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 Released: March 28th, 2014Recorded: May 2013 - January 2014Genre: Dance-pop, Pop, Ambient, Minimal, Electronic rock, Dream pop, Indie popLength: 33:09Label: Studio60 RecordsProducer(s): Sunny Monroe, Gia Rose-Hilton, Rico Love, Isabel Merjos, Nate "Danja" Hills, Jim Beanz, HyGrade, anthony "mISTER_b" Drake, Parker Ighile, Nathan Cassells, Keith Harris, Christopher Braide, Joel Little, Lucy Hill
Writer(s): Mima Stilwell, Jim Eliot, Isabel Merjos, Sunny Monroe, Anthony Preston, William Orbit, Dan Traynor, Ana Diaz, Phill N., Rico Love, Nate Hills, Jim Beanz, Anthony "mISTER_b" Drake, Lilly Stuart, Electrolightz, Parker Ighile, Nathan Cassells, Olivia WaitheRelease is the first extended play (EP) by American recording artist Isabel. It will be released on March 28th, 2014, by Studio60 Records. Initially planned to be included on the 2014 release of her fourth studio album, Isabel decided to work the seven tracks into an EP instead, saying that she wanted the album to be a fresh start for her as opposed to carrying over the feelings from her previous album onto it. She also described the EP as the appetizer and the album as the full course meal, stating that the records were different and wouldn't have any relation to one another whatsoever.
Musically, the Release EP is a Pop album influenced by other genres such as electronic rock, dance-pop, and indie pop. The album was also inspired by some of the controversy surrounding her towards the end of the year after her new found relationship with Ryan Ross Hernandez. According to Isabel, the EP started after the recording of the single for the television show, the Sweet Unknown, and from then on it sat quietly as she waited for inspiration. After the months from releasing her album, she experienced a high time, successfully promoting her album but then she experienced loss of friendships and her highly publicized break up. Following that, she started writing and then found herself still unhappy, losing another friend and starting a new relationship. The recording rolled on into the new year where she seemingly had things together and was able to recuperate from some rough times. Isabel calls this her therapeutic album. The title of the EP comes with her being able to finally release the emotions she's felt and taking the wight off her shoulders so she can be happy. The EP is a lot less party and silly like with more serious topics and themes, a more maturing nature to it but still entertaining and catchy. Lyrically, the songs are quite simple yet hold complex meanings. The cover art represents her relaxed state and is simple without the usage of props or costumes.
Its lead single,"Do What You Do", was highly praised by critics and artists alike, giving her that new sound she had sought after in the EP. It debuted number one on the charts and remained there for 2 weeks. After that, the self-titled single, "Release" was announced as the next single, already getting over 35,000 downloads since it was released. The single "Who To Trust?" was released earlier in 2013 as a promotional single for the soundtrack to the Sweet Unknown and charted in the top 10 as well.
~Background & Development~
After her third album, Isabel was already attempting to work on her next album but decided to turn it into an EP instead. She stated; "I wanted the EP to be symbolizing the transition from my last album to my next and essentially one period of my life to the next. There's nothing holding me back anymore from saying what I want to say and what I need to say. Anything that felt like it shouldn't be in my life anymore is on the EP." Regarding the title of the EP, Isabel says it was simple. "It's the musical release of my anger and agony, sadness, bitterness, and all of the things that won't allow me to move on and get better." The first official single released from the EP, "Do What You Do" set the tone for her in many ways.
"It wasn't the first song I wrote but I thought it should be the first released from it. It's different, really different from anything I've ever done and that was important to me. It was to show my growth as an artist and how I can be serious and just as emotional as anyone else. It was never intended for me to say, 'Hey, I'm totally different. I'm unique and better' it was nothing like that. I think everyone, at one point in time, shows their inspirations and muses for their artistry. It's almost difficult to say anything is really 'original' or 'unique' because there's been so much done and even if people haven't discovered it yet, it's probably been recorded. My purpose isn't to try to be different, my purpose is to do what I feel is right."
~Composition~
As stated above, the first single set the tone for the EP, ("I'm sick of people telling me "Just be a good girl, you're way too sweet...") and each single afterwards is almost a journey into the private life of Isabel. The lyrics contain references for love, happiness, and growth. Although it may seem Isabel was having the perfect year, on the inside she was writing a genuine, emotional work of art. The second track tells of Isabel's fear of not knowing who she could depend on anymore, saying that she found out people and success wasn't as they were made to appear in the camera, "They're all players, in their layers/And the outside looks so good/But on the inside/They still hide/Some won't speak up like they should." The acoustic driven track shows her eagerness to get away from the fakeness of Hollywood life. After that, "La Mariposa" is a dance-pop song which uses the metaphor of a butterfly (La Mariposa) hatching from it's cocoon and flying out into the world. "I'll spread my wings and learn how to fly/Take responsibility if I don't survive/Not a child anymore, Not the same as before." It serves as the temporary upbeat song which allows Isabel to portray a growing feeling.The next track served as the first single off of highly acclaimed mISTER_b's album. "Recovery" showcases Isabel's beautiful voice with an electronic dance beat to follow. She talks about being able to recover from depression and without depending on the use of pills or anything harmful to be happy. "Let the hope, light the way for your full recovery/Let Love be for your heart the only remedy." It's one of her many inspirational songs on the EP. It was the single that allowed mISTER_b to get signed to Studio60 Records after Isabel initially recorded a song with him but it was later given to Finnish singer, Pixie Love.
