As the progeny of Ernie Isley — a key songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of The Isley Brothers, perhaps the most prolific soul group of all time — Alex Isley knows a thing or two about sensuality and intimacy. With her self-penned, Camper-produced new single “Hands,” the two-time Grammy-nominated R&B singer seeks to enter a new era marked by fresh sonics, fearlessly self-assured narratives — and a new home at Free Lunch Records.
As announced earlier this month (Feb. 19), Warner Records entered a strategic partnership with veteran hip-hop/R&B executive Tim Hinshaw, expanding his Free Lunch Agency creative and tour company into a record label. With Isley and Syd — the Grammy-nominated R&B songwriter of The Internet fame – as the first signees, Warner artists will be able to access and leverage Free Lunch’s creative, touring and sync services. “I talked to a few labels, but with Warner, it was [about] the synergy and the timing,” Isley says. “I’m a firm believer in God’s timing. In talking with [Free Lunch Records general manager] Ericka Coulter and getting to know her and the Warner team, everything aligned.”
On Friday (Feb. 28), Isley unleashed the first taste of her forthcoming new era: “Hands.” Written “almost exactly a year ago,” “Hands” finds Isley building on the tender sensuality of tracks like last year’s Terrace Martin-assisted “2 Step in the Living Room,” infusing Camper’s earthy, bass-driven soundscape with a tasteful vocal performance showcasing her buttery falsetto and effortless melisma.
“I wasn’t necessarily expecting to start and finish a record that night with Camper, but that’s just how it happened,” Isley tells Billboard with a slight chuckle. “I wanted to create something moody and leaned more into my sensual side.”
Mood sensuality is also the guiding light for the “Hands” music video. Directed by City James and starring One of Them Days breakout star Patrick Cage II, the “Hands” music video casts Isley as an alluring vixen, expertly building up unmistakably carnal tension without feeling excessive or unnatural. To color her version of sensuality, Isley called upon her synesthesia – a condition that allows her to correlate colors with certain keys or chords. “This particular song evokes warm oranges, gold, and yellow tones,” explains Isley of her “Hands” mood board. “It’s also a bit moodier, almost like sunset tones. I wanted to paint with that color palette as much as possible.”
“Hands” previews Isley’s forthcoming album, one that Coulter calls “a true story you gotta read from start to finish. In addition to Camper, Isley also tapped Grammy-winning DJ and producer Kaytranada, longtime collaborator Jack Dine and producer Oh Gosh Leotus, who helped capture the sonic essence of Los Angeles. Though she was born in New Jersey, Isley has lived in L.A. for the vast majority of her life, and she hopes her new music is reflective of the unwavering community and togetherness the City of Angels displayed in the wake of January’s devastating fires.
“I’m not sure if I was aware of how resilient the city is because we’ve never seen anything like these fires,” remarks Isley. “Being able to see and feel that in January was heavy but also very inspiring. It made me want to be even more intentional with my music and how I share it. It just means that much more to me to be able to share the music at this time.”
Stream “Hands” below.
