Isabel LaRosa may be relatively new to the mainstream, but she’s already carving a distinctive path in the music world with her dark, cinematic alt-pop sound. At just 20, she’s already racked up over 1 billion streams and has captivated listeners with tracks like “favorite”, “pretty boy”, and “i’m yours”. Now, with the upcoming release of her highly anticipated single Muse, LaRosa teases us with sultry rock guitars and an addictive, breathy chorus that takes her evolving sound to new heights.
With roots in Cuban culture and a musical upbringing steeped in jazz, LaRosa’s journey feels like a mosaic of influences that have shaped her signature style. Growing up with a father who was a casual jazz musician, LaRosa and her brother, Thomas — her producer and co-writer — started performing at jazz jams, singing standards and playing guitar. This early exposure to music was the foundation that later evolved into the alternative pop sound she’s known for today.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Lady Gaga, Melanie Martinez, and more, LaRosa’s music stands out in today’s pop landscape. There’s something refreshingly authentic about the way she approaches her sound. Her songs feel as though they belong in a movie, blending dark, almost haunting tones with an infectious pop appeal.
1883 Magazine chats with Isabel LaRosa about her new track “Muse”, the pressures of keeping the momentum, a European tour on the horizon and the packed schedule awaiting her next year.
First off, congratulations on your U.S. tour and your debut at the VMAs this year! How was that experience for you?
Thank you so much! The VMAs were surreal. I’m such a fan of Katy Perry, so seeing her perform in person was wild — I had one of those “pinch me” moments. It was my first time attending, and it was also last-minute, to be honest. I didn’t even have a stylist! I just threw something together myself and hoped for the best.
Your music has a very cinematic, darker pop vibe. How did you first get into music, and why did you choose this particular genre?
I’ve always been around music. My dad is a casual jazz musician, and he was big on teaching us jazz standards when we were little. My brother Thomas and I used to jam with him when I was about seven — Thomas on guitar and me singing. But as I got older, I discovered artists like The Neighbourhood, Lady Gaga, and Melanie Martinez on YouTube, and I was hooked on that darker, alternative pop sound. It just felt like home to me, more so than bubblegum pop, even though I’m a huge fan of that genre too. It’s just not what I feel aligns with my own style.
You’ve said in another interview that some shows like Euphoria and Stranger Things inspired the sound and visuals for other songs. What’s the specific influence that comes to you from these shows?
In terms of visuals and shows, they’ve always been something closely intertwined with the music — Euphoria, True Detective are darker shows. There was a second when I was in high school when I was debating on just going into film and directing. Obviously that didn’t happen, but my goal is to make sure my music feels grand and cinematic. That’s the kind of music that I love.
As a Cuban-American, has your heritage influenced your music in any way?
I grew up surrounded by Cuban music, especially salsa, which is such a huge part of my childhood and my life. I’ve always wanted to do something that felt more Latin but I wanted to find a way to incorporate it in a natural way into my sound because my music and traditional salsa are very different. My brother and I are still exploring how to do that in a way that feels authentic to both of us.
Your recent songs — “favorite“, “pretty boy“, “i’m yours“ — have gained a lot of traction on social media, especially TikTok. Do you feel any pressure to keep that momentum going?
Definitely. The great thing about social media and TikTok is that, honestly, I wouldn’t have my career without it. It’s given me so many opportunities, and it’s amazing how quickly things can go viral. You could have something blow up overnight, and suddenly it’s a number-one hit—all from just one video. But the flip side is that everything moves so fast, and you’re always trying to keep that momentum, which can get a little stressful. Still, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m so grateful for the platform and the career it’s helped me build.
Fans have been dying for you to release more music, especially songs like Muse and Home which you teased during your tour. And “Evil,“ which you said you wrote for the Wednesday TV show. What can you tell us about them?
See, I love lying on TikTok because I didn’t even write that song for Wednesday. But hey, maybe they’ll see it and actually want to use it, then it could become real! I’m also releasing a new track called Muse, which everyone’s been asking for a while now, and I’m excited to finally get it out there. I do feel a bit bad it took so long, but it’s happening. As for Home, it’s definitely coming out — just not sure when yet, but it’s on the way. All these songs I’ve teased will come out; it’s just a matter of timing.
Since it’s titled Muse, who’s the inspiration behind it? Are you your own muse or is there a different one we don’t know about?
I definitely have a muse who’s inspired the song. He inspires a lot of my songs and my fans know who he is. He’s an artist, so we write songs about each other and it’s great.
How would you tease and describe the song for those who haven’t heard the snippets you shared?
The full song is just fun — it’s got this cool mix of rock guitar and a breathy chorus. There’s a really great guitar solo moment that’s super fun to play live, but I’m excited for people to finally hear it on Spotify. I’m curious to see how people react. I’m really excited about the visuals we’re filming for it — it feels like an evolved direction. I always want to be evolving, not just in terms of the music, but also my overall look and style.
You’ve got a European tour coming up and some big festival appearances lined up for 2024. What can fans expect from you next year?
I’m going back out on tour in Europe, very soon actually. I have a lot of plans for other singles as well, but I don’t want to say too much yet. I have some fun Jingle Ball shows coming up later in the year. I’m going to Australia next year, which is crazy.
About touring, how do you feel performing for your fans? How does that make you feel?
It’s the best feeling ever. Just a couple of years ago, the idea of getting people to actually show up to my shows felt so surreal. And now I’m in Europe, playing the biggest rooms I’ve ever headlined solo — it’s honestly the coolest feeling.
“Muse” is out now.
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