Written by Daphne Bryant
All images courtesy of Samantha Monendo
If Isabel LaRosa isn’t on your playlist yet, consider this an official wake-up call. The 22-year old musician is crafting a universe entirely her own, blending sultry alternative pop with hypnotic Latin influences and carving a distinct, undeniable niche in today’s music industry. When asked about navigating a world where her specific brand of diva isn’t quite as mainstream, LaRosa playfully reframes the landscape as an open invitation.“ I think there’s a lot of sexy alt-pop Latin music, but it’s more concentrated in specific lanes. I don’t see a lot of merge between the two, which is funny because oddly enough, I feel like Latin and alternative music have [so much] crossover. There’s so much Latin music that feels super dark and edgy,” says LaRosa. Drawing on her own heritage, Isabel seamlessly weaves these two cultural threads together:“ Because I have Cuban roots, I feel allowed to have a foot in both worlds. It’s fun to take pieces from each and [combine them].”
“I feel like Latin and alternative music have [so much] crossover. There’s so much Latin music that feels super dark and edgy. Because I have Cuban roots, I feel allowed to have a foot in both worlds. It's fun to take pieces from each and [combine them].”
While LaRosa’s aesthetic feels uniquely dark and cinematic, she confesses that her magnetic onstage persona didn’t happen overnight:“ At first, I did not dance at all; I was so scared. I’ve gotten more comfortable with myself over time, [and] it’s been fun to develop the stage presence and figure out what feels natural.” Over the years, LaRosa has earned a jaw-dropping charisma that shines through in music videos and live performances alike.“ Currently, with the dancing, it’s a little raunchy, but so fun for me. Seeing and doing these things on stage and getting the crowd’s reaction is one of my favorite things ever.”
Now, her highly-anticipated headlining Doll Parts Tour is fast approaching. The upcoming eight-city tour is a three-act theatrical production, weaving together her most recent EP Promising Young Woman, her debut album Raven, and fan-favorite tracks. Preparing mentally and physically for such an immersive show is wildly important, and for LaRosa, a work-in-progress.“ I have not been sleeping amazingly, so I need to get back on the grind,” LaRosa admits with a laugh.“ [I’ll] be in vocal lessons leading up to it so I remember how to do specific things, making sure I stretch…it really adds up over time—all the little things compile, and if you don’t do it, you feel it.” Though touring can be grueling, what drives LaRosa most is the opportunity to connect face-to-face with her fanbase. Meeting listeners up close and in-person means a lot to her, and whenever she can, she makes an effort to get to know them on a more profound level.“ I usually go out and say hi to everybody, or at least have VIP, but when you’re opening on a massive scale, [that] can be difficult to [do]. On my own headlining dates, I’m just very excited to hang out with [the audience] and see everybody’s face.”
At the heart of LaRosa’s music is a simple goal: making listeners feel less alone.“ I want people to feel a bit more understood than [than they did] before listening to it,” she says. Nowhere is that emotional resonance more poignant than with her personal favorite track off Promising Young Woman:“ Porcelain.” The song delves into body dysmorphia and the agonizing struggle with self-image, how delicate both those internal and external pressures are, and the desire to reclaim control over one’s body.“ I’ve never written about a topic like that before, and I was very nervous because it’s so personal. Putting it out and seeing people’s response—how much the lyrics meant to them—really matters to me. It was very cool to see something so close to my heart [be] close to other people’s hearts, too.”
“seeing people’s response—how much the lyrics meant to them—really matters to me. It was very cool to see something so close to my heart [be] close to other people’s hearts, too.”
