Isabelle Perfall On the Making Of ‘Atmosphere’
What was the creative process like for this particular EP?
I find myself being continuously inspired by the great city that I live in, often jotting down lyrics and recording voice memos on the subway or walking in Central Park. Because of this, I always have lots of content to work with and pulled from much of that when composing these three songs. I wrote the focus track, “Atmosphere,” in July 2023 and recorded it almost exactly a year later. From the time of its conception to the day I recorded it, I watched it transform many times, going from a song that was filled with longing and pain to one that is now teeming with fulfillment and joy. The other two songs were more recent but also went through extremely long and winding creative processes. What I love most about all three songs is how they represent different moments in my life because they were written over such vast periods. These songs continue to teach me a vital lesson – that hurt and regret can coexist with happiness and acceptance.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for 'Atmosphere?'
One of the greatest breakthrough moments during the creative process for “Atmosphere” was hearing my songs performed with other instruments, percussion, background vocals, and harmonies. Because the piano is my primary instrument, and the instrument that I choose to use when composing my music, I get used to hearing my songs solely accompanied by the piano. On my first day in the studio to record “Atmosphere,” I heard the song with bass, percussion, and harmonies that I had recorded over my main vocals, for the first time. It was so incredibly eye-opening and invigorating to hear my music the way I had always imagined it to sound in my head. A similar thing happened when recording, “Close My Eyes,” which I realized quickly was in desperate need of strings to fully evoke the nostalgic feeling I was intending. Hearing my compositions turn from melodies sung on top of piano chords to complete, complex, and well-rounded songs was a feeling I’ll never forget.
Which song do you like the best and why?
I don’t have a favorite song on “Atmosphere” because they all mean such different things to me. But I am particularly proud of “Close My Eyes” for a multitude of reasons. I love the moment the chorus crescendoes and my vocals hit their strongest point yet – it feels so true to the song’s intended themes of memory, nostalgia, and gratitude. When I wrote this song I had many questions about my future, which prompted me to think a lot about my past. I started thinking about all of the people who held me up during my most unsteady moments, along with those who have inspired me and given me the freedom to be myself. I was so unbelievably inspired while writing “Close My Eyes” that it turned out to be the song on the EP that I spent the least time writing; I composed this song in one afternoon.
Can you recall a specific moment or experience that pushed you to pursue music?
When I was 11, I wrote my first real song, inspired by the pain I was feeling in the wake of my great-aunt's passing. At that moment, I turned to music as my most trusted source of support and outlet for my many feelings surrounding her death. I’ll never forget the feeling of performing the song I had written for her, “Unforgotten,” for my family. The feeling that something that I had created, this original song, was comforting my grieving parents was an undescribable feeling – it felt like music had given me wings. I knew how much I adored music before that day, but from that moment on, I felt a pronounced longing for music to be the largest part of my life and what I would try my hardest to pursue. Ever since writing that song, at 11, I have continued to make music for the same purposes – storytelling, uniting, and healing.
Can you describe the first live performance you ever gave? How did it feel?
I have been performing live since I was very young. This has consisted of acting as a variety of characters in music theatre productions, playing the piano in recitals for my family and friends, and singing both my own compositions, and covers, for hundreds of people. While it would be difficult for me to recall my first-ever live performance, I do remember a moment in middle school when I realized that singing, playing, and acting live was a powerful and healing tool I could rely on for the rest of my life. Of course, like most people, I experience nerves before stepping on stage or taking a seat on the piano bench. However, the minute I begin to play, or the lyrics come pouring out, I don’t feel nervous; in fact, I don’t really feel anything. That’s the beauty of live performance for me: the clear, settled mind that I struggle to accomplish from doing virtually anything else.
