by Alexandra Mrozowska
— Senior Columnist —
Most of us like to reminisce about their early days and there’s something irresistibly charming about the moment one’s just starting out and taking their first steps forward. However, whatever art or craft we choose, there’s nothing more valuable than experience and more aware decisions that come from having already earned our chops in our respective fields. Also from the perspective of music fans, there’s immense satisfaction coming from discovering a young, up-and-coming artist and then spending years watching them grow into veterans of the scene.
And while a decade of career doesn’t necessarily make you a veteran, a lot of things have happened in a Norwegian singer Issa’s life since her debut album Sign Of Angels was released back in 2010. With her sixthalbum Queen Of Broken Hearts out on March the 12th, 2021 on Frontiers Music SRL, Issa checked in with Hardrock Haven to chat about it as well as the value of experience, her influences and collaborations, juggling different life responsibilities and being a female in the male-dominated Melodic Rock scene.
Hardrock Haven: One album after another, reviewers praise your growth as an artist. Do you also feel each album shows your artistic evolution and are you happy with the direction of your career?
Issa: Yes, over the years and with all albums I have done, each had a little bit of a different style every time, I think. This time, I seem to have landed more on what my first album [Sign Of Angels, 2010] was sounding like. It’s a little bit harder, it’s a little bit more Symphonic and I’m super happy with the direction I’m going. I feel like I’ve come a sort of a full circle and I feel where I am at the moment is just exactly where I want to be. The music is much more fitting to me, I think, than some of the music I’ve done in the past. I mean, like it’s a like a little bit of a journey. You’re trying out things every time you do an album and you try a little bit of something new. So yeah, I’m very, very happy.
Hardrock Haven: In spite of this similarity between your upcoming album Queen Of Broken Hearts and your first one, there’s been over a decade between them. So if you were to travel back in time now with all your experience as a solo artist, would you change anything in the way Sign Of Angels was written, recorded or produced?
Issa: There’s always [something] as you’ve learnt so much on your way… And I remember when I did Sign Of Angels, I used to be in a cover band at the time and I had absolutely no expectations towards that record when I was making it. I remember doing gigs and then travelling in the night all the way to Sweden to record my parts and make the album… But I don’t have any sort of regrets when it comes to how we did things. If I could have gone back [in time], I probably would’ve said to myself, “Try to take it easy.” It was a lot of working all the time, doing gigs, working and doing the record and travelling and all this… But you know, all that experience that I have now is coming out in the music I guess. You pick up things all the time, you learn things about your voice and about what you can do and can’t do… You also change over the years and your voice changes as well. So all the experience is just great to have now.
Hardrock Haven: What was the process of making the new album Queen Of Broken Hearts like?
Issa: Well, it was quite different this time obviously because of COVID and all the restrictions. So this time, when we worked on the songs, it was Alessandro [Del Vecchio] sending me some songs over and me writing some and sending them back… and we sort of worked that way. And I know that’s very, very normal these days. Recording vocals as well it was just me here in York – there was no travelling or meeting up with anybody. So, the whole process was pretty easy. The guys in the band – Marco [Di Salvia, Hardline], Andrea [ToWer Torricini, Vision Divine] and Simone [Mularoni, DGM] – they worked so great with the last record and the sound was just perfect, so we’ve just decided to go with the same bunch and just to make this album and do the best that we could.
Hardrock Haven: Exactly. Speaking of this line-up, Simone and Andrea are associated with a different musical background than ISSA, and it was the same with musicians who contributed to your past albums. What do you think having Progressive or Power Metal musicians on board adds to ISSA’s arsenal?
Issa: Yeah, I think it’s great. I’ve been working with lots of people associated with Metal music indeed, also in the past, and they’re all very talented. You know, I think being a female with an obviously female voice fits really nicely with musicians coming from more Metal background, making it all a little bit edgier. It’s like sweet and sour I guess (laughs). So that’s getting a bit of both and matching the opposites, which I think is great. I mean, even on Sign Of Angels all the guys that were there, all of them were playing much more Progressive music… And like I said, they’re just all very, very talented and it’s a nice mix if put together.
