Isaac Dunbar Takes Our Pop Quiz
office gave Isaac an impromptu pop quiz where there are no wrong answers... except, of course, the wrong ones.
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office gave Isaac an impromptu pop quiz where there are no wrong answers... except, of course, the wrong ones.
Check out our exclusive interview with the artist below.
Your new single, "No Soy Para Ti," is written and sung completely in Spanish. Can you tell us what it's about and what it means to you?
It's kind of just about learning the lesson that things don't last forever, but that's okay. People kind of come and go out of your life. And I think that's a situation I was in, and I think everyone around me was kind of expecting more low-key, maybe sadder music, even more than the first EP. But, I just kind of wanted to do something different with that. I think that I got myself through a lot during COVID, so it was meant to be about a breakup, but also I think just me coming into myself and realizing that I could get myself through things, without the help of others.
What was this whole music video process like working with Alfred Marroquín?
It was amazing. He's Puerto Rican and I'm Dominican. We're both from New York. We met to discuss the video and I swear, we talked about the video for five minutes and we were like, okay, we got this. We were just very much on the same page. He knows exactly what's going to work. As a songwriter, when you write something that's going to fit into a song and you can kind of hear the end result in your head. I feel like he feels the same way with music videos. Cause he just had all these ideas and everything went so well.
Can you walk us through what the process of making music is like for you? When are you most inspired to write?
Honestly that kind of changes every day. I do think it's a little harder for me out of quarantine, it's weird. At least with the first EP, I wasn't doing music full-time when I started writing that, so it was just whenever inspiration would strike. It's weird now cause I've been in quarantine for the last year and some change and now I'm making music full-time so it's a little odd to combine making it your job and waiting for inspiration to strike. I think generally mostly at night, and when I'm by myself in my room is usually when I'm thinking back on the day or whatever. And time to myself is when it's easiest to write.
I grew up in a Latino household, and I know that there are so many more poetic ways to say certain things in Spanish. It's just a completely different sound. I've noticed it's been making headways in mainstream music, singing in Spanish and English as well. I can kind of see the upward progression as opposed to when I was younger and it was my mom's music versus my music. What are your thoughts on the increasing representation? Do you think there needs to be more?
It's kind of funny and odd getting used to it because it's exactly like you said. Growing up, it's like music from two different places and not acknowledged in the same way in the US and it's so weird to see it happen now. Or like reggetón become fully mainstream, and people are like, oh my God, have you heard this song? And it's like the song that we grew up with. I'm grateful to be making music at a time when that is happening because I'm not thinking of writing in Spanish to take part in it, but I'm glad that there's a space for it now here in a bigger way. We definitely need a little bit more still.
I just wanted to say congrats on the announcements of festivals that you're going to be performing at. How are you feeling?
Very excited. My whole career thus far has been, at least with music out, has been during the pandemic. It was okay at the beginning because I was writing and releasing. And, now that I have my first full body of work out, it's been so strange to not be able to play it live. I can acknowledge that I've grown a lot in terms of my music, but also my fan base during the pandemic. But when you're at home and not playing to the crowd, it's so hard to gauge that and really understand that. So I'm just so excited to be in front of people and the fact that other people are excited keeps being a shock to me, but I'm just so excited.
What do you think has been the biggest highlight so far of your work and your music? When did you, as an artist, feel like, wow, I can do this. I'm really making it. And that my dreams that I've had are actually turning into reality?
The time I have felt the most, so far, was when my COLORS Performance dropped. It was amazing even before it came out, but then watching it come out and watching all the reception roll in. I find so many people for the first time through COLORS and I've watched so many people's COLORS on repeat. And then just seeing my face pop up on there and having people be like, oh my God, I'm so proud of her. She did COLORS.
Do you think that fashion plays a role in your music?
I think fashion plays a massive role in the sense of, that's a huge part of anything I'm doing in the music world. Even if I'm getting dressed to go to the studio or I have a shoot or I'm shooting a music video, clothing is always such a big part of that. It's about music, but my first thought is always, what am I going to wear?
Can you talk to us about your fashion inspo?
I mean, Rihanna, let's start there, like number one above all my queen. But I think everywhere, especially growing up in New York and just people watching all day. I think it's a combination of growing up in New York, but also growing up with 2000s and late 90s fashion, but being at an age where I couldn't wear any of that. Now it's just wearing everything I couldn't wear as a kid. One of my favorite parts of living in New York was sitting outside all day or sitting on the train or whatever. You're just watching a million people go by. And if I saw something I liked on somebody, I would write it down and then try to find something similar.
I know that you're a really big mental health advocate. So what kind of advice would you give your fans who are struggling and what is the best piece of advice that you think that you've received?
