Meet Issy | Singer & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Issy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Issy, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since I was a little kid, I always knew I wanted to inspire others. As a person of color, finding spaces where I can share my thoughts and ideas is sometimes difficult. Music was where I finally felt I could share anything I wanted and people would listen. When I realized that music gave unifying and interactive experiences to those who would listen, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue. I use my music to inspire others and to have people feel emotions that they might be too scared to address out loud. I want to inspire others to change what the status quo is. Whether I’m covering a song of another artist or making one for my band, I try to make my sound as authentic as possible so that it can inspire others to think outside the box. That is why I love doing what I do. In the same way that the artists I look up to like Jazmine Sulivan or Sam Fischer have inspired me through their revolutionizing sounds and music styles, I hope I can do that for others. As I do that, I hope that people can also learn something about themselves. Writing songs has taught me a lot about myself; the ways that I cope with trauma and the manners in which I celebrate success. Music is a reflective journey, one that I hope I can take people along with me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When I make music, I try to write songs that take a piece from every genre of music. You will hear some rock, some pop, some R&B, and some folk because these are genres that I grew up singing and learning from. I like to cater my music to everyone, not just one specific audience. So, I’m excited for others to listen to my music, and pull what they find is most meaningful to them. To get to this point of authenticity, however, was challenging. I feel like most of my life I faced a neverending identity crisis. I was always told who to be, what music to sing, and what clothes to wear. It wasn’t until this past year that I felt like I could be myself without a care in the world about what other people thought. Professionally, at least, it took journaling, songwriting, and family and friend support to help push me to be unconditionally me. Songwriting was my outlet, even if it wasn’t songs that I’d ever release or suggest to my band. It was a way for me to express myself without the consideration of others. Which taught me a lesson. You can have all the support in the world to help you face your battles, but the one person you need the most support from is yourself. In my adolescence especially, people around me forced their own goals onto me, to the point where I didn’t know what my genuine goals were. It was hard growing up in an environment where, although I had a support system, I never used it in the way I wanted to. When people hear my craft, they will know about my journey in search of my identity. And, hopefully, through my music, people can journey to find themselves as well. That is my brand. That is my story – a journey.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being born and raised in Chicago, IL, let’s just say I have all the niche and quirky spots reserved for any of my friends who want to visit. For all of you Chicago locals, I’m not talking about the ledges next to our Chicago beaches. I’m talking about the underground hidden gems located throughout the city. We’d first start our time in Chicago at the Book Cellar. One of my favorite spots in the city. In this cozy cafe, we can listen to author readings, choose from a wide selection of books, and have a good time. Reading is a big hobby of mine, especially reading historical fiction. It is my safe space to escape reality, and what better than to do it than with friends? Being also a huge foodie myself, I would take my friend on a hunt for the best deep-dish pizza Chicago can offer – Burt’s Place. With quality ingredients, I always walk out of Burt’s place high on life. I end up sticking around for hours on end, trying the different pizzas founder Katz had to offer. One of my other favorite places to hang out with my friends is Hungry Brain. Music is obviously a huge part of my identity, one that I share with most of my friends. With live music and low lighting, the ambiance of the room makes for an intimate experience with those either performing spoken word or original music. My favorite day to go would definitely be Sunday because their live jazz performances are insane. Sometime during the week, I would have to play an escape room. I like the puzzling experiences that I get from there. It’s a fun, eccentric, mind-boggling adventure that I never get bored of. It’s also such a bonding experience, realizing how you and those around you work under pressure. So, although escape rooms are pretty well known, I don’t think people value them enough. Last but not least, I would HAVE to take my friend to Immersive Gamebox in Oakbrook. It is always such a good time, to mess around with silly games that challenge people more than they would think. Again, it’s one of the places where I spend hours relaxing, laughing, and testing my mental abilities. All in all, if any friends come to visit me at home, we have to play games, read, listen to music, and eat – a lot.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family. There is not a single group of people in my life that has supported me through the many obstacles I have faced the way my family has. Without them, I would not be standing where I am today. I would not have had the resilience to keep pursuing what I love if they weren’t cheering for me anytime they could. Any song I write, they are the first to blast it in their cars. Any accomplishment I have, they are the first to take me out and recognize my successes. And, when I fail, they are the first to hear me out and comfort me when I need it. My Pops and my Mama are two incredible beings whom I am so grateful to have every day in my life. And to my four siblings, who give me unconditional love and support, thank you for keeping me ambitious and motivated to succeed. So to the most important people in my life, thank you, for everything.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/issyvibes/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/issy-saadeh-701323207/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Boutlastnightofficial

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@issyvibing?lang=en