King Isis: Serenity is feeling at peace with yourself
A conversation with the singer-songwriter
Welcome to Human Pursuits, the column that features need-to-know names and stories in media and other creative spaces. Today, singer-songwriter King Isis on their new EP ‘SIRENITY’, leaving L.A., overcoming introversion, and more.
Now and then, I meet someone in the middle of an inflection point — that weird and occasionally wonderful period of transition, when the way things were becomes the way they are going to be.
Such was the case recently meeting King Isis (they/she). The singer and songwriter recently returned to their hometown of Oakland, CA, after living in Los Angeles.
The change of scenery coincides with another sort of ending, as their third EP, SIRENITY, concludes a trilogy of projects that kicked off in 2023.
Careening from distorted choruses to delicate voice memos, SIRENITY finds King Isis effortlessly combining sonic textures (R&B, Alt-pop, acoustic, and grunge, to name a few) and exposing their imperfections to the world.
As they settle into their new-old-normal in Oakland, it seemed like a great time to connect.
And so, we had much to discuss.
Our edited and condensed conversation touched on the Northern Lights, collaborating with Bartees Strange and others, the difference between writing EPs and writing albums, and what serenity means to them.
ES: Your Zoom background is of the Northern Lights. Where are you right now?
IK: I’m in Oakland. I wish I were with the Northern Lights.
ES: They’re famously visible from Canada. Have you been?
IK: I haven’t been to Canada, I haven’t been to Iceland. Both are a dream.
ES: Canada’s close to California, so that seems achievable! What intrigues you about Iceland?
IK: I mean, really, it’s the lights. They’re crazy, they’re gorgeous. I need to see them with my own eyes.
ES: Laughs. You don’t know this, but I’m from northern Canada, so I’ve seen them a lot.
IK: Jealous! You might see me there.
ES: How are things going in Oakland?
IK: Oakland is nice. I grew up here, and I recently moved back to get away from L.A. for a second. I’ve been here for a couple of months. It’s been great. It's been very healing.
ES: How has that move shifted your creative energy? Or has it?
IK: Being away from the heart of the music industry has helped my creativity a lot. It’s allowed me to explore my voice in my own way and on my own time. It’s better.
ES: Is it simply that you can create without necessarily being perceived? Walk me through this.
IK: Being perceived is part of it. Everybody in L.A. is doing pretty much the same thing and trying to get to the same places. There’s a lot of unnecessary competition, and a lot of interesting energies, which aren’t always helpful. If your head’s not right, and mine wasn’t, it’s not great.
Coming back to Oakland was what I needed to do. It’s quieter here. Not everybody works in music or entertainment. In fact, most don’t. My friends and the other people I’m talking to out here have a completely different experience. It’s been good not to have my entire world revolve around music.
ES: It’s so important for creatives to take a break like that. It’s hard to have perspective when you’re surrounded by your contemporaries or constantly thinking about the industry.
IK: Exactly. That part.
ES: At the same time, is it weird to go back to Oakland? I feel like I regress to my 16-year-old self whenever I go back to Edmonton.
IK: I did have those feelings when I first got here. I thought, “Oh god, what am I doing? This is the wrong choice. I need to be in L.A. to do music, otherwise I’m failing.” But now I don’t feel like that. My family is pretty supportive, which is rare for people pursuing creative projects. It’s good being here.
ES: I know your grandfather was musical, but your parents weren't, is that right?
IK: My mom taught first grade at a public school in Oakland for most of my life. I don’t really talk to my dad. But my mom is very supportive, and always has been. It’s cool.
ES: It’s nice that you two are close. Are you living with her?
IK: No, my grandma has a duplex and I’m in one of the units. I’m not right next to her, which is nice. I have my own space, but also I am right next to her because she’s around the corner.
ES: Laughs.
IK: It’s great being close, but it's also nice to have a little bit of distance, you know?
Everybody in L.A. is doing pretty much the same thing and trying to get to the same places. There’s a lot of unnecessary competition.
