Alex Isley

Alex Isley was destined for music. As the daughter of Ernie Isley (of the legendary Isley Brothers), music was in the Grammy nominated singer/songwriter/producer’s genes, though she was also surrounded by the timeless melodies that her family collectively crafted. However, instead of just simply following in her 
family’s footsteps, she opted to forge her own path, one that seamlessly blends Soul, R&B, Jazz, and other dreamy soundscapes. The result is a style all her own. As Alex readies the Spring release of her EP When—armed with the smoothly intoxicating single “Hands”—it’s clear that this Isley is headed for superstardom. 
In many ways, Alex Isley is the best kept secret in music. That is, until now. With an upcoming EP this spring and an album release later this year, people will get to know the artist in a way that they never have before. “When is the beginning of just tapping into where I am now in life,” she explains of the project’s ethos. “I feel like most of my music has been written in retrospect and looking back on experiences. This is the first time where what I’ve written, I’m still in it.” The first single “Hands” is all about being in the moment, a true testament to Alex’s writing process. The EP will ultimately set the stage for her album When The City Sleeps. 
Born in New Jersey and raised in Los Angeles, Alex developed a deep love for music quite early. “Growing up in the ‘90s, it was just a pivotal time for music,” she reflects. “There were so many iconic artists that broke at that time, and I just remember hearing their very first singles.” At five years old, she first performed on stage, cutting her teeth in songwriting and performance by watching her family do their thing. “That was my master class for so long,” she adds. As she reached middle school, the gap between her age and her family’s was bridged by samples, where Hip-Hop artists were utilizing Isley tracks as the framework for their singles. “Just witnessing that in real time, where people in my class knew who they were was really cool,” she says. After that fateful performance at five, Alex knew that she wanted to remain on a stage. She attended LA County High School for the Arts, where she was formally trained in music theory. Her late maternal grandmother sang Opera and was a retired vocal coach, so she trained her for perfect pitch from her preteens all the way through her graduation at UCLA, where she studied Jazz. “My grandmother was my only technical vocal teacher,” Alex explains. 
She released the critically acclaimed Love/Art Memoirs EP in 2012, followed by her debut album Dreams In Analog a year later. “I needed something for people to listen to, because for a few years, I was performing in small clubs around LA, and I didn't have any original music for anybody to listen to,” Alex explains. “I was just singing jazz standards and covers.” Critics described her work as full of “lush vocals and calming production,” which arguably became a framework for Alex’s sound. Influenced by artists ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Aaliyah, it was clear that she was geared to blend sonic worlds. However, the true gift was the one woman show that anchored her early releases. “There were producers that I was working with at the time, but our schedules just weren't matching up,” she continues. “It was my mom's idea for me to start producing my music.” At first it seemed like a foreign concept, but she was up for the challenge. “For three years, I put together just any ideas that I could and just learned as much as I can about the software and cranked it out as best as I could.” The results were masterful, as her releases showed a progression of her skill. Projects like 2015’s L U X U R Y (2015), The Beauty of Everything (Parts One and Two), Wilton with producer Jack Dine (2019) and later Marigold with Dine in 2022 display this gradual evolution of Alex and her sound with an evident consistency. Meanwhile, Alex was singing background vocals for the likes of Selena Gomez, Meghan Trainor, and Alicia Keys, performing on-stage
with Keys at the 2020 Grammy’s. Her NPR Tiny Desk performance during the pandemic also fanned the flames of Isley’s growing success story. Her songs have been featured on series like Insecure, and she has collaborated with fellow artists, including 9th Wonder, Lucky Daye, PJ Morton, and Robert Glasper—earning two Grammy nominations with the latter for their song “Back To Love.” In 2023, Alex released the critical darling I Left My Heart In Ladera with Terrace Martin, adding to her growing catalog of hits. 
Music may be in her bloodline, but her work is her chosen lifeline. “My mission in music is to minister,” she advises. “God has purposed me to do this. This is my assignment, but it's also bigger than me. Music is how I live my life and how I see the world. There are artists that helped me get through crucial points in life, and so for me to be that to other people is a blessing.”