A Chat with Isabelle Perfall (06.11.24)
Drawing on the complexities and fascination of growing up with the intricate world of adulthood, singer-songwriter Isabelle Perfall releases her coming-of-age album Atmosphere. We speak with the New York native about her new album, AI, upcoming plans and what music means to her.
OSR: Young and inexperienced as a musician, people might consider you lack maturity and depth in your songs lyrically and melodically. Do you think age should play a role in being a musician (young or old)? How does your age contribute to your material theme-wise and melodically, if at all?
Perfall: I think one’s teenage years are a complex, emotional, and inspiring time full of growth that should not be overlooked. While I often hear this misconception that being a talented songwriter requires more life experience than someone can have at 17, I would have to disagree. Your teenage years are oftentimes the years of your life when you are feeling things the most deeply and are at your most vulnerable – that is what makes for such genuine and true lyrics. When I think of some of the best musicians in recent years, a lot of them happen to be teenagers or artists who wrote most of their discography as teenagers; Billie Eilish, Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams, and Olivia Rodrigo to name a few. All of these artists, while they each have their own sound have one thing in common: they write from the heart and have always done so. If anything, writing music as a teenager allows for more profound and true work.
OSR: As a classically trained pianist, do you feel this training influences your compositions and how so?
Perfall: I have always relied on my classical training when writing and I am so grateful for the years of classical piano training I received growing up, and continue to receive today. I find that being classically trained improved my musical ear and gave me the ability to hear music in almost anything I do. I have always loved classical music as an art form that has been around for so long, has so much history, and inspired much of the music we listen to today.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Perfall: Music is a reflection of the complex, unique, and individual life experiences we have as human beings. Every musician brings their own history into the music that they write and compose which is, to me, the absolute coolest part of it. I am definitely more of a creative person than anything else, so I have always loved areas that incorporate creativity and self-expression. I believe that every person carries with them their own life stories of love, hurt, joy, and heartbreak, and every person deserves to have these experiences heard and shared with the world. Through music, that is possible.
OSR: What is Atmosphere about and what inspired its creation? Is there a particular theme or backstory?
Perfall: Atmosphere is about my childhood and how I feel now as I am about to enter adult life and experience a lot of change. I think the transition from childhood to adulthood is such a tender one, packed with fear and excitement, and it inspired me so much that I knew I had to write about it. Each song has its own meaning, but together they carry themes of growing up, loving, and leaving the door open to new people and experiences.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Perfall: I was recently speaking to a friend of mine who told me about how ‘Close My Eyes’ took on a personal meaning for her as she listened to it. She told me how she could relate to the lyrics and how she felt connected to them for her own reasons. This conversation reminded me of exactly what I hoped Atmosphere to do: inspire and comfort people, allowing them to bring their own stories into my songwriting.
OSR: What is your opinion on the use of AI in music and the entertainment industry?
Perfall: While there is a lot of fear surrounding the use of AI in general, and while I do fear its widespread use and the speed at which it generates content, I do not fear for the future of the music industry or how AI will affect it. So much of why we feel connected to music and the lyrics of our favourite songs is because we feel attached to the personal story of the artist who wrote it and because we know that another human being is feeling the same way we are. That relatability, connection, and personal element, simply cannot be recreated with Artificial Intelligence.
OSR: What song would make the best theme music for you?
Perfall: If my life had a theme song, it would be ‘I Feel The Earth Move’ by the legendary Carole King. For me, this song represents powerful women everywhere who are resilient, strong, and fearless.
OSR: What is your idea of a perfect day?
Perfall: My perfect day would be spent in my hometown of New York City and would contain lunch with some of my best friends, a long walk in Central Park, and a wonderful concert to end the day.
OSR: What can we expect from Isabelle Perfall in the future?
Perfall: I hope to release more music in the new year and am continuing to write and play as much as possible!
Many thanks to Isabelle Perfall for speaking with us. For more from Isabelle Perfall check out her official website, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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