did you normally approach writing and recording as a singer-songwriter?
ISA BRUDER: I am constantly writing feelings and concepts in my notes (notes app girlies rise), so in preparation for a session I usually pull a couple ideas from there that particularly resonate with me. Then I catch up with my cowriter(s), and we talk about our feelings / what kind of song we want to write! Sometimes a producer is included in these conversations / during the session if I have the luxury of being in a physical room with one -- most of my music I write through Zoom since most of my collaborators live in LA! I love writing music with people, as opposed to alone, because I find it takes me out of my own head and helps weed out the good ideas from the less interesting ones.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
ISA BRUDER: Know who you are, because if you don't people will try to tell you. Believe in your vision!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What's your process for dealing with performance anxiety?
ISA BRUDER: I actually find a couple of hours before my show more stressful than being on stage -- I wouldn't say I really get performance anxiety. During the hours before I'm stressing about logistics, if my band is gonna arrive on time, if my outfit is creasing on the subway, if people are actually gonna show up, if I'll remember all the lyrics... by the time I'm about to go onstage, I'm more so relieved that I don't have to think about all that anymore! Performing is my favorite part of being an artist, so I look forward to it and try to book as many shows as I can.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Do you have a favorite lyric that you’ve written or that you wish you had written?
ISA BRUDER: I have "I wish I wrote that" moments all the time! Today, what comes to mind is What I Want by MUNA. "That's what I want, there's nothing wrong with what I want!" So simple yet so affirming, it's a perfect pop song in my opinion.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Since we’re coming up to the end of the year for 2023 do you have a favorite album and/or song of the year?
ISA BRUDER: My favorite album of 2023 is without a doubt Raye's My 21st Century Blues! She moves across genres and themes so freely -- but still with such a clear vision and identity. I love the production on the record, I love her voice, and I love her honesty and vulnerability. She recently released a My 21st Century Symphony version of the album, which is recorded live from Royal Albert Hall with The Heritage Orchestra. It's so beautiful, you guys gotta check it out!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Lastly, what is up next for you Isa in 2024?
ISA BRUDER: Hmm... I'd love to play a show somewhere other than New York this year since I've only ever played with my band in the city. In a greater sense, my dream and hope for 2024 is that the music I release reaches people who resonate with and enjoy it :)
INTERVIEW WITH… TIKTOK BEDROOM POP ARTIST ADDISON GRACE
Salt Lake City-based musician Addison Grace found not only a common community through music and their voice on TikTok. Grace impeccably crafts emotionally driven bedroom indie-pop songs that often explore the young queer experience, unrequited love, coming of age, and the uncertainties within it all. Addison’s latest EP, “Things That Are Bad For Me” is out now, along with the music video for “Pretty Girl”. You can read my interview with the artist below. In it, we chat about songwriting, finding inspiration, TikTok, touring, and much more
Salt Lake City-based musician Addison Grace found not only a common community through music and their voice on TikTok. Grace impeccably crafts emotionally driven bedroom indie-pop songs that often explore the young queer experience, unrequited love, coming of age, and the uncertainties within it all. Addison’s latest EP, “Things That Are Bad For Me” is out now, along with the music video for “Pretty Girl”. You can read my interview with the artist below. In it, we chat about songwriting, finding inspiration, TikTok, touring, and much more.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Hey, Addison! How are you doing, how’s your 2022 been so far?
ADDISON GRACE: It’s been pretty busy! I released my first EP, ”Immaturing”, this year after touring with Cavetown and Tessa Violet. After that, I was traveling during the summer to write and record my second EP, ”Things That Are Bad for Me” that’s coming out November 11th. I also went on my first headline tour which was so exciting!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can you talk about your origin story a bit and how that relates to your career as a musician today?
