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In this latest exclusive, we're diving into the electrifying, unapologetically raw universe of Isla de Luca, a Hysteria hottie, and your newest fixation. Born and raised in the heart of New York City, Isla has been immersed in music her entire life. Her unique sound, which she describes as "sexy evil music," draws from diverse genres, creating a bold, bitchy, and unmistakable experience.
With an upcoming single titled “I Already Am One," Isla isn't just pushing boundaries—she's obliterating them. “I Already Am One” reflects Isla's vision of challenging expectations and embracing the provocative femme fatale within. It's bold, it's brash, it's everything mainstream pop wishes it could be but doesn't have the guts to.
In our deep dive with Isla, she's not holding back. Isla shares insights into her creative process, the influence of New York City on her work, and the powerful themes that drive her music. With an exciting future ahead, Isla de Luca is undoubtedly an artist to watch. This is the dawning of a new era in pop, and Isla de Luca is leading.
ISLA, COULD YOU KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND PROVIDE SOME INSIGHTS INTO YOUR BACKGROUND AS AN ARTIST?
Sure! My name is Isla de Luca. I’m born and raised in New York, now living in NYC, and I’ve been singing for my whole life. After years of build-up, I’m finally putting out my first releases, and I’m so stoked to be sharing them. I’d classify my sound as alt-pop (or “sexy evil music”, if you’re nasty), but I pull from a pretty wide net of genres for inspiration.
In all of my songs, I play the persona of a hedonistic, ultra-confident, maybe evil siren type– she’s having fun, and you should be too! The act of constructing a character and making the whole presentation performance art is really significant in my work– this persona I embody is an interplay of my essence and pop-star artifice, pieces of my own journey mixed with these modern icons and archetypes.
BEING BASED IN NEW YORK, HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE CITY HAS INFLUENCED YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION?
New York City isn’t just a backdrop, but a really vital character in my history. With all of its relentless energy, it’s been a canvas for my creativity, and the people I’ve met and the things I’ve learned here have shaped me into not just the artist, but the person I am, inextricably. Its fast rhythm, its unapologetic boldness, and the myriad of stories it holds have deeply impacted my artistic ethos and music.
My sound mirrors the city's eclectic spirit. It's vibrant, unexpected, and embraces a mix of influences. Living here, I've absorbed resilience, assertiveness, and comfort with reinvention, which is reflected in my music's themes and my artistic persona.
YOUR MUSIC EXPLORES THEMES OF EMPOWERMENT AND FEMINIST IDEALS. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON HOW YOU WEAVE THESE IMPORTANT THEMES INTO YOUR SONGS AND CREATIVE PROCESS?
Empowerment and feminism aren’t just themes in my music; they are the very core of my creative essence. I almost feel like all of my art and writing that I’ve ever put out, across every medium, has roots in the traumas and experiences I’ve had in a feminine body. My songs are crafted to be unapologetic anthems of strength and self-reliance, and reflections of those stories, even if the persona in the songs takes things a little farther than what might be acceptable or moral.
In my creative process, I delve deep into the experiences of myself and others, of power and desire– fabricated and authentic. I want to celebrate the multifaceted nature of femininity and its dark side, challenging stereotypes and encouraging listeners to embrace their boldest selves.
YOU HAVE AN UPCOMING SINGLE RELEASE CALLED "I ALREADY AM ONE." CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND THIS SINGLE, FROM INSPIRATION TO PRODUCTION?
Yeah! "I Already Am One" began as a spark from an iconic Cher interview, where she shares how her mother told her she needed to marry a rich man, and she responded, “Mom, I am a rich man.” That interview always resonated deeply with me and provided the nugget of inspiration for the title and lyrics. As you’ll see in the releases I have coming up, there’s also a sort of chronology of the life of my persona– you’ll see where her journey started, in a much less confident and way more dependent place, to here.
I do a lot of prewriting just for the background of the character, almost like a more traditional screenwriter or novelist would. In the studio, we wanted to blend the Y2K pop sleaze I miss so much and the in-your-face Pop Rock spirit to create a sound that’s confident, energetic, and nostalgic, but fresh– like, old Paramore vs. new Paramore.
We focused on a strong statement and analog-sounding production, mirroring the song's message of unrestrained confidence and autonomy.
"I ALREADY AM ONE" CARRIES A UNIQUE MESSAGE. COULD YOU SHARE THE NARRATIVE BEHIND THE SONG AND EXPLAIN HOW IT ALIGNS WITH YOUR OVERARCHING ARTISTIC VISION?
This track is a bold declaration of self-empowerment and independence. It's about breaking away from traditional expectations and embracing your own strength and potential, both material and spiritual. It really aligns with my overarching vision of challenging expectations and embodying the empowered, provocative femme fatale.
AS YOUR NEW SINGLE REACHES YOUR AUDIENCE AND HYSTERIA READERS, WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES REGARDING HOW "I ALREADY AM ONE" WILL CONNECT WITH LISTENERS, AND WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU WISH THEM TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE SONG?
I want to inspire people to be their own heroes. Or, maybe, villains– taking space for yourself is so often demonized as something selfish and “bad”, but if that makes you a villain, then maybe you should just embrace being the bad guy! It's a narrative that speaks to the heart of who I am as an artist– fearless, independent, and unapologetically self-sufficient. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish by just deciding to say fuck it and taking the reins.
LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT CAN READERS ANTICIPATE IN TERMS OF YOUR FUTURE PROJECTS? IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE WORKS THAT OUR READERS SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT?
This is the first in a series of singles I’ll be releasing this year, as I also continue to work on new tracks behind the scenes! This is essentially my debut, so keep an eye out for my upcoming singles, shows, visuals, collabs, and more.
“I Already Am One” will be out everywhere on February 16th!
WHERE CAN FANS AND READERS FIND YOU?
My name everywhere is Isla de Luca, but my most active socials are Instagram (@isladl) and TikTok (@isladeluca).
If you want an easy way to access all of my links and my music, go here!
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