Alex Isley has had music lovers wrapped around her mic since she independently released her debut EP The Love/Art Memoirs in 2012. We’ve been locked in from then and named the triple-threat singer, songwriter and producer Bounce-Worthy at the time. It’s no surprise that her career has flourished over the years and that labels came calling. She finally landed at Free Lunch Records/Warner Records and makes a smooth transition into a new chapter with her major label debut, the EP WHEN.
The six-song set begins with the contemplative ballad “Holding On,” which reunites Alex with her Wilton and Marigold collaborator Jack Dine on production. Here, the songstress restlessly reflects on a love that’s left her with more questions than answers.
Isley’s confidence returns on the seductive, Camper-produced single “Ms. Goody Two Shoes” and the bold track “Mic On.” The latter finds Alex feeling herself and collaborating for the first time with electro soul maestro Kaytranada. They make a dope combination as she talks her talk and declares, “I’m on like my mic,” on the chill mid-tempo groove.
Following that brief detour to the dance floor, she returns to her slow jam sweet spot. She expresses more of her desires and lets us know that her love language is physical touch on lead single “Hands” (also produced by Camper).
The lovey-dovey moments are short-lived, though, as the EP winds down with two ethereal productions by Oh Gosh. Alex learns a hard lesson about fake love in “Fool’s Gold,” but she makes heartbreak sound downright heavenly. That heartache continues on “Thank You For A Lovely Time” when she comes to the realization that she’s been played. It’s a jagged little pill to swallow, but she takes the high road and masks her sometimes bitter lyrics with angelic vocals.
WHEN is an enchanting collection of songs that gives us more of the Alex Isley that we know, love and crave. The project is accompanied with a visual EP with visualizers for each song. Director City James follows the budding romance between Isley and her co-star Patrick Cage to their eventual crash out. This EP is a outstanding addition to Alex Isley’s catalog and a beautiful preview of coming attractions on her next album.
Alex Isley WHEN [Amazon][Apple Music][TIDAL]
