Exclusive Interview with 'THE ISLE OF CC'

The Isle of CC, an alt-soul musician who is gender-fluid and from Milton Keynes, is a multitalented being. She/he is a radio host and the MK Fringe Festival director in addition to being a musician. Director at Wordplay Magazine; composer of television music. Leah McFall (of The Voice UK) was supported by her or him on tour following the release of the debut EP, Agoraphobia. Additionally, in 2017 Huw Stevens gave her/him airtime on his Radio One show and invited them to perform at a BBC Introducing session. She or he supported The James Taylor Quartet in 2019, was scheduled to perform with Annie Mac at the Sussex Fresher Festival, and appeared on BBC Introducing Live for Spinnup. Her/His second EP, “Void,” which is scheduled to be released in 2022, shows how hard they have worked since then (through Tapeline Recordings).
The Isle of CC returns from the bedroom studio with her/his debut studio single, “Little Black Dress,” following a protracted hiatus from recording in order to concentrate on her/his budding music press career. Check out the single and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

THE ISLE OF CC: I am from Milton Keynes born and bred. I started off with a passion for dance at a young age, I did ballet for about 2 years. I really loved music! I was surrounded by it growing up and my parents sing and my father plays guitar and bass. I was involved in productions, I did drama and musical theatre as well. It wasn’t until college that in exploring all the different areas of dancing, acting and singing. I realised that I actually wanted to be a singer and focus on honing in that craft.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

THE ISLE OF CC: At the start I was mainly self-taught and used to sing-along to songs I would hear at home, in the car and on the radio. I started having a bit of training when I started going to college, but developed more when I went to music university. Surrounding myself with like-minded people who I could learn from and improve. On another note I found it quite helpful finding out about music publishing and music business. As I feel these are areas that are usually forgotten about and can often cost an artist.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘THE ISLE OF CC’?

THE ISLE OF CC: I would say my strongest musical influences are Erykah Badu, Solange and Kelela. They are all different but there are elements that each of them have that I really love.

The name ‘The Isle Of CC’ comes’ a nickname my Mother gave me, my two middle names both being a ‘C’. ‘The Isle’ part represents me being on my own island and in my own space , my musical space.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

THE ISLE OF CC: I would say that my music is either personal anecdotes of me ‘feeling all my feelings’. The other side is seeing or creating from a different personal point of view. This can be a story someone has told me or a fictional one in terms of lyrical content. Topics include unrequited love, relationship break-ups, situationships, friend fall outs, being in love, that sort of thing. In terms of my sound I would say it’s a mixture of Neo-Soul, Dark Soul and sometimes elements of electronica. This EP in particular is more on the Neo-Soul side but my newer music steers more Dark soul, so you’ll definitely have to listen out for it.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as Neo-Soul?
**THE ISLE OF CC:**
When I knew I wanted to pursue a career in music I started off by doing a few Erykah Badu and Lianne La Havas covers. I wanted to practise singing in a more stylistic way in the hope that I would find my own sound. I became quite fascinated with backing vocalists and the way they harmonised. I feel that this is because of my background of being part of a choir. One of my favourite things to do even now is to listen to a song and harmonise to it. At home someone will start singing an a cappella song and then another person will start harmonising naturally, it’s super sweet. Anyways so at university I was still finding my sound and in my first year I decided I just wanted to do backing vocals for someone else. Someone actually challenged me and said are you only saying this because of a confidence thing or? They were right it was due to confidence so I started to push myself more, get out of my comfort zone. Even singing songs I would never normally sing. In my final year of uni I decided to release my own music, it was a sold out show I couldn’t believe it. I know that going through that journey lead to me where I am now. I will continue to grow, experiment and evolve.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?

THE ISLE OF CC:

At the moment my music focuses are on personal narrative and the singing from the view of others. I usually try to stick to topics that I can relate to the most. I wasn’t very academic in school as well so I don’t try and venture topics that I don’t know much about, or haven’t researched or educated myself about. I do have one song that is a bit on the cusp of a political narrative but it’s not quite there yet.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfilment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

THE ISLE OF CC:

I actually feel that maybe I could put in some more if I’m being completely honest. I stopped gigging for quite some time and I think that once I start working on my live sound again. Then gigging more regularing then I feel that I can say I am getting as much fulfilment. I have focused on other areas in the industry which has been amazing and now that I am releasing again I need to start nativagating getting back out there.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

THE ISLE OF CC:

I usually start in my room, one of my favourite places to write my music. Sometimes I will listen to some instrumentals, listen to one of my favourite artists or start poking at the keyboard. I’ll then think of a topic I want to write about and then go from there. I do like to experiment and I won’t always start my tracks in the same way. I like to spice things up a bit to make sure things don’t get stale. I do find it a bit easier to write to a skeleton piece of music and allow the track to inspire me to write. I’ll then either take it to my creative partner or a producer and build from there.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

THE ISLE OF CC:

In life I feel like there has been a few things the main one though will always be loss. Losing a loved one was very difficult for me and you don’t think you are ever going to heal. I call 2016 the year of loss it was a difficult time for me and my family. I also have mild agoraphobia which has been something that has caused stress for me too.

On the music side this might sound crazy and you might not believe me but my main challenge is… My shyness! Being assertive in some scenarios. Honestly I turn into this weirdly giggling thing who laughs at things that aren’t even funny. You could tell the driest joke and I would still laugh because I’m feeling shy or nervous. So trying to make some decisions was not easy. I guess it’s because I have an anxiety disorder and can get real quiet in some social settings and start overthinking. I write well by myself in my room or on a train and definitely feel more confident when I go to a session with a song already pre-written. I actually find writing sessions with people difficult, but I still push myself. I don’t allow those feelings to stop me from trying though I have gotten some real magic from doing those.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

THE ISLE OF CC: Becoming a director of Wordplay Magazine and having two songs that have been played on Radio 1.