Cuban-American singer-songwriter Isabel LaRosa’s rise to stardom through sleek, dark pop hits like “i’m yours” and “favorite” might seem like a whirlwind; however, those familiar with her artistic journey know that it’s built on a foundation of organic passion and pure determination.

Throughout her childhood, LaRosa’s initial inclination toward music became a pivotal piece of her story – growing up in soulful jazz clubs where LaRosa, her father, and her brother often performed to crowds. And ultimately, some of these formative experiences with her family's rich, melodic talents nurtured a budding talent and dedication to music. "[My dad] would take my brother and me to open mic night and jazz jams, and those were some of my earliest memories with music,” LaRosa explains. “Growing up that close to music allowed me to be able to explore what genres I liked as I grew up and gave me so much performing experience."

Writing music with her brother Thomas from a young age, LaRosa quickly found a seamless creative partnership that indisputably shaped her approach to songwriting. Those early collaborations were foundational, helping her to develop a distinctive voice and style. She explains how these experiences impacted her craft and what lessons she took away from those formative years, admitting, "I learned so much from writing with my brother, and I still do obviously to this day. It taught me how to take risks, and how to structure songs. It taught me to collaborate from a very young age, and I still learn so much from him.” LaRosa then expands on how it impacted her specific style, adding, “I quickly found that I loved writing darker songs."

As she stepped into her teenage years, the singer-songwriter began to balance a budding music career with school – requiring a few changes in her day-to-day life. LaRosa discusses how she managed this period, juggling academic responsibilities with her musical ambitions, telling us, "I only went to about three years of in-person school and the rest was either homeschooled or I did online school. After [COVID-19] hit and everybody went back to school I transferred to an online school and worked on music with my brother for those years that I would’ve been in school.” And with that choice came clarity about her path as an artist, as LaRosa explains, “I knew that I would’ve regretted staying there more than giving music a full shot.”

After committing to pursue her love for music as a full-time career, LaRosa’s sound began to evolve into what many describe as shadowy and intoxicating, with enchanting alt-pop influences. This distinct style emerged from years of exploration and creativity (and her brother’s aforementioned mentorship), blending contemporary influences with personal artistic flair. She delves into the development of this unique sound and the various influences that have shaped her music over time, divulging, "It took a lot of experimenting to find the sound that I called my own, I draw inspiration from a lot of artists, such as the neighborhood, Melanie Martinez, Crystal Castles. I’ve always loved artists with the darker sound, and I knew that I wanted to implement that in my music from an early age."

Her debut EP, i’m watching you, and subsequent releases quickly gained viral success for LaRosa, effortlessly capturing the hearts of listeners worldwide. Recalling a specific moment when she realized the extent of her music’s reach and how it felt to see her work resonate on a global scale, she shares, "Honestly, it’s hard to process the reach of my music, I try to just keep my head down and keep going, but a huge moment for me was hitting a million streams on a song for the first time.” LaRosa continues, “Being able to sell out a tour is the craziest feeling in the world, and that was also a huge moment for me.”

On the heels of her viral artistry, LaRosa evolved into a platinum artist, surpassed over a billion streams, and attained more than 16M monthly listeners on Spotify, making it impossible to ignore her significant achievements thus far. She has real reach, and her sincere music strongly resonates with listeners. Still, these accomplishments aren’t just numbers; they symbolize her relentless hard work and the deep connection she has built with her audience. The dark pop icon explains, "I wouldn’t be here without the love and support of the people that listen to my music, it makes me feel incredibly honored to be able to do this with my life. It just makes me want to work harder and give my fans even more music. I’m the luckiest girl in the world."

Through her excursion into the industry, LaRosa’s universal music often delves into poignant themes of love and loss, showcasing wisdom far beyond her years. Though, more importantly, her ability to convey deep emotions with authenticity has been a key factor in her widespread appeal. While opening up about the topic, she shares how personal experiences have shaped her relatable songwriting, explaining, "To be honest, I’ve faced a lot of rejection in my life, and I’ve written a lot about it because of how deeply it’s hurt me. I felt the loss of people that I’ve cared about over and over again and I want to show people that they’re not alone if they’re going through that.”

As she prepares for her upcoming Australian headlining tour, the opportunity acts as an exciting new chapter, offering her the chance to connect with her fans on an even deeper level and bring her music to life in new and exciting ways. LaRosa expresses what she’s most looking forward to experiencing and what this tour means to her, telling us, "I am just excited to be able to see the faces that listen to my music and support me every day. It’s an honor to be able to play these shows and I am in disbelief that people actually want to come sometimes [laughs]. I just want to give them everything and more that they want."

In terms of her impact and artistic legacy that’s guaranteed to follow, LaRosa ultimately hopes that her music will continue to resonate with listeners – as long as it's organic. “I want my music to be associated with whatever the listener wants to associate it with.” LaRosa explains, “I write my songs from a certain place, but I want my fans to be able to put the music in whatever place they want to. I just want people to feel heard and understood and loved.”  

Drawing from her own experiences as a young, passion-driven artist breaking into a complex, often unpredictable industry, LaRosa then offers valuable advice to aspiring artists looking to make their own mark in the music industry.

The singer-songwriter notes, “Just keep going. Never stop trying because so much of it is consistency. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things because I never would’ve found what feels like me if I hadn’t just gone for it. It sounds cliché but just be yourself don’t try to do what everybody else is doing.” And considering that LaRosa has masterfully forged a sound that speaks to the heart and soul of her generation — it’s clearly advice worth following.