Nicolita Bradley
The Opener is The FADER’s short-form profile series of casual conversations with exciting new artists.
One listen to Sofia Isella‘s popular song “The Doll People” — which contains the lyric “We are paintings with legs / We are art you can fuck” over plush piano — and you can immediately see the kind of musical lineage of which she’s following in the footsteps. Courtney Love belting “Doll Parts” in 1994, most obviously. But also Fiona Apple singing about being a criminal in 1997; Sylvia Plath journaling about the “tragedy” of being born a woman; and Anne Sexton crafting her ode to “her kind”.
Isella is only 20 but her songs seethe and simmer with an old and familiar type of feminine anger. Tracks like “Everybody Supports Women” and “Hot Gum” have received a rapt audience on TikTok and jettisoned the Los Angeles native in front of sold-out crowds across the U.S. and into opening slots for superstars like Taylor Swift and Halsey.
On December 3, Isella released her newest song “Above The Neck,” a grimy, post-punk track built around calm spoken-word verses that belie its undercurrent of fury. “You think your penis is very important but if something’s dirty after you touch it / the problem is your hands, dipshit, cut it off,” she monotones, and it’s hard not to listen and feel pulled to go deeper into her web. Next year, Isella will open for Florence + The Machine. Before then, get to know the singer by hearing her thoughts on boredom, being political in her music, and more, below.
Where did you grow up? If someone was visiting your hometown, where would you recommend they visit?
I grew up in Los Angeles, but I lived all over the world because we traveled so much . I love anywhere in LA where you can see the whole city at night .
What’s a song that you’d want to cover and why?
Bleed the Freak. Love that song .
Nicolita Bradley
Describe the best show you’ve played this year so far.
Montréal was such an incredible crowd that for the first time, I felt like it was hard to keep up with their energy . They really pushed me . I love that .
Nicolita Bradley
What’s your favorite song to play live right now and why?
An unreleased song called Above the Neck . Because I take my pants off . That song is coming soon .
Nicolita Bradley
Nicolita Bradley
What’s a motto that you think everyone should live by?
Be bored . Boredom has given me creativity and it’s a fight to be bored in this world .
What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t be political . I was told early on to not divide my audience .
Nicolita Bradley
Nicolita Bradley
Explain a lyric of yours that you think people don’t really get.
“I get away with so much shit cause you think I’m hot .” People let people get away with so much shit if they want to hump their leg .
What’s the best thing you’ve bought yourself recently and why?
Books . I was in the bookstore and I overheard someone behind me saying very loudly “Is that Sofia ? Isella ? Could be . Maybe not .” I’m not sure if they wanted me to confirm . I’m currently reading The Martian .
Nicolita Bradley
What was the last creative idea you had that made you ask, ‘Can we do that’?
Taking my pants off .
Forward us the last meme that made you laugh.
It’s not a meme but it’s a video of cats running around a bedroom and using their sleeping owner as a parkour obstacle course .
Nicolita Bradley
