“I wrote this for the messy-souled girls…”
Alt-pop rising star ISOLABELLA returns on May 30th with her most vulnerable and unapologetic track yet. ‘imNOTaprettygirl’ is a bold, emotionally-charged anthem for anyone who’s ever been told they were too much—too loud, too sensitive, or too pretty to be taken seriously. A powerful follow-up to her flirty, feel-good single ‘Backseat Lover’, this release cuts deeper, unpacking the tension between self-expression and societal expectation.
ISOLABELLA says “I wrote this for the messy-souled girls,” -- “The ones who feel everything too deeply, who’ve been told to tone it down or fit a mould. It’s about refusing to shrink. It’s about showing up as your full, chaotic, beautiful self”.
It’s really heartwarming to see how intentional you are about connecting with your listeners. Where did the idea for your Zoom hangouts first come from? Was there a particular moment when you realised you wanted to build that kind of space for your fans?
It actually started in late September 2024, and the idea came from three fans who created an Instagram group chat. At first, I didn’t even know it existed! They would message each other every time I went live on TikTok, and it slowly started to grow from there. When I found out, I was so touched by how organically this little community had formed around my music. That’s when I thought, what if we bring this energy into a space where we could all actually talk, laugh, and connect properly? So I started hosting the Zoom hangouts. What was wild is how international it became, and I just wanted to nurture that closeness and make everyone feel like they belonged.
Out of all the Zoom sessions you’ve hosted so far, is there one memory or conversation that really stuck with you? Something a fan said, wrote, or maybe even a shared moment that felt especially meaningful?
There’s one moment I’ll never forget—two girls from Germany were on the same Zoom call, and during the chat, they realised they had both found my music separately but became friends through the fandom. The wild part is they had no idea they only lived 30 minutes away from each other until that call. It reminded me that music really does bring people together in ways you can’t predict. That call felt like proof that this is more than just songs and that it’s a little universe people are finding each other inside.
As your audience grows, how do you imagine these intimate fan events evolving? Is your upcoming “Sing and Hang” event at Elephant Park on July 5th a step toward reaching more people while keeping that closeness intact? Or was that event sparked by something totally different?
The “Sing and Hang” was honestly the most wholesome gathering, it was my first live event this year, and I’ll never forget it. The little gifts and handwritten letters, and just hearing everyone sing along to even the unreleased songs, was surreal. It felt like a real-life version of the Zoom hangouts: intimate, safe, and full of love. As things grow, I want to keep that same closeness, just on a bigger scale.
You’ve shared some incredible covers online from Renée Rapp to Gracie Abrams. Are these the artists that have shaped your own songwriting the most? Or do you find inspiration from other unexpected places too?
Yeah, I love Renée and Gracie and so many other artists too! I really admire Gracie’s storytelling and Renée’s sass; they both tap into vulnerability in a way I really connect with. I’ve always been drawn to poetic lyrics that prick your ears up when listening but still feel personal and grounded, and that’s something I try to reflect in my own songwriting.
BBC Introducing seems like it’s played a big part in your journey so far. How would you say their support has impacted not just your career trajectory, but also your personal confidence as an artist finding their voice?
BBC Introducing have supported me right from my first ever single, which I am forever grateful for and for all the amazing opportunities. I’m just so excited for what’s to come in the future, manifesting for Glastonbury 2027.
Your latest single, “imNOTaprettygirl,” feels like both a personal reflection and a wider commentary on online beauty standards and identity in 2025. When you first started writing it, did you always envision it as a kind of love letter to your community? Or did it begin more as a journal-like, self-reflective piece?
It all started with me ranting on a notes page on my phone, almost like a diary entry where I was venting about social media expectations, the male gaze, friendships, and how hard it is being a girl. Then I came up with a melody and chords and ended up writing the whole song in about 10 minutes. By around 1am, I’d got the song down. I do like to see it as a messy love letter to anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood.
In your Instagram post announcing “imNOTaprettygirl,” you mentioned the exact date and time the idea for the song first came to you. Is that level of detail rare for you? Or do you often have that kind of vivid memory when inspiration strikes?
I actually went back through my voicemail memos to find the exact date of the first draft—kind of funny, but I wanted to remember that moment perfectly. Sometimes inspiration hits so clearly it sticks with you.
Looking ahead, what do you think “imNOTaprettygirl” signals about where your music is going next? Both sonically and in terms of the themes you want to explore?
You could say it definitely marks a shift sonically, but I just write whatever feels good in that moment because songwriting is like therapy to me. That’s the whole reason why I started writing and playing music in the first place. I was writing songs when I didn’t even know that was an actual thing and I just love that I’m constantly evolving.
As your career continues to grow and evolve, what parts of yourself as an artist now (your mindset, your values, your sound) do you most want to hold onto and let shine through in this next chapter?
I always want to stay rooted in honesty and connection. I never want to lose the intimacy I have with my fans or the storytelling at the heart of my songs. Even if the sound evolves, I want people to still feel like they’re hearing something true, like a secret I trust them with.
And finally—what’s one thing you hope new listeners feel or understand about you the very first time they hear your music?
I hope they feel seen—like someone finally put into words something they didn’t know how to say. Whether it’s a lyric, a melody, or a mood, I want them to find a piece of themselves in the song. More than anything, I want my music to feel like a comfort place. It’s grown into something beyond just the songs—it’s a little world where people form real friendships and feel less alone. That connection means everything to me.