I think the advice I would give is to primarily just try and keep in the front of your head that you're not alone and you're not the only one going through it. I feel like that's half the battle where mental illness or any issue with your mental health can feel so isolating. I think also this is a lot to communicate through a small piece of advice, but I just want everyone to understand how I hate the word normal, because what does that even mean? It happens to all of us or so many of us or at least someone. You truly are not alone.
Everyone should tell someone regardless of who it is, obviously that's loaded, finding a therapist can be hard, but I think just finding someone who you can reach out to is very important. Most important advice I've received, honestly, I think it's the same. The first person that I told that I was struggling, suggested I go to therapy and it doesn't seem like crazy advice in the sense of that feels like the logical next step, but talking to someone is just the most helpful thing you can do.
What's next for you and for your music?
So "No Soy Para Ti" and then hopefully another single before a second project which is crazy to say, because I feel like my first one just came out. A lot more new music and then hopefully, fingers crossed, if the world is on the right track then live shows.
The two-songs-in-one track, “SWEET/I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE,” making Tyler carry on his long tradition of putting two songs merged on the 10th track live on, has a symbolic feel of slow-dancing with your coveted lover, while Brent Faiyaz sings on the track alongside Tyler in the first half. “ I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE” is the different feel-good track as it holds Caribbean infusion and melodic harmonies by Fana Hues.
We can expect to hear some of these new songs of Tyler’s throughout this summer.
If you want to customize your version of the Call Me If You Get Lost driver’s license, go to callmeifyougetlost.com.
The viral rapper, whose real name is Suzanne, is a clear product of her environment. "Sleepin' on these cold floors made a bitch cold," she raps in "Next Level." Her storied upbringing, which includes being incarcerated for the better part of her teenage years, informs her raps and her unique perspective when compared to other MCs in the game.
After her song "Runway" blew up on Tik Tok in the early days of 2019—before "trends" on Tik Tok were a thing, mind you—Stunna Girl has been on a steady pursuit to prove herself. Her latest EP, STUNNA THIS STUNNA THAT, is the first of those pursuits. And she's just getting started.
We sat down with Stunna Girl to talk high school, Hannah Montana, and inspiration.
For those who don’t know you, who are you? Where do you come from? What do you do?
I’m Stunna Girl. I’m 22, from Sacramento, California. I rap and I sing.
How did you first get into rapping?
I first got into rapping, honestly, when I was eight. My dad had a studio closet, and he told me to record. I was already singing for my family and stuff. But ever since that one day, I always knew how to rap. It’s kinda weird. He showed me the recording process, and how to do my ad libs. I just never forgot it. So that one studio session stuck with me.
So you just all of a sudden knew how to rap?
I was already harmonizing. Well, I knew how to argue real good. It’s just funny. When I was younger, I had a smart mouth but I was arguing with everybody at my house. So they were like, “Just say all the stuff you normally be saying! Just talk!”
So it was just a different outlet.
Yeah. I went from singing to just talking, saying what I wanted to say.
What were you like in high school? Were you into the arts? You said you liked to argue, did you do debate or anything like that?
Honestly, for my high school, I was actually incarcerated. I did 9th grade, but after that I was incarcerated until I was 17.
What was that experience like?
At first, I didn’t understand it. I knew I was always getting in trouble, so eventually I was gonna be there, but I think that experience just got me down. It just really matured me and opened my eyes to a lot of stuff. It actually made me want to get out and be focused. I think if I was out, I would've been way into some deeper stuff. That time was a time for me to realize and think about my life. Stuff like that.
That’s super interesting. I feel like those ages—what, 14 to 17?—it’s such a formative time.
Yeah for sure.
Who did you look up to in your early teens? Both musically and just in general?
Well, I was named after the singer Sade. I always looked up to her. I thought she was so cool. So that was musically. And I would actually say my mom. She was really strong as a person. There were seven of us, and she wasn’t raising us off of government assistance—just strictly off the hustle. I always appreciated her for that.
I feel like you’re known for your rap stylings. It’s very in your face. In your own words, how would you say what you do is different from your peers? How is your music bringing something new to the table?
Well, firstly, I’m able to tell stories and talk about experiences that are unique to me. They actually relate to a lot of people. In the game, so far, it ain’t nobody that’s talking from my standpoint. For instance, you have some that rap about stripping, some that rap about boys and love. I rap about everything, and I can get into details about real life situations that nobody really talks about. So I feel like with that alone, it’s different.
Secondly, my voice is already different. Even my ad libs and everything, I’m just unique. I feel like those are the main two things.
How do you approach writing music? You said it comes pretty naturally, but do you have any specific processes or rituals in the studio?
