Introducing :: ISLA

Words: Izzy B

Who is ISLA and what is she? Well, not so much a solo individual, or even a 'she', but in one she and three he's in fact.

The Brighton-based four-piece formed just over a year ago and ventured out with releasing their first track online last October. 'I'll See You When The Credits Roll' was an ambient, lo-fi alt-folk introduction to the band, and a sound that was easily likeable.



Fitting their individual studies at Sussex University around music, ISLA next gave us 'Still' at the beginning of 2016, which showed more of where they were taking their inspiration from - artists such as War on Drugs, Tame Impala and Warpaint. Still dreamy, mellow and ambient, but with more focus.



After a series of recent gigs, the band have this month released their debut EP, 'Giants'. "We basically recorded it ourselves," vocalist/guitarist Matt Kos tells Little Indie. "We recorded the drums at Small Pond in town, but the rest was done in our flat. We felt that way we could have a lot more time to mess about with the sounds. The lyrics are relatively narrative, in the sense that it captures not-so-fun things that were going on with all of us over this past year."

We asked Matt to tell us a little about our two favourite tracks on 'Giants': 'Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’ and ‘You Know Nothing’.

"The first track on the EP, ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’, is kind of a tongue-in-cheek approach to big headedness, self-obsession and just being generally up yourself. And it sort of emphasises how you should rise above that and not let it affect you."



"‘You Know Nothing’ simply revolves around not stooping to someones level. I wanted it to reflect how just because you don’t show all your cards all the time, doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on inside. Essentially, it’s just a sad song about one's unwillingness to see beyond the cover."

ISLA play The Birdcage, Southsea on November 17 supporting JUDAS, and the following night at Brighton's Sticky Mike's supporting Tempesst.

ISLA are: Matt Kos (lead vocals, guitar), John Mear (guitar, backing vocals), Stef Rathbone (bass, backing vocals), James Southard (drums, backing vocals).

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