Alex Isley is an American singer-songwriter and producer from New Jersey. Her family background is rooted in music: her father is Ernie Isley, and her uncles are members of the soul group The Isley Brothers.

Early life and training

Isley starts performing at a young age, moving from singing in the living room to elementary school talent shows. She studies classical voice and, at 12, attends the LA County High School for the Arts. There she develops a strong interest in jazz as both a listener and performer. She also studies jazz at UCLA as a Jazz Studies major, where she is influenced by singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Kurt Elling.

Songwriting and releases

While at college, Isley begins writing songs based on her own experiences and those of friends and family. She writes most of the material for her self-written and self-produced debut EP, The Love/Art Memoirs, which is released in 2012. More than a year later she follows it with the album Dreams in Analog, which includes the track “About Him”.

Her second album, L U X U R Y, appears in December 2015 and includes a single guest appearance from Kenyon Dixon. In 2018 and 2019 she releases the two parts of The Beauty of Everything EP series, featuring “Love On-Demand”, a duet with SiR, and “Road to You”.

Collaborations

In November 2019, Isley works with producer Jack Dine on the EP Wilton. Their collaboration continues with the singles “Gone” and “Good & Plenty”, with the latter later receiving a remix featuring Masego and Lucky Daye. She also releases “Still Wonder” with Dine and jazz musician Robert Glasper.

Style and label

Isley works in contemporary R&B and R&B, with a background that also connects her to soul and jazz. She is associated with Free Lunch Records.