ES: I’m wondering about your process. Did you do any sessions in L.A.?
IK: We did do sessions for SIRENITY. I collaborated with Bartees Strange, Monte Booker, Greyskiin, and Estelle Allen. I’ve done sessions throughout the years in L.A. prior to this, but not too many.
ES: How do you gauge whether someone has the potential to be a good collaborator?
IK: You know, I can’t say that I necessarily have the process down yet.
ES: Laughs.
IK: One of my friends will grab coffee with the producer first as a vibe-check, before they even think about discussing music. I’d like to try that approach. Music is such a vulnerable thing.
ES: I like the idea of taking it slow. It’s a little bit like dating, isn’t it? Doing a low-stakes coffee before deciding you want dinner. At least, I assume that’s what it’s like. I haven’t dated in forever. Laughs.
IK: I also haven’t dated in a while, so I wouldn’t know, but that sounds correct.
ES: Is that because you’re in album mode?
IK: No, I’m in a relationship and I’m in album mode. But also, I’m an introvert at heart…
ES: I had no idea. Do you like doing interviews? Is this uncomfortable?
IK: This isn’t bad! Talking is one of the scariest things for me. I used to cry when I was asked to speak in class. I have major anxiety. But I’m not crying with you, which is great.
ES: What is it that sparks your anxiety, do you think? I personally kind of hate talking about myself because I worry people will find it boring.
IK: I think it’s that. I’m worried I’m boring or that I’m taking up too much time. I’ll think, “Why am I saying this?” My thoughts just start to spiral, and suddenly I’m stuttering .
ES: It’s pretty courageous for you to pursue music, then. You're putting yourself in this aggressively extroverted situation all the time.
IK: I know, I don’t know why I did that. I love music so much. I’ve always loved music, so I performed a bunch, and it has gotten better. It’s still not where I want it to be, but I can be on stage and play the songs without shaking the whole time.
ES: So your love of music is rooted in the act of songwriting, as opposed to playing live?
IK: I love music in general. Other people’s music has always helped me. And yeah, I love writing music and playing it out loud. Playing songs is healing, and writing them is also healing. It’s just that sometimes I start to think about it, and look in people’s eyes. And then I’m like, “Oh shit, I’m playing a song and you’re listening to it. What am I doing here?” But I do like it at first. Laughs.
Serenity is feeling at peace with yourself — the good parts and the bad parts
ES: Did I read that you wanted to do a video component to close out this trilogy? Is that the plan?
KI: Um, no. But we are doing a video component for the album that's coming
ES: How does writing an album differ from writing an EP?
IK: I like stories, or throughlines, in albums. I like to have a thematic overview for the EPs, but it’s less full-on storytelling. It’s been cool to exercise that part of my brain with the new project.
ES: You have a background in classical music, but do you have a background in production? Like, are you demoing in Garageband? Pro Tools?
IK: I’ve been exploring my producer voice more since moving back to Oakland. I mainly use Logic, and that’s been really cool and fun. I’ve learned a lot about myself as a producer, and a lot of demystifying has been done. As a songwriter, though, I almost always start with a pen and paper, and an acoustic guitar.
ES: How would you describe SIRENITY to someone who hasn’t heard a King Isis project before?
IK: That’s a great question, and I do have an answer for it somewhere in my head.
ES: Laughs. “Let me check my notes”.
IK: Honestly! SIRENITY is kind of similar to my previous EP, shed. It’s about releasing people and relationships from your life that no longer serve you, and finding your voice. Something like that.
ES: It’s funny to ask you this when you have the beautiful Northern Lights behind you, but what is serenity to you?
IK: Serenity is feeling at peace with yourself — the good parts and the bad parts — and being okay with the unknown parts of yourself.
ES: That’s a great answer, which you made seem extremely off the cuff.
IK: I had that one ready.
King Isis is a singer and songwriter. They live in Oakland, CA.