Isabelle Fries
Hometown: Denver, CO
Formed: 2019
Latest Release: “Just a Dreamer” (Single), Street Lamp Records, Sep. 12, 2021
Pronouns: She/Her
About: Isabelle Fries’ might just stir up emotions you never knew you had. With her dynamic delivery, soulful intonation, and eloquent songcraft, the Australia-born and Denver-based singer, songwriter, humanitarian, and activist approaches pop with jazz fluidity and alternative edge. After independently amassing over 2 million streams and 1 million YouTube views and receiving acclaim from Perez Hilton, 303 Magazine, 5280 Magazine, Bongmines Entertainment, TuneCore’s New Music Friday, and more, she continues to inspire listeners to emote on a series of 2021 singles.
“Music makes you feel things you didn’t think you could,” she affirms. “A song will resonate with everyone in a different way, but it will evoke something. Personally, I need it to be a release and a reminder I can feel—and that’s not something to be ashamed of. Coming from that place, I’ll always do music just because I love it.”
She developed this love for music as a kid. Relocating from Australia to the United States, her family settled in Colorado. By four-years-old, she absorbed her parents’ passion for classic rock. She listened to Kelly Clarkson daily on her personal boombox before eventually embracing Prince, The Lumineers, The Head and The Heart, The Beatles, Queen, Amy Winehouse, and her “favorite artist of all time” Elton John. At seven-years-old, she took voice lessons (she has the same vocal teacher to this day!) and “never stopped singing” from that point forward. In addition to performing in school choir and at dinner parties or charity events, she honed her voice by singing in the car at full tilt to “Let It Be,” “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” or “Take Me Home, Country Roads” (which she even has a tattoo of!).
“Driving is a big escape for me,” she goes on. “When I was in high school, I would know exactly what song I needed at the moment and just blast it. That’s how I know if I love the song to this day.”
Along the way, she excelled in the pool, becoming a five-time swimming state champion and breaking dozens of records. Plus, she was certified with Michael Phelps Foundation as part of their IM training and water safety program which is implemented in Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
While attending University of Southern California, she studied voice under Adriana Baltic—a renowned backup vocalist and keyboardist for the likes of P!NK. Most importantly, she began working with GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum producer and mixer Rob Chiarelli and co-writers The Highfields and Seth Baer on various singles. “Spinning” amassed over 180K Spotify streams, while “Every Time” generated 203K-plus Spotify streams. She contributed “Winter Days” as the title track to the Hallmark Channel film A Royal Winter and even opened for country superstar Eric Church. Plus, she garnered two honors at the Hollywood Music Awards, including “Best Holiday Song” and “Best Female Vocal.” She managed to also star in 38 theater productions and eventually appeared as the lead in A Child’s Christmas In Whales and the A Child’s Christmas In Whales-Revival with award-winning actor William Youmans and in The Wild Hunt written and directed by iconic star Bill Pullman. At school, she not only honed her voice, but also achieved a minor in Spanish and a second minor in Non-Profit Humanitarianism and Philanthropy.
Upon graduating from USC, she returned to Denver and began teaching middle school in between releasing new material. Her 2021 single “Shine Through The Rain” represents another evolution vocally and lyrically. Over strains of tense piano, her vocals reverberate with raw power straight from the heart. Perez Hilton described it as “strong and commanding” and went so far as to claim, “Isabelle has inspired us.”
“It’s an authentic representation of who I am,” she admits of the song. “It’s more personal to me. It’s about how my life is a constant balancing act. I have horrible phases where it’s like I’m running in circles or running in place, and I can’t stop just going through the motions. You can pull yourself out of it though. That’s the message. It comes down to perseverance and a dedication to yourself.”
By the same token, she wholeheartedly devotes herself to much bigger causes. After her first trip to Uganda to volunteer for the Global Livingston Institute at 15-years-old, she launched the Bulamu Raise Your Voice Community Foundation, which introduces curriculums (not only academic but also sports and music) to Ugandan schools, spearheads recycling programs, and teaches water safety. Since drowning remains the #1 cause of death in Lake Bunyoni, she taught kids and grownups swimming working specifically with the adults to maintain the lessons and reduce the number of drowning fatalities. Working with Global Livingston Institute in an effort to raise awareness for HIV and AIDS prevention as an ambassador and board member, she also graced the stage of their annual iKnow Concert Series alongside Stelth Ulvang of The Lumineers. At the event, which 30,000 attended, thousands of attendees received HIV testing and medical care.
In the end, Isabelle empowers everyone to feel with everything she does.
“I’m someone who is very vulnerable and full of emotions,” she leaves off. “I try to put my energy towards things that are larger than myself. I’m a humanitarian, educator, and a musician. When you listen to me, I hope you can get whatever you need out of my music.”
Musicians That Inspire: Prince, Amy Winehouse, The Lumineers, The Head and The Heart, Queen, and her “favorite artist of all time” Elton John
What’s next? Isabelle looks forward to performing live with her band again, but will be taking a short break from recording to focus on her non-profit and humanitarian work.
Website: www.isabelle-fries.com
Get Social: Instagram, Facebook
