A Sonic Melting Pot of genres | Isabelle Mettle
April 24 | Written By Gemma West
In an era of music hybridity, genres are no longer the static, immovable categories used to divide EP’s and albums in record stores. Even ‘Alternative’ and ‘Pop’ have become binaries which no longer juxtapose the ideals of each other. Scanning over current chart hits, an eclectic mix of Rap, Funk, Folk, R&;B, Rock and old-school classics permeate a list of music now categorised as ‘Pop’, reimagining the reductive ideals of genre once so closely tied with artistry. For both music consumers and creators, the omnipresence of digital streaming has rendered genre binaries a thing of the past, inspiring innovative composition in a musical mosaic of cross- temporal and cross-cultural genres.
Making sense of genre bending, I spoke to Isabelle Mettle, a singer-songwriter from London, now based in Liverpool. What distinguishes her from a saturation of small artists attempting to reimagine old-school R&B, is the trans angelic playfulness she enacts between genre binaries. Taking inspiration from the likes of Erykah Badu, Betty Davis, Kate Bush and Prince, Mettle’s ‘alternative R&B sound’ is an eclectic mix of reimagined soul and acid jazz, taking on a pop-modern-electric dynamic.
Artful, soulful and rich, her astounding vocal range and old-school voice is impossible not to fall in love with for fans of Ms. Lauren Hill, Duffy, Lady Wray and Teyena Taylor. Hearing her acapella, you’d expect Mettle’s voice to comfortably mosey on a soulful ballad with a saxophone-laden interlude. However, bringing together genres with a traditionally futuristic, pop- funk feel, and sounds reminiscent of 80’s and 90’s old-school soul, her disruptive artistry draws on a sphere of influences which transcend place and time, emulated in her unique sound. Combining her love of the soulful grooves and textures she grew up listening to, with classical- feel songwriting and folk genres, I asked Isabelle why she creates music which sits vicariously on the line of such an eclectic mix of genres:
“I want to create a sound which pushes boundaries in the sense of going against what has been expected from a genre, whilst still essentially paying homage to the things that have helped to shape my music… I started making music on softwares such as GarageBand, which meant programming in synths, drums and bass parts digitally, and I think that’s always been something which has stuck with me.
The R&B and Funk end of my music has definitely just been influenced by the music I was exposed to and listened to growing up.
One of my major influences was Prince, who absolutely dominated the charts with his New Jack Swing sound, where the sound is largely impacted by the use of drum pad samples (just like me!)” Unlike many artists, who’s collective works are much richer and more inscrutable in flow, each of Mettle’s tracks are uniquely distinguished by the genre’s they draw upon, inviting listeners into an explorative experience of her varied taste and innovative sound. Continuing her eclectic blend of genre-bending tracks is the release of her new maxi-single, ‘Dreamz’ and ‘What You Did’, taking Mettle’s repertoire to a total of seven tracks, brought to life by the complimentary production of Jacob Weinreich and mastering of Stephen Kerrison (Weird Jungle). The two tracks touch on love, loss, and self-discovery.
“I wanted to create something which focussed on the feelings associated with loving something or someone, and how they can change over time”, Isabelle explains. “There are only two emotions that humans can really experience — love and fear. Love is so integral to the human mind… it made sense to me to put out something which walks you through the duality of love - the fun experienced whilst discovering the feeling, and the rediscovery of self, afterwards.” Imagine Prince’s ‘Raspberry Beret’ or Blondie’s ‘Rapture’ meets Silk Sonic, meshed with Supershy’s electric funk beats, and you have ‘Dreamz’.
Mettle’s old-soul, celestial sound reverbing over sonic-funk beats, weaves itself into a love song like a transangelic paradigm.
“‘Dreamz’ is my first ever two-sided release, which is very new for me. It essentially is a mini collection exploring the way that love can evoke emotions; and the good, and the bad effects. Whilst ‘Dreamz’ touches on being absolutely in awe of something or someone, ‘What You Did’ explores being in love with yourself, your freedom, your growth and independence. It explores how in order to love yourself, sometimes you need to be hurt by something else.”
Empowering and emotive, Isabelle Mettle is undoubtedly one to watch in the music scene. Navigating the contours of post-digital music production, her music is a gateway into explorative, genre-melding songs.
Both tracks of her are being released with Liverpool-based label ‘Merciful Sound’ on April 21st, and will be available to stream from midnight.