Hardrock Haven: You’ve mentioned that you renewed your longtime collaboration with Alessandro Del Vecchio for the new album and also, that your collaboration on songs is more based on the exchange of ideas rather than the material being pre-written by Alessandro…
Issa: What we do is Alessandro would come to me with some songs and we definitely pick some. But he might send me ten songs and we find five that we think will be really, really great for the record, and then we’ll write the other five or something along the lines of that, depending on how it goes. I think it’s important that I don’t just do songs that were sort of given to me – you know, that I have a little input and a little bit of me. We have to do that or the record just won’t feel like something that comes from me. So I always like to be part of it, with each album, and as much as my time kind of allows to be a part of some of the writing as well… But yeah, Alessandro and me have got a great relationship, we’ve known each other for years and years and we’ve done so many albums. He’s cool – he’ll send me a song and go, “What do you think about this one? Should we put this on the album?” So I’m not pressured and sometimes for one song that just isn’t good enough we might write three that are great, so it just depends. We do what’s best for the record I think.
Hardrock Haven: And what do you think is so universal about Alessandro’s songwriting that makes it easy for you and many other artists he writes for to sound convincing and adapt emotionally to the songs?
Issa: It comes down to the style I guess, and what sort of style you do, but I also think Alessandro is great in the way that he can adapt to the people that he works with. He also writes together with other songwriters and he’s always doing something. And I think sometimes even for him to cooperate with other songwriters is giving him a diversity in songwriting and songs that sound different from each other. So when I get a song, it’s important that I kind of feel connected with it and that I feel like it’s something for me. You know that straight away – you know if you feel a song or you don’t. Rarely do I go into the studio and sing a song I don’t like and come out liking it… (laughs) It does happen though! I do a lot of demo singing as obviously my husband [James Martin, VEGA] is a songwriter, so I do a lot of demo singing for him and I carve out a lot of projects, so I do a lot of songs. You have to put everything into each song then, even if it isn’t exactly what you like. But with my own records, I like to feel each song that I do.
Hardrock Haven: Absolutely. There were also some memorable duets on your previous albums, including one with Steve Overland (FM) or Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints). With none on Queen Of Broken Hearts, who would you like to sing a duet with in the future?
Issa: Oh my gosh, there’s so many great acts out there! You know, for the new album there just wasn’t any songs that I’d hear and go, “Oh, I wanna do a duet on this one.” And I don’t want to do a duet every time I release an album… But going forward, definitely. And you know what, it would actually be amazing to do a duet with a female singer!… That would’ve been great, and there’s so many great singers out there… I mean, if I could have a wish in the whole wide world, it would be someone like Ann Wilson or something like that! But I don’t know really, it just depends on what sort of opportunity comes my way I guess. When I did the song with Steve Overland, that was amazing… I really wanted to do a duet with him, so I was quite nervous asking him (laughs). And I was very happy when he liked the song and wanted to do it. So again, going forward, I think maybe next time it’d be cool if I asked a female singer. That would be something different.
Hardrock Haven: We’ve already discussed your musical partnership with Alessandro Del Vecchio, and last year you also took part in recording his song “Push Through” for Frontiers All Stars initiative. Was it an important thing to do for you, especially considering the circumstances and the message behind the song?
Issa: Yes, it’s always good to be a part of such a thing and it’s really cool to be asked. These are hard times at the moment, you know, for a lot of people and I think that’s just amazing to bring out music and give people at least something that they maybe could listen to so that it has some sort of positive impact on them. And I think Alessandro put a lot of work and a lot of effort [in it] – there was a lot of people, so obviously to put it all together is great work and I was just honored to be asked. And as the song goes, sometimes we just have to push through I guess – and hopefully, the world will be better next year and we can get back to normality. The music industry has suffered massively because of COVID and everything else, so we’ll see what happens. But back to Frontiers All Stars, I was very, very happy to be a part of it.
Hardrock Haven: You’re primarily known to the fans as the “Norwegian melodic rock queen”, and while no one is to argue with that, is Melodic Rock the genre you always wanted to be a part of and the one you’re into as a listener as well?
Issa: Not really! The thing is, I was born in the ‘80s and I grew up in the ‘90s, so ‘90s music was what I was listening to (laughs). I was a young girl then. But I think when I turned seventeen or eighteen, I started to travel a lot doing cover music, and I was in the band with two other girls and I just found what I like to do. We used to do all sorts of songs, but it was more so with the Rock songs for me – the high notes and the powerhouse that I like to perform. And that was what got me into it. But I did have a lot of friends that were doing Progressive music or Metal music and I used to be in that environment with a lot of different influences. And I got to sort of learn a lot from them, taking part in projects they were a part of, and things like that. But the music I listen to is all sorts of music – I’m really diverse in what I’m listening to. And to be honest (laughs), I have two small children, so they dictate what goes on in my house and I rarely get to play what I like (laughs). So it’s “Baby Shark” and whatever is on, all the time. Maybe lately I didn’t have a chance to keep track of what’s new and what’s coming out and who’s doing what – I’ve been housebound with the kids obviously, so it’s just been a hundred percent focus on them. But I enjoy all sorts of music and I love all music as well – today we’ve been playing Roxette, Heart, Blondie, Def Leppard, all these bands that I like… I could say I like melodic music, I think.
