EP Review: When (EP) by Alex Isley
Alex Isley steps out of her comfort zone and delivers some of her best material on the major-label debut EP with Camper, Jack Dine, KAYTRANADA, Oh Gosh Leotus, and others on the board.
Alex Isley carries a rich musical heritage as the daughter of Ernie Isley from the iconic Isley Brothers. Raised in an environment steeped in soul and R&B, she began classical vocal training at age 12 and later pursued jazz studies at UCLA. These formative years shaped her distinctive sound, blending R&B with elements of hip-hop and jazz. Her career took flight with the 2012 release of her self-produced debut EP, The Love/Art Memoirs. With Okayplayer and others highlighting its fresh appeal, die-hard R&B fans lauded her smooth vocals and thoughtful production. Isley soon expanded her reach through collaborations with artists and producers, including Rapsody, Tank, Brandon Williams, Kenyon Dixon, and more. In 2019, she teamed up with producer Jack Dine for the EP Wilton, delivering intimate, soulful tracks.
The 2020 single “Good & Plenty,” created with Jack Dine and Masego, gained widespread acclaim, followed by an underrated remix featuring Lucky Daye in 2021. These releases, including her 2022 project, Marigold, solidified her reputation in the contemporary R&B scene. Isley’s growth has accelerated in recent years. Her 2023 album with Terrace Martin, I Left My Heart in Ladera, debuted at number two on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and number 22 on the Jazz Albums list, marking her first chart appearance. Her feature on Robert Glasper’s “Back to Love” earned two Grammy nominations, underscoring her rising prominence. These milestones reflect her ability to merge her roots with bold, forward-thinking music.
Now, Alex Isley is here with her major label debut under Free Lunch (more on that later)/Warner Records EP, When. Released as the lead single, “Hands” is a dreamy, intimate love song celebrating the power of touch and connection. Produced by Camper, the track features a bass-driven soundscape paired with raw electric guitar, creating a fresh yet familiar backdrop for Isley’s buttery falsetto and effortless melisma. Also produced by Camper, “Ms. Goody Two Shoes” features soft acoustic elements and swooning harmonies, crafting a sultry, intimate atmosphere. She explores the duality of projecting a polished, “good girl” image to the world while embracing a more fearless, sensual side in private. Isley ties this track to her past work by referencing her 2020 song “Good & Plenty,” with lines like, “I ain’t pull those ‘Good & Plenty’ lyrics out thin air/Come and feel my inspiration, way too good to share.”
This EP is damn-near flawless: “Mic On” has her two-stepping over KAYTRANADA’s uptempo groove that has the potential to be R&B’s song of the summer this year (just like Jai’Len Josey’s “New Girl” and Destin Conrad’s “Kissing In Public”). The other tracks feature “Holding On” that rekindles the flame with Jack Dine while singing in falsetto about the internal struggle of holding onto a relationship that may no longer be beneficial over a piano, “Fool’s Gold” is enriched by its inquiry of dreams and ambitions juxtaposed with the reality of unfulfilled expectations (“A handful of fools gold, I can’t do nothing with it”) and “Thank You for a Lovely Time” tackles love and longing with a sense of vulnerability and introspection, as the she grapples with unrequited affection, acknowledging the fleeting moments of happiness, despite the underlying heartache. The gifted Oh Gosh Leotus produces the last two songs.
Tim Hinshaw (ex‑Amazon Music, culture strategist) expanded his creative Free Lunch Agency into a label via a joint venture with Warner Records two months ago. A&R veteran Ericka Coulter now serves as GM, giving Isley (alongside Syd) the muscle of a major while keeping the boutique, artist‑first ethos that drew her to the deal. The signing positions Isley as a flagship voice for Free Lunch’s R&B wing, and Warner’s press materials tout her “lush, soulful explorations of longing” as a template for the imprint’s focus. When gathers six songs that circle patience, intimacy, and the quiet power of timing. Stylistically, on the surface, early listens point to airy guitar textures, roomy drums, and Isley’s trademark stacked vocals; however, it’s a beautifully crafted appetizer that captures the nuanced emotions of love’s uncertainties.
Favorite Track(s): “Mic On,” “Ms. Goody Two Shoes,” “Thank You for a Lovely Time”