Interview by Mashaal Hussain, Photo by Julia Bissessar
At just 20 years old, Isabel LaRosa has already established herself as one of the most intriguing voices in alternative pop. The Maryland-born singer-songwriter and director first captured attention with her haunting vocals and cinematic visual style. Her breakout single “I’m Yours” became a viral sensation on TikTok, racking up millions of streams and launching her onto stages around the world. With millions of streams, a debut album under her belt, and a loyal fanbase that follows her every move online, Isabel LaRosa is quickly becoming one of alt-pop’s most compelling rising stars.
“I grew up singing jazz standards,” she recalls, thinking back to the early days when music was already part of the family routine. “My dad enjoys playing jazz, he always kind of wanted jazz musician kids.” Her brother Thomas was there from the start too, accompanying her on guitar at open mic nights and local jam sessions. The two formed an early creative bond that still defines Isabel’s music today. “Thomas produces everything… We write everything together. He’s honestly such a massive part of the creative process, I would not be here without him.”
It wasn’t until age ten when she stumbled across artists like Melanie Martinez that Isabel began to understand how her love for music could evolve into something deeply personal. “When I started discovering alternative pop artists,” she says, “I was like, oh—this is what I want to do.”
Isabel LaRosa’s debut album ‘Raven’, which came out last month, doesn’t just tell a story, it casts a spell. Across 14 tracks, she unspools a moody, magnetic world where desire burns, hearts break in slow motion, and every lyric feels like a secret. It’s raw, cinematic alt-pop from an artist unafraid to be both vulnerable and in control.
“To me, I still haven’t registered that I have an album out,” she admits, laughing. “Thomas and I drew it out of a lot of things—different times in our lives and different stories.” There’s a narrative arc to the album that traces the highs and lows of connection: the beginnings of friendship or love, and the eventual unravelling. “Burning is my favourite on the album,” she says. “It’s really personal to me. It talks about things I’ve wanted to say for a long time but just couldn’t talk about.” It’s also her favourite to sing live, “The audience seem to like it,” she smiles.
For Isabel, writing is more than creative expression—it’s an emotional necessity. “Thomas and I are writing all the time. I feel anxious if I don’t write,” she says. “Maybe I have an underlying sense of anxiety sometimes,” she adds with a laugh. “I just force my way out of a creative block. I almost don’t allow myself to get there. When you allow yourself to overthink, it’s so much harder to make a decision.”
Her approach to visuals is just as intentional. Isabel directs many of her own music videos, something she’s dreamt about for years. “Writing and directing these videos is so important to me,” she explains. “It’s been really cool for me to be able to direct a crew and direct how I want to see myself in the shot.” She smiles, admitting, “I’m sort of a control freak… and directing has always been a dream of mine.” Film and TV serve as major inspiration—Euphoria and Ozark have shaped the moody, cinematic tones in her visual work.
Despite the intensity of her creative process, Isabel thrives on stage. “Playing songs live, and it matters to people face to face—that’s the coolest thing. It’s so rewarding,” she says. She’s been on tour almost nonstop for the past two years, and the rush hasn’t worn off. “I love touring. It feels like summer camp,” she laughs. Before she performs, she doesn’t follow a strict ritual. “I just can’t be overstimulated when I go on stage. I like to have a second where I can just stare into space… and almost get into character.”
Her rise on social media, particularly TikTok, has been meteoric. Still, she meets it with a healthy dose of skepticism. “It’s very surreal… every time I see something do well I’m like, ‘who’s lying to me?’” Even as her audience grows, her connection with fans remains personal. “I don’t think the relationship has changed—I talk to them every day. They’re just the sweetest people. They’re like my friends.” Recently, she’s started handing out USB flash drives at meet-and-greets that may (or may not) contain unreleased music she reveals.
With early success often comes pressure, especially for young artists navigating a rapidly changing industry. Isabel doesn’t deny it. “I definitely feel pressure,” she says. “But I’m honestly pretty stubborn. I’ve made it clear I’m gonna do whatever I’m gonna do.” Still, she’s honest about the emotional cost. “It can be very anxiety-inducing… maybe it’s just me, but every time something good happens, I think—where’s the bad?”
Her approach to the industry is clear-eyed. “No one’s gonna do it for you. There’s no button anyone can press that can make it happen.” She’s learned that what matters most is how badly you want it. “You have to have patience and keep going.”
Genre-wise, Isabel doesn’t believe in staying in one lane. “I love experimenting. I love all types of music—I just like good songs.” She jokes about her hyperpop phase and teases more genre-crossing in the future. “You have to experiment and not limit yourself.”
Ultimately, her music is about connection. “The most I can hope for is the music means something to somebody—that somebody would care enough about it to apply it to their own life.”
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