Hardrock Haven: As we talked your artistic growth, do you still add new vocal and music influences to your arsenal at this stage of your career?
Issa: Yes, I mean – you still get inspired, don’t you? And I feel like every album you do, you just learn something new about yourself… You turn into more of a perfectionist, you always try to better yourself and make something better. This time I had a lot more time to do record the album obviously, because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was a good and a bad thing – because you just sit there and pick on everything you do and you’re never happy (laughs). So you’re like, “I’ll leave out this,” or “I’ll record that part again”… Still, I think you always get inspired and you pick up different things as you go but there’s always something inside you that sort of dictates where you’re going, definitely.
Hardrock Haven: If hypothetically you were going to do a side project one day and explore a different genre than usual, what do you think it could be?
Issa: Oh, that’s a difficult one! I quite like Synthwave, so I could do a side project like that – a little bit more Rock-oriented, maybe. It would be something totally different and that would be quite cool.
Hardrock Haven: Melodic Rock seems to be perfect for female vocals, and yet, historically there hasn’t been that many female artists in genre. Do you think it’s changing now and do you think it’s easier for women now than when you started out?
Issa: Yeah, over these ten years I’ve been with Frontiers [Music SRL], I’ve seen a huge change. It used to be me and maybe some other girl that would come every now and then and do an album. I think nowadays the Internet has definitely brought more females to the market. I just keep an eye on Facebook and I constantly see new female-fronted acts. I think it’s just growing massively and it’s really great to see females also doing this sort of music. I think it’s been a huge, positive change and it’s really cool to see [that], and I think it’s just the Internet in general that’s brought that forward.
Hardrock Haven: Definitely. And speaking of that, in the ‘80s and even the early ‘90s Melodic Rock scene was largely about image especially in the case of female performers, who had to struggle to have their talent favored over their looks. Do you think it’s changing too?
Issa: Yes, especially in the kind of genre that we are [in], it’s still sort of sexiness of women doing this kind of music [emphasized]. I can’t describe it, but that’s what I think. And definitely back in the day there was a much bigger pressure on these things. Nowadays, you don’t need a record label to tell you how to dress – even if they don’t necessarily do that, I mean, Frontiers had never told me what to wear! (laughs) So I’ve never felt that pressure myself, but I think people accept other people much more for what they are these days. The industry has changed. Back in the day, you would sell millions of records but nowadays there’s so many acts and so many bands and you’ve got the Internet to listen to music there all the time… Things have just changed so much. So, for the females obviously this side of things is much more relaxed, definitely, but for the girls doing this sort of music it doesn’t do them any favors if they look good.
Hardrock Haven: Definitely. Posting a trailer for new Frontiers Music SRL releases for 2021, you described the year as “exciting” in terms of music. So even though as you’ve mentioned with the kids you probably don’t have as much time to listen to music – are there any albums you look forward to, not necessarily on Frontiers of course?
Issa: There’s many, but I’m quite interested in listening to Chez Kane’s album. She’s a female singer, so it’s always really cool to check out and see what other girls are doing. So that’s an album I’m interested in, and I’m sure there are plenty of others as well, but to be honest, I haven’t really had the chance to sit down and remember which bands are coming out this year. But like always, Frontiers have got plenty of great bands and acts coming out, so I’m just excited to hear what’s coming [out] this moment and I’ll keep an eye on it, definitely.
Hardrock Haven: What are your plans once the album is out?
Issa: Going forward! I’ve spent the last five years having kids and having that part of my life – starting a family – but once things settle down a little bit more, I will get more of a chance to go out there and maybe put a tour together or something like that. You know, at the moment I keep everything open ‘cause it’s like you can’t plan anything right now. But maybe I’ll do an online concert – that would be quite cool to do when I get the chance to do it, and that is when the house is a bit quieter (laughs). Then I could put something together. So I’m just taking it as it comes. It’s just difficult times really for anything, I think. We’ll just have to wait and see, and take one day at a time.
Hardrock Haven: Absolutely. Is there anything you’d like to add in the end?
Issa: I’d just say thanks so much for everything and I’m just really, really grateful and happy that I can do this music and hopefully this COVID will disappear soon so that we can go back to normal, back to watching gigs and going out and having some fun.
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