ADDISON GRACE: I was raised by a single mom who would put me and my siblings in any and every sport and/or performing art. It was her way of keeping us busy and letting us find what interested us while she would be working. The only thing that ever stuck for me was singing. Growing up I joined nearly every school and church choir. When I was 13, my brother bought a ukulele while in France. I ended up “stealing” it from him because I had seen recent videos of YouTubers making their own songs on the ukulele. From then on I had started to do the same, making original music with the ukulele, and started my own little online pages too. I think because I had a mom that was so passionate about me finding what I loved is why I am and able to be a singer-songwriter today.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Let’s talk about your new single ‘Pretty Girl’. What was the recording and writing process like? The inspiration for this new single?
ADDISON GRACE: “Pretty Girl” was written in Nashville with one of my favorite co-writers, Charli Adams, who’s also an incredible artist. I told her about my gender transition and how I had dated someone before as a girl. This person, in my mind, was my soulmate. I was frustrated because there was a chance for us to get back together but I had made the self discovery that I’m transgender and I knew they weren’t, and aren’t, attracted to boys. I also told her about how I hated still being loved “as a girl” and seen ”as a girl“ by a lot of people in society and on the internet. I knew I wanted the song to be called “Pretty Girl” but finding the artistic words for those specific feelings had been stumping me. Charli absolutely helped me pull them out and make it into the song it is today. Recording with Andy Seltzer was incredible as well. He absolutely got the sound/production perfect for what I wanted and needed in this song.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Do you have a typical songwriting process or do you just go with the flow and create with inspiration hits?
ADDISON GRACE: Honestly, my songwriting always changes and I’ve never had a specific flow. Usually I just write when I’m feeling an intense emotion. If I end up getting inspiration when I’m somewhere that I can’t write, I just make a note of it for later. Songwriting is genuinely my diary.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What lyric have you written that you feel best represents the world around us right now?
ADDISON GRACE: “Take it off, oxygen, cut your hair, grow it out again. The world will end a couple times.” I think it really represents the stress we all feel with everything going on but it also brings comfort with it. I really love the idea that we can be broken, beaten, and bruised but still find a way back up. Hope and determination are both very powerful.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How do you feel TikTok will play a part in finding artists and new music in the coming years of the music industry?
ADDISON GRACE: I think we’re gonna get a wave of a lot of new indie artists and experimental ones too. I genuinely hope it leads to people being more creative since TikTok can be relatively easy to go “viral” on. I would hope it just allows for more unknown artists to get their stuff out there fast and also allow for a more diverse set of popular musicians.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Who are some of your favorite new or underground music artists on TikTok?
ADDISON GRACE: I recently discovered @cowgirlb3b0p, also known as ash tuesday, who deserves way more recognition! Her voice, melodies, and songwriting are all incredible. Olive Klug, @oliveklug, is also amazing- I really adore their voice and all the little inflections they put on key lyrics/words. Kevin Atwater, @kevinatwatermusic, is another who’s been picking up speed recently who I just love so much.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What three words would you use to define your artistic self?
ADDISON GRACE: Passionate, peculiar, and self-recognizing.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What has been the most rewarding thing about being a songwriter and having a platform?
ADDISON GRACE: Being able to give people the songs that I needed growing up or still need even now. I’m just so grateful I’ve gotten to a point where I can put words to such intimate, specific feelings. I’m glad others relate to it, it makes me feel less alone and also like my experiences weren’t truly isolating. I like to think that I’m who I needed as a kid and I’m glad I can be that person now for both adults and kids.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Since Halloween is coming up, what do you have a favorite Halloween film or score?
ADDISON GRACE: I’ve always been a huge fan of Coraline for some reason! I was lucky that it never scared me as a kid, haha!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: And lastly, what is up next for you Addison Grace?
ADDISON GRACE: I’m going on tour with Ricky Montgomery who’s a good friend of mine! I’m also releasing my second EP on November 11th called “Things That Are Bad for Me” (OUT NOW). Hopefully soon I’ll be making my first album or headlining again!
