It’s about to be Alex Isley season. On the first day of spring, the heir to The Isley Brothers’ throne will welcome the release of her debut album on Free Lunch Records/Warner Records. The collection entitled When The City Sleeps drops on Friday, March 20th, and she is readying fans for its release with her latest single “Sweetest Lullabye.”
When The City Sleeps is a love letter to Los Angeles from the LA native. “Los Angeles is very much a main character in my story. It’s my home. It’s the setting of all my dreams, my triumphs, my heartbreaks,” Alex shared on Instagram with a carousel of images of her city and herself.
The 15-track album features all six songs from her previously released WHEN EP and incorporates nine brand-new tracks, including “Sweetest Lullabye.” The songbird is poised to go straight into heavy rotation with songs like “Moonlight On Vermont,” “Chamomile” and “Starry Eyes” based on their intriguing titles alone.
Isley has two guest artists lending their talents to the set. James Fauntleroy will join her on the title track, while Syd will contribute vocals to the song “PCH.” Alex is also working with a handful of producers to bring the project to life, including the hitmaker D’Mile, who is behind the boards on “Sweetest Lullabye.”
Alex brings her signature softness to “Sweetest Lullabye.” Her tender vocals and the dreamy soundscape belie the heartache of her melancholy lyrics. She’s regretful yet realistic as she sings of a relationship that’s gone nowhere, and now they must go their separate ways.
She reflects on the emotional rollercoaster they’ve been on. “So high, you lift me up / To let me down and what I feel in / No sight of you in us / We’re not in love, we’re in between,” Isley sings.
Parting is such sweet sorrow, but she wants to feel their fire one more time before the flames are extinguished. She offers on the pre-chorus, “If you’re gonna love then leave / I need one more melody / Kiss me like a fantasy / I know what it has to be / If you really have to lie / Lay here with me beneath the light / Sing the song of you and I / Make it the sweetest lullabye, bye, bye.”
- Advertisement -Influenced by equal parts R&B and jazz, Alex Isley describes When The City Sleeps as, “An album for the dreamers, and my most personal work yet.” We’ll get to wrap ourselves up in this introspective collection in a few short weeks, but you can go ahead and pre-save the album now on digital streaming platforms after you view the vibrant cover art and complete tracklist below.
Alex Isley When The City Sleeps tracklist:
1. Holding On
2. Ms. Goody Two Shoes
3. Alone
4. Moonlight On Vermont
5. Mic On
6. Westside
7. Chamomile
8. Hands
9. Starry Eyes
10. When The City Sleeps feat. James Fauntleroy
11. PCH feat. Syd
12. Sweetest Lullabye
13. Fool's Gold
14. Thank You For A Lovely Time
15. Maybe Again
