Alice Isabella: The Art of Escapism and Authenticity in Melbourne Indie-Pop
Alice’s connection to music was not ignited by one singular moment, but by a childhood constantly surrounded by sound. She grew up dancing and singing along with her parents to classic artists like U2, The Killers, Snow Patrol, and P!NK, attending a variety of concerts that ultimately convinced her of her future path.
Her biggest influence, however, remains Taylor Swift. Alice has "grown up with her" and been fortunate enough to see her live on multiple tours. She views Swift’s lyricism and thoughtful artistry as immensely admirable, crediting her with starting her on her songwriting journey. Alice hopes to emulate her idol by captivating an audience and luring them into her own "sonic world through her use of imagery and storytelling."
Alice describes the evolution of her sound as consistent: since beginning to write songs at age 12, her lyrics have always been "truthful and authentic to myself." While the core honesty remains, she notes her lyrics have "definitely gotten stronger the more I write," and she has become more thoughtful in her song structure.
Alice’s creative process is unique, starting primarily with lyrics first, followed by the melody and harmony. She notes this is different from most people, but finds that lyrics are the most honest and integral part of her songs and come most naturally. To avoid falling into habitual patterns, she is actively "working on trying new things to spice my process up" to become the best songwriter she can be.
This focus on lyricism often results in songs with deeply personal backstories. Her favorite original to perform live is 'Carbon Copy,' which the audience seems to find "amusing." The song was written after an ex told her she was exactly the same person as his former partner—not great to hear, but a perfect concept to write about. Alice conveys the story by splitting the song into three sections, giving the perspectives of her ex, his ex, and herself.
The best piece of advice she’s received reflects her core philosophy: "to be as authentic as possible," because "no one can be a better you than you."
Alice is currently studying music and entertainment management full-time, a pursuit that has kept her busy. She is working on her debut single, which is almost complete, and is in the process of forming a band that she hopes to continue with after performing her final recital for university.
Having only started playing gigs this year, she hasn't had a bad experience yet. Her favorite remains her first: a Fundraiser gig at The Last Chance Rock N’ Roll Bar, where the kind and supportive atmosphere made her feel confident performing. This supportive environment is something she carries with her on stage. Whenever she performs, she channels the stage presence of Taylor Swift, staying focused on attentive listeners and not letting distractions (like "drunk people shouting") pull her out of the moment.
Alice has high aspirations for her music:
Dream Collaborator: Aside from Taylor Swift, she would choose Phoebe Bridgers, admiring her beautiful lyrics, production, and concepts, and believing their writing styles and vocal tones would "blend really well."
Dream Openers: Her dream lineup includes Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, Ed Sheeran, or Missy Higgins, all artists whose stage presence "captivate their audiences like no other."
Her biggest wish for change in the industry is to see fair pay structures for emerging artists on streaming platforms and from record labels. She finds social media a "very interesting" double-edged sword: while it has opened the world up to artists, it’s also created over saturation and shortened attention spans. She advises having thick skin and, in the words of Harry Styles, to "treat people with kindness."
Alice is urging fans to "Get excited for the next few months," promising a "bunch of cool upcoming gigs and plans."
Her immediate schedule includes:
October 10th: Opening for country artist Taylor Sheridan at Bird’s Basement (her "biggest gig yet”)
October 12th: Performing at Welcome to Thornbury.
October 19th: Opening for Ruby and The Tuesdays at The Last Chance (the same venue as her favorite first gig).
She is also set to release her debut single later this year.
Melbourne-based Alice Isabella is an indie-pop singer/songwriter whose music is defined by a dedication to authentic, narrative-driven lyricism. For Alice, songwriting is less a hobby and more a necessary coping mechanism for daily life, allowing her to explore complex themes—from love and heartache to figuring out identity—and often escaping into new worlds by writing about characters from TV shows, books, and films.