Isabel Pless Finds Catharsis Through Her Latest Open-Hearted Single, “More To Give”
Interview by Aniya Washington
Isabel Pless by Liz Pelletier
Life doesn’t slow down even if you want to, and according to singer-songwriter, Isabel Pless, sometimes the tiredness that comes from trying to keep up with the world’s expectations ends up making you who you are. On her brand new single, “More To Give,” Pless masks this story with a beautiful, melodic approach that leaves you feeling seen, heard, and understood.
2021 was a windswept year for Isabel Pless, who is currently a student at Wellesley College in Massachusetts studying Linguistics and simultaneously writing original songs in the midst of a pandemic. Through her soaring creativity, imagination, and a charm reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Chelsea Cutler, the soft-spoken but candidly authentic artist released her EP, Too Big for the Playground, Too Small for the Big Leagues that year.
Today, Pless releases her new single “More to Give,” a song that reflects a stagnant part of her life and grasps at being a “perfectionist who loves being on the go.” Reflecting on a year in lockdown, experiencing college virtually, and the entrapments that come with isolation, she recalls, “It’s a song that delves into my tendency to sort of self destruct when I feel stuck.”
Amplify Her Voice spoke to Pless about the true interpretation behind her new single “More to Give”, new music, and creative inspirations.
When I listen to your songs I feel like I’m listening to poetry. Are you inspired by poetry when writing, or do you view your lyrics as poetry when you’re writing?
I love that you feel that way! It makes me feel like I’m doing something right. I actually started out as a poet, that was my main focus throughout middle school and into high school, but I started writing songs when I was 12. I think a lot of the techniques that I learned in the context of writing poetry transferred over into my songwriting, so it makes sense that there’s some crossover between both styles.
When it comes to making your music, how do you approach songwriting?
When I’m writing by myself I always write lyrics first and then add melody. Again, I think it’s from the habit of writing poetry that I learned to write the words first. Sometimes I’ll write both lyrics, melody, and instrumental at the same time, but it’s usually easier for me to focus just on how the words flow first.
I love collaborating with other songwriters because it pushes me out of my normal routine. Starting with chords or a melody tends to give me fresh ideas, plus being able to bounce ideas off of another person is really helpful.
Can you describe how you hope your music will impact your listeners? What do you hope people will take away from your music?
I hope that my music can give a voice to young people who are trying to find their place in the world. I think about how I fit into society often and how my identity is shaped by internal and external factors— I discuss this a lot in my music. With my lyrics, I try to be as specific as possible when capturing significant feelings, but also I want to discuss topics that are general and relatable. Hopefully, my music can be important to those attempting to figure out who they are and how they belong.
The music industry is often a male-dominated business. Does this have any effect on you as a woman artist and what keeps you inspired to keep creating in this kind of environment?
It can definitely be frustrating, especially when you’re the only woman in the room. It’s unsettling and upsetting to know that women and non-binary people face extra criticism in this industry simply because of their gender. I try to surround myself with wonderful people who support me when I’m feeling those pressures. It’s incredibly empowering to watch other women succeed, so I think it’s just as important to be a cheerleader for others as it is to focus on your own wins.
What was your writing process, workflow, and/or collaboration with other creatives like when writing “More to Give?”
I wrote the first verse alone in my bedroom and then posted a clip of it on TikTok. It ended up doing really well so I was excited to finish it. I wrote the second verse by myself and then my friend Andrew Tufano helped me write the chorus and tweak some of the verse lyrics. Andrew really helped shape the song into what it is— his input was really centering and gave the song a clear structure.
What’s the story behind “More to Give,” and if you could describe its meaning in your own words, what would you tell audiences about it?
It’s a song that reflects a really stagnant part of my life. I hate being still and feeling stuck more than anything. During the first part of the pandemic I was at home in Vermont doing online classes— my junior year of college was virtual. I was home for 18 months and while I love Vermont, it’s a very small state and I felt cramped. I wrote this song because I was in this constant state of feeling like I should be doing more and being better and being active, but there really was not much for me to do. I’m a perfectionist who loves being on the go, so it’s a song that delves into my tendency to sort of self-destruct when I feel stuck.
When song ideas come to mind, describe what “artist mode” is like for Isabel Pless.
I think I tend to go into artist mode whenever I get an idea. Usually, a lyric will pop into my head, and immediately I’ll start trying to develop it into a full song. I love the songwriting process so I basically capitalize on every idea that I have.
Who are some women artists that have inspired you or keep you inspired?
Taylor Swift was the reason why I started songwriting— she was the only young female artist I knew when I was a kid who was writing and singing her own songs and accompanying herself with an instrument. It was really inspiring, and I think she’s basically raised this upcoming generation of singer-songwriters.”
I also found other artists I love along the way. I discovered Joni Mitchell in high school and that was a breakthrough moment for me. I look up to a lot of Vermont musicians such as Henry Jamison, Noah Kahan, and Grace Potter. While I think the choice to be an artist and songwriter is one that I made, my desire to create has always been fostered by a lot of really inspirational and wonderful musicians who I admire greatly.
Emotionally, what was it like for you writing this single? Were there any emotions behind the song’s story or meaning that made it hard for you to get in touch with how you felt?
I felt really stuck. Writing the song definitely brought me some catharsis. That’s what I love about songwriting— putting a feeling into words and adding a melody is really freeing. I hope it can bring others a bit of relief as well.
“More To Give” is available for streaming now on all music platforms.