The fifth track on the EP is the most upbeat with it's electronic rock feel to it and synths. She sings about taking charge and being able to call the shots, doing whatever she wants. It's sassy and bold, allowing her vocals to be loud and in your face as opposed to soft and coy. It makes for a great feel good track. After that, "Lottery", the indie/dream pop song, takes after some elements of Adele. She takes on a more serious tone, her soprano voice as she chimes about regret and making mistakes. "All hope seems lost/Winning came with costs/And we can't just ignore, anymore." The tribal drums and chorus like voices in the background with her vocals makes it a beautiful song. The song before last is perhaps the most emotional song on the EP, "Too Much". The piano inspired tune gives a unique way of singing, almost a nursery rhyme with its connecting lines to one another. "Which way? I can't do this in a day/Which way? These chains on me just won't break (Won't break)/But which way? Ohh, too much to take." Isabel really gives her all in the track, almost sounding completely broken by the second verse, a certain lifelessness in her voice which is hauntingly beautiful yet sad at the same time. She pleads to find an answer to her grief, not knowing what more she can do or what more to say. She says this track is her most personal because it talks about how she get's so down sometimes and yet doesn't talk about it publicly to keep up appearances. The last track on the EP, "Release" is a soft pop ballad in which Isabel allows herself to finally let go of the past and move on. She sings, "I lost a part of me/To make room for new memories/No longer holding on to the dream, of us so for once we're both free." The song was her latest single release and has been met with generally mixed reviews, calling it emotionally charged and catchy but a downgrade from her first single, almost digging herself into a hole not being able to follow up with it.
~Letter To Izzybells~
"I am excited to release this material. I think it's really amazing and I've gotten to experiment with my songwriting and work with new producers and writers. Each song is something different from my life and it's a piece of me. It's a puzzle piece that's coming together. After this, the EP will just be a memory and will no longer represent how I am. I won't be afraid to be who I am anymore and I won't hold back. I've done that for far too long. When I had my 21st birthday, I felt like a window opened and I felt that breeze. Growing up is fun and scary. I'm not a baby or a teenager anymore, I'm a woman. People will have different expectations but all that matters is what I want and how I feel. I didn't remember that before but now I am. This EP could sell no copies at all and I'd be smiling from ear to ear. I'm generally in a happy place right now, despite everything. I've let go and really just let god. I encourage all of my Izzybells and everyone to just feel this way for once. Don't worry about other people, don't worry about what they want, it's what YOU want. I wanted to do something to strip away from what is given to you and allowing myself to give myself to you on my terms. There's no magic tricks, no crazy images or themes. Everything is simple. I want you all to see me for who I am and not who you think I am. Everything on this EP is heartfelt and written straight from my soul. I just wanted to give this letter to my fans and let them know that this year will be filled with surprises and fun but sometimes disappointments. We're going to put on our brave faces and keep walking. You've got me forever and I have you as well. It's time to release everything we don't need and take in everything we do. This EP isn't just for me, it's for us. Each song is a message to you all and we're going to get through anything together. I am always here. This is forever. I love you all so much."
- Isabel Maria Merjos XOXO
~Personnel~
Isabel Merjos - Executive Producer, Vocals, vocals (background), producer
Sunny Monroe - Composer, Songwriter, Producer
Gia Rose-Hilton - Executive Producer, Composer, Songwriter, Producer, Engineer, Vocal arrangement, Vocal editing, mixing
Mima Stilwell - Songwriter (Lottery)
Jim Eliot - Songwriter, Producer, Composer (Lottery)
Anthony Preston - Producer, Songwriter, Composer, Vocal Arrangement (La Mariposa)
William Orbit - Producer, Composer (La Mariposa)
Dan Traynor - Songwriter (La Mariposa)
Ana Diaz - Songwriter, Additional vocals (La Mariposa)
Phill N. - Songwriter, Producer, Mixing, Assistant engineer, Musician
Rico Love - Songwriter, Producer, Mixing (Whatever I Want)
Jim Beanz - Songwriter (Whatever I Want)
mISTER_b - Producer (Recovery)
Lilly Stuart - Songwriter (Recovery)
Electrolightz - Songwriter (Recovery)
Parker Ighile - Songwriter (Too Much)
Nathan Cassells - Songwriter (Too Much)
Olivia Waithe - Songwriter, Producer (Too Much)
Nate "Danja" Hills - Producer, Songwriter, Keyboards, Drums (Whatever I Want)
HyGrade - Producer (La Mariposa)
Keith Harris - Producer (Release)
Christopher Braide - Producer (Release)
Joel Little - Producer (Do What You Do)
Lucy Hill - Producer (Do What You Do)
Alyssa Caparelli - Cover Artwork, Stylist, Photographer
~Tracklisting~
1. Do What You Do (4:25)
2. Who To Trust? (3:45)
3. La Mariposa (3:56)
4. Recovery (4:32)
5. Whatever I Want (4:35)
6. Lottery (3:54)
7. Too Much (4:03)
8. Release (3:59)
Edited by user 23 March 2014 03:20:44(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified |
