There was something almost cinematic about Isaiah Falls stepping onto the stage at KOKO in a black tailored suit and Prada tie. A little James Bond, perhaps, but with a romantic sensibility. For a tour titled Lvrs Paradise (Side B), the look felt fitting. Backstage, hours before his set, the R&B singer was warm and collected, carrying himself with a quiet confidence, as though he had arrived for an occasion rather than simply another night on stage. Against the soulful, intimate atmosphere of the evening, it felt like the beginning of a love affair, if only for one night.

Split into two distinct sonic chapters the Orlando-born artist released LVRS PARADISE Side A in 2025, followed by SideB earlier this year. Side A leans into atmospheric, late-night, minimalist R&B, while Side B takes on a richer, warmer sound, infused with OutKast and Southern soul. Together, the albums create a world for lovers, exploring intimacy, desire and affection.  Isaiah makes room for the many sides of love, from tenderness and longing to unapologetic desire. There’s an openness to his approach to romance that feels refreshing in a time when dating can seem governed by endless rules, cynicism and second-guessing. His music invites listeners to put those reservations aside and embrace the possibility of love, wherever they find themselves in it. Side B features TABOO which Isaiah performed for A COLORS SHOW alongside Stxrm Collective. The single also entered the Top 20 on both the Billboard R&B Airplay and Mediabase R&B Airplay charts in August 2026. 

At KOKO, that invitation seemed to resonate. The crowd sang along to every word, returning the affection Isaiah showed them throughout the night. When Stxrm Collective joined him onstage for TABOO, their voices blended in effortless harmony, delivering a moment both Isaiah and the audience had been anticipating. The stage glowed in shades of orange and red as he stood front and centre alongside his band. The set included NIGHTS OFF, but with Sasha Keable absent, Isaiah invited an audience member named Debra onstage to sing her part. I watched nervously as she took the microphone, but she absolutely delivered. “Hands down, best one we have ever had,” Isaiah declared afterwards. The connection between artist and audience was palpable. Reflecting on how far he’d come since his first London Show, from performing to around 700 people to standing before a crowd of approximately 1,500 at KOKO, he paused to take it all in.”I wouldn’t be here without yall so thank you for real, make some noise for yourself”. It was a moment of genuine appreciation that made the evening feel all the more personal. In conversation ahead of his set, Isaiah discusses his creative process, his relationship with painting, his own version of paradise and the connection he shares with London. 

Hi Isaiah, it’s a pleasure to meet you. How are you? 

Likewise, I’m good, it’s been a good day. 

How are you finding London so far? 

Every time I come here – I think I stayed here on vacation for like two weeks. 

Really? 

I fell in love with it.

What did you do while you were here? 

I feel like the shopping here is better.

Where did you shop?

Shoreditch, like around that area. Like the shopping there is so fire to me. It was like vintage shopping, places like that. And everyone here is cool as hell and fly.

Most people that come here that aren’t from here think London is amazing. But I think Londoners just love Americans and everything American. So I feel like they love Americans more than their fellow Londoners. 

I feel like a lot of people express that. I’ve heard that from multiple people.

Enjoy it. Enjoy the luxury of being American, having a great accent and having a different lingo about you because it’s tough out here.

Really?

Sometimes, yeah.

I feel like I get that, it’s pretty common. Londoners, a lot of the time are like, I’m ready to go!

The one time that I can say Londoners love each other is the summer, football, the NFL, and having a beer in a pub or something. (laughs)

There you go. It’s a pretty good place to love each other. Makes sense. (laughs)

But I’m excited to see you perform today and also, I really loved your COLORS performance as well.

Thank you. Thank you. I’m very excited. I’m performing that version tonight. We got a few little surprises for that one.

I think the first song I heard of yours was DIVA. And I just wanted to, how did you create that track? 

That was right after Florida Baby. I made that song probably like a week after I made Florida Baby. And I was just like, I just want to create something that feels really good. And at that time, we didn’t have an album done. So me and Luxury Lang were just making as much music as we possibly could. And that happened to be one of them. So I was just, I was recording every day at that time, probably 10 hours a day. Once I got my first hit, I was like, okay, I gotta beat that hit. So I was like, okay, the timer’s on. So I got to work. And that one, actually DIVA and LOVE OR LOVE ME NOT were recorded in the same two days back to back. 

That’s crazy. I do really admire the soul that you apply to your music. I think your music has a very unique flavour that, to be honest, I haven’t really heard in any other artists.

Thank you, I appreciate that. 

I remember I was with my friend two years ago. And we listened to your song with Sasha Keable NIGHTS OFFprobably like 10 times one evening. 

I love that song so much.

Me too and I love that Sashaa Keable’s on it. I’m a big fan of Sasha Keeble.

Sasha is that girl.

She is. But I also do admire.. almost like the love affair in your records. Men can really use their music to express affection and stuff like that. But a whole two albums? And it sounds great? Chef’s kiss. 

Thank you. I appreciate it. 

You’re bringing the Love Is Paradise world to London with this side of your tour. What’s one song you’re especially excited to perform live? And does it hit differently when you’re singing it with a crowd?

I think I haven’t experienced it with a crowd yet. But I think TABOO tonight is going to be very special. Especially because we’re doing the COLORS version. I also have a choir with me tonight. Only for TABOO. Shout out to the Stxrm Collective they are a group of incredible singers. They all sound amazing. I think it’s just going to be really special tonight. Especially because this is my biggest performance I’ve ever performed in front of, for my own personal fans. So, I’m looking forward to it. I think TABOO is going to be the one that is going to do it. 

I think TABOO is probably a lot of people’s favourite, including mine. I think it’s a great record. 

Thank you. 

You recently shared that music and graffiti were your first loves and that you used to spend nights painting. If you had to describe your painting style in three words, what would they be?

I would have to say luxurious. This is a good one. I would have to say very expressive and very smooth and cool. I like to draw characters that are dressed in suits and laid back and relaxing and things like that so I would have to say that. Actually, it’s crazy. I tried to give away a painting tonight but it got caught in customs so I wasn’t able to give it away. So we’re going to have to give it away at another show  but I tried my best to make it to London.

That was actually going to be my next question as well. I was waiting. I was going to see who you were going to give it to…

I wish it made it to London!

Did you bring all four paintings? Or just one?

I brought two. I was going to give one away here and then maybe choose another show I don’t know when. I really wanted to give one to London. It’s a huge show, a very monumental moment for me.

Will you still be able to get it from customs? Or will you have to send it back all the way?

Fingers crossed, If not, we’re going to do a giveaway for the London show. So anyone who got a London ticket will get a chance to get this. I can ship it to them again, hopefully.

Wonderful. Tracks like TABOO, HONEYBUTTER and OUT THE GAME each have their own feel. If you were putting together a playlist for a perfect night, which three songs of yours would make the cut? And in what order?

Hmmm..okay. I would start with FOR LVRS ONLY, the intro to Side A because that’s exactly what we are doing and that’s going to start the mood. And then I would have to do BUTTERFLIES halfway through dinner, you know what I mean? So romantic, so sweet and then HAVE MY BABIES? to end the night. 

Ooo nice. 

We all know why. (laughs)

(laughs) The Lovers Paradise title suggests an idle world. Outside of music, what does your own version of paradise look like? Are we talking summer tropical, a particular city, or simply being at home with your people?

Being at home, every time. I’m going to choose that every time. I’m such a homebody. I love being at the crib. Especially if the crib is freshly cleaned, candles lit, food is being cooked. Oh my God. I’ll take that and a glass of wine. Paradise to me is really the perfect home.

Are you a white, red, rosé, or orange?

Red every time, pinot.

Do you know what? It makes sense. You’ve had people compare your approach to R&B with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, particularly in the way you use your voice and experiment with your sound. Do comparisons like that flatter you, put pressure on you, or do you tend not to think about them?

I wouldn’t say it adds any pressure. I really don’t think about it, to be honest. If someone was to compare me to Kendrick, I’m the most flattered. That man is incredible. That’s definitely a compliment. I would compare myself to him, to be honest, in the sense of how I use my voice. I learned it all from how he does it. I was a big Kendrick fan earlier in my career.

You’re playing at KOKO tonight in London, and this isn’t your first time bringing your music to the UK. What’s one thing about London audiences that stands out to you, and is there anything you’re hoping to do whilst you’re in the city this time, that you haven’t done before?

I would have to say…the amount of love is just so authentically real. I just finished my meet and greets and them poor babies were shaking, the girls were shaking like leaves. I was like, calm down. They were just so excited and so nervous at the same time. I just love how genuine the love is a lot of the time. I feel it in other places, but in London, you can really feel it.

I think, especially in London, I might be biased, but we love soul. We love R&B. We love the smoothness in our ears. We like to relax. I guess maybe because of the hustle bustle of life.

Yeah, absolutely that makes sense. 

I think we really resonate with R&B. There’s always just a bond with music – forgot to mention that earlier. But bless them, that’s so sweet.

I love London so much. Y’all have a piece of my heart, I appreciate it.

I feel like they deserve the painting.

Yeah, exactly. I thought the same thing. Someone tell Customs to bring it back. (laughs)

Away from the studio and the stage, what’s something you’re surprisingly competitive about? If we put you in a room with your friends, what game or activity would you absolutely refuse to lose at?

Uno. Don’t throw Uno on the table. 

Really?

Listen, we’re going to throw hands if I’m losing Uno. I hate losing Uno. That’s my go-to game. It gets serious. Or spades, but that’s another story.

Wait, which one’s spades? That’s not blackjack, is it? 

No. I love blackjack too. 

I love blackjack. I’m competitive with blackjack though.

That’s a good game to play. 

With the Lovers Paradise project and tour taking you to new places, what’s one thing you’re looking forward to doing next that has nothing to do with music?

Eating. Eating like a big boy. I’m a big boy at heart. I love food, trust me. Every time we go somewhere where me and my boys are more excited about what the city offers food-wise, and then views. Obviously, I love riding around the city. I was out last night just wandering the city just to kind of see what it felt like. So we kind of do that every place we go. Find the best food, walk around, look at the city, and it’s like, that’s pretty much it.

What’s your favourite cuisine or your go-to?

For me, Italian or Asian. Italian or Asian food. I’m a go-for-it.

There’s plenty of that in London, so you’ll be good.

Absolutely. Y’all got good Jamaican food too.

Yeah, we got nice places to eat with different types of complexities and ambiances. The whole thing is, you’ll have a good time eating.

But thank you, that’s the end of our interview.

Thank you, I appreciate it. I love the questions.

My pleasure.

Album LVRS PARADISE Side B and new single TABOO is out now, follow via @isaiahfalls

Interview Nancy Anekwe