Diandra Reviews It All

With his new EP Isaac’s Insects, OUT TODAY!, Isaac continues to be a trend-setter or rather an embodiment of music’s future trends. Frankly, WEIRD IS IN! From Billie Eilish to Dominic Fike, Gen Z’s artists burst with talent and difference; emanating an “outcast” vibe while shelling out the tunes that turn them into icons of cool. Isaac, certainly, captures that essence with his stunning, moody new EP.

Isaac’s Insects feels strangely inward and introspective, despite having a lush, colorful palette of sounds. Yet, the future of music is is turning from emotional to ambient, of which Isaac elevates feelings into atmospheres, which makes sense for a young man who is as visual with his art as he is sonic. Similar to Conan Gray’s Kid Krow, this album is perfect for the frustrations and wonders of being you in 2020: where the world’s future feels to finite to dream, but yet what young person can live without dreaming? From “makeup drawer” and “commes de Garcons to “colony” and “suicide,” Isaac’s voice croons and coos over feelings of loneliness with a casual beauty and pizzazz. He sheds light on what it is to feel ousted, in this world, for simply wanting to love and be loved, which is why our interview, below, goes into what it is to create a world while, even when, currently, isolated from it.

Diandra: Writing from your surroundings, how has quarantine life been both inspirational and struggling in creativity?

Isaac: It’s cool cause I can always just throw down an idea in Logic whenever I want and stay up mad late and write as much as i want. Unfortunately, I also get overwhelmed due to the isolation and easily get discouraged if i can’t translate that idea perfectly from my head to the computer.

Isaac Dunbar – scorton’s creek (Official Video)

Diandra: Being so into social media, how do you feel, especially now, it is redefining human connection?

Isaac: There’s always positive aspects and negative ones. The most positive I would say is the sense of community my generation has, which was gifted to us from the internet – we (Gen Z, mostly) all share the same sense of humor and can easily connect to each other, literally, through the power of memes and twitter posts. On the other side of the coin, the pressure of looking perfect on social media is a burden on all of our shoulders and we ALL feel it no matter who you are, period. I mean if you’re a teenager, without any social media accounts, then I guess you must really be at peace and not have to deal with that.

Diandra: You have said that, growing up, you struggled with your looks. How has building your artistic image altered how you define your personal one?

Isaac: Luckily, my artistic image isn’t different than my personal image, I don’t have to change myself when I’m on camera or on stage. I still struggle with insecurities, just like everybody on this planet, and sometimes it gets annoying when I ALWAYS have to have my hair done and ALWAYS in a cute fit and have to act enthusiastic during a terrible, depressing day.

Diandra: With fashion being so important, what are certain fashion styles that you feel your music, aesthetically, matches? You can even put some of your songs according to certain styles.

Isaac: Songs from this EP like makeup drawer, isaacs insects, and comme des garçons I envision as very boujee and avant-garde, big clothes. boy, colony, suicide, scorton’s creek, i imagine just like… baggy light wash jeans and an XL pullover hoodie and white, dirty air forces.

Isaac Dunbar – makeup drawer (Official Video)

Diandra: You have said you wish people were more open-minded. What are some topics that have opened you mind? How and why?

Isaac: Spirituality has definitely opened my mind. I believe human beings are far more special than what modern science says we are – just flesh and bones. The concept of us having souls has opened my mind so much; we are such powerful beings and we don’t even know it. I don’t wanna get into because it’ll be a lot, buuuut that’s what opened my mind.

Diandra: What is your favorite, earliest memory of the power of music?

Isaac: When I was 5 and I discovered Lady Gaga. I was in the car, with my cousin Brooke, and my aunty Julie was listening to 92 Pro FM (92.3) in Smithfield, RI. Paparazzi played and I was like “Brooke! Who is this?” and she was like “ITS LADY GAGAA!” I was so shook, I never heard music like Gaga’s in my life until that point: a very impactful five minutes.

Diandra: Becoming known as a songwriter, what is one lyric you love you have yet to use?

Isaac: “she cut her hair with her car keys, flew to chicago with new sleeves, she tripped from paris to chico, flew through the sky with her ego” it’s from a song called “glitter” that i’m working on.

comme des garçons (like the boys) (lyric video)

Diandra: People have called you “wise” and like an “old soul.” What is one piece of wisdom life has taught you so far?

Isaac: Nobody actually cares. Like nobody truly cares about how my hair looks or what zit is on my face or if my calves are too thick or if my nose is big. Nobody cares. I tell myself everyday, “Isaac nobody cares.”

Diandra: Describing your sound, as story-telling, what are some movies, books, or even memes you wish you could transfer their story into a song? Why?

Isaac: The movie Coraline. It’s the perfect balance of eerie, beauty, and fantasy. Also the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, it leaves me feeling like a little kid who asks a lot of questions and wants to learn everything and absorb as much as I can. I love that inner child feeling, and I think I have that in my music. Like it’s serious but not too serious. Sometimes playful and funny and sarcastic.

For More Information Isaac Dunbar or To Buy Isaac’s Insects Click Here.

Isaac Dunbar – scorton’s creek (Official Video)