Audacy host Mike Adam caught up with singer Isabel LaRosa in the Hard Rock Artist Lounge backstage at this year’s We Can Survive concert at Prudential Center with tons of congratulations to share.
LISTEN NOW: Isabel LaRosa at Audacy's 11th annual We Can Survive
Isabel and her brother, Thomas, are truly a dynamic duo sharing writing roles during their recording sessions, though she admits they have branched out at times. “Honestly, it's mostly just us two,” Isabel tells us. “We've done some outside sessions with people who are so talented and everything, but honestly, I'm so close with him that it feels so natural to write everything with him. But we're doing both, which is really exciting.”
“I wouldn't have my career without Thomas,” as her sole producer she adds. “I feel like I don't wanna not work with him ever. For me, it's always been a given that I will work with him. No matter what -- I'm happy to do outside sessions and all that, that's great. I'm so excited, but you cannot take me away from my brother.”
Worth a follow for sure, the pair have been known to test out their songs on TikTok, even tweaking or scrapping parts altogether based on followers’ responses. “TikTok I feel definitely keeps you humble because you can tease something and it'll be a favorite, and you can also tease something and it'll do 30 likes after you have a favorite. I have not figured out TikTok, I don't think anybody can, but I just always try to keep putting shots on the board. I feel like that's all you can do, but I take things down all the time.”
Allowing themselves to be open and honest in their songwriting can sometimes be tricky, especially when their parents get ahold of the finished work. “Sometimes if I'm writing about my relationship or just my feelings in general that I maybe don't talk about, I always kind of wonder what their reaction will be, but I feel like they understand and they're very, very supportive of everything.”
“I feel lucky that I haven't gotten a crazy reaction so far,” she adds. “Sometimes my mom will be like, ‘I don't like that lyric, take it out.’ I do listen to her though because, it's not that I don't take it into account, it's just like if my gut instinct overrides her then I'll listen to myself.”
With music playing such a large part in the shaping of our emotions, Isabel says she’s been listening to a lot of Billie Eilish lately which “actually has been making me very happy,” while acknowledging that her music could go either way. “Like, if you're sad, you can listen to Billie; If you're happy, you can listen to Billie... It kind of just depends on the song, your mood, whatever.”
“I'm happy that it's becoming more of a conversation and people feel like they can talk about [mental health] more,” she continues, “but I still do think a lot of people are afraid to ask for help. A lot of the time if I'm struggling, I don't want to feel like I have to ask for help, or I get embarrassed. I just feel like it's always better to say something or rant about it on a TikTok or whatever it is… You should always talk about it in whatever way you want to. I don't think you should ever keep it to yourself if you feel like it's something you need to talk about.”
“My boyfriend and my loved ones… I mean, they are the best,” Isabel adds, “and sometimes I get so in my head about everything that it's hard to see reality and it's helpful to have somebody be like, ‘Ok, wake up, nothing’s going downhill, you're not gonna fail.’ It's just helpful to have a reality check sometimes.”
Don't miss Mike Adam's full chat with Isabel LaRosa above and stay tuned for more conversations with your favorite artists right here on Audacy.
Related
Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.