Well, I’m able to do two things. I’m able to freestyle—listen to the beat, then go in and punch in what I gotta say. And I’m also able to take notes. For instance, if I’m at home or something, a melody will just come into my head and I’ll put it on my voice recorder so I don’t forget it. It’s like music is in my head all day, literally. It’s weird. Melodies are always coming to me, and stuff I wanna say.
Is there anything in particular you’re inspired by right now? Any TV shows or other forms of media?
I’ve always been in my own head. I don't really watch TV. Honestly, what motivates and inspires me is my little brother. I just be watching him. He just inspires me a lot because I’ve seen him grow into the person he’s becoming. He’s the one putting me onto new music and stuff. He inspires me a lot because he’s strong.
You talked about Sade, but who else did you listen to growing up?
I listened to a lot of R&B. I was really into old school music because that’s all my mom played. I liked Mary J Blige. It’s crazy cause my music is totally opposite from her, but that’s who I like.
Yeah, your speaking voice and your demeanor seems more shy than your rap persona. Is that something people tell you all the time?
Yeah, they always say, “We’ve never seen this other side of her! She gets all crazy and stuff and has this savage street side, but you have this warm, cuddly side of you that nobody knows.” But yeah, a lot of people don’t know that about me.
Do you listen to anything that would be surprising to your fans? Any weird indie music or classical stuff?
I actually be liking pop music sometimes. I like a few Hannah Montana songs. I like “Party in the USA” a lot. I don’t be remembering the dang names of the songs. But yeah.
Hannah Montana had bops.
Yeah, she sure did.
Tell me about your new EP.
Basically, I had a tape done three days after I was signed. And I was waiting on the tape to be released. I didn’t understand the business side of music. I was used to, like, oh, let’s just drop it. So I started learning, oh I have to get this cleared, there’s a sample in this, this takes thirty days, stuff like that. So my fans were looking at me like, girl, what is going on? And I was like, I’m learning this like y’all! So I wanted to show them that, basically, I could pop back into my savage mode like how I started. So I did another few sessions and was done with the next tape. It was really raw and uncut. I wasn’t overthinking anything. That’s what this tape is.
What would you say is the main thing you’ve been realizing about going from being independent to being signed to a major label?
I pretty much noticed that everything requires extra approval. Like, with the beat samples and stuff. It’s just more of a bigger thing. When you’re independent, you don’t know all that stuff. Being signed, they want to give me every detail and make sure I’m straight. Ain’t no loopholes. They just make sure everything’s gonna go down good.
How much live performing did you do before quarantine hit?
I did a lot of it—school appearances, all types of stuff. I was really active. When COVID hit, I stopped accepting stuff like that for a minute. But I’m about to start back up because I’m moving back to LA, so I’ll be more active again.
Do you like East Coast or West Coast better?
Definitely West Coast. But I actually have been doing some club appearances on the East Coast, just random club appearances. But I definitely like West Coast better. The weather is way better.
How did quarantine affect you most?
They were gonna put me on a promotional tour, and I didn’t get to go on that. So I feel like that is an experience that got taken from me. I don’t know, I’m pretty much a home body, so that part didn’t affect me. I don’t like to see other people in big groups like that, so that was fine for me.
I remember that “Runway” was pretty big on Tik Tok. What are your thoughts on the app and how it influences the music industry?
I feel like my song was one of the first songs that actually went viral, so it showed everybody what Tik Tok was. When it went viral on there, I didn’t even know what it was, but I saw the power it had. I remember a lot of people were actually making fun of Tik Tok. A lot of people had something to say about it. It’s crazy because when COVID hit, now everybody is all about Tik Tok. I’m like, all these people had all this stuff to say about me, but I didn’t even start the “Runway” challenge! I didn’t even put my song on Tik Tok. It showed people that this is actually another route for music. So it was all good from then.
Yeah, it really was one of the first viral trends.
Definitely. So I see the good and bad side of it.
Now, Tik Tok is the first thing people think about.
Yeah, they do. When I was making the song, I wasn’t like, ‘Is this gonna be good on Tik Tok?’ Now a lot of artists I be around be like, “Oh, they’ll definitely love this on Tik Tok, it can become a Tik Tok dance!” I didn’t think about any of that.
What’s your favorite lyric you’ve written?
Honestly, when I said, “Sleepin’ on these cold floors made a bitch cold,” that was like a metaphor for my life, when I said that bar. So imma stick to that one. If you know, you know.
Are you working on anything right now? What’s in the works?
Currently, I’m finishing up the videos for this last tape. I’m doing the visuals for the tape that already dropped. And then, the next tape is in the works.
Anything else you wanna say to the world and to your fans?
I just wanna tell all my fans that I appreciate them, I love them for holding a real one down, you feel me? And yeah. Follow my Instagram, go listen to my new tape and tell me what y’all think.