isobel – scarlet

Today, Michigan’s isobel announces her debut album scarlet due December 4th.

Across the album isobel explores the contradictions of growing up through the lens of a character, scarlet, who is, in many ways, a reflection of herself. Chronologically unfolding from spring to winter, the record captures a period of personal and creative maturation, weaving together raw, relatable songwriting with found sounds, childhood recordings, and fragments of everyday life that blur the lines between memory and fiction.

Alongside the announcement, isobel shares a new single, “sober sally.”

Anchored by an intoxicating groove, the track steadily unfolds into a sweeping, emotionally charged crescendo before landing on a final, unguarded confession: “I think I’m just confused because I’m terrified of falling hard for you, ouch.” The song comes alongside a music video that showcases isobel wandering New York’s subways, bodegas and skate parks and features an appearance from kidlucky who is also featured as a vocalist on the track.

The new single follows previous track “carmen,” that came alongside a video featuring isobel in the woods of her hometown, as well as isobel’s string of debut singles including, “limn” and “undercover,” the later a catchy ode to the early, sweet feelings of falling in love.

isobel wrote scarlet alongside a community of friends and collaborators she first met on Discord, none of whom met in person until the record was finished. She co-produced the project alongside frequent collaborator kidlucky, building the framework out of her bedroom. What began as a way to share demos, stories, and poems quickly evolved into an organic, self-built ecosystem. Through her Discord community and interactive website, she fostered a safe, inclusive digital haven, cultivating a bespoke universe around her music. The album’s homespun textures and carefully collected sounds mirror that process, bringing together disparate voices, memories, and environments into a singular world.

Growing up in the Midwest, a world around music was practically predestined for isobel, whose parents named her after a Björk song. From her mom and dad, she absorbed a myriad of influences, listening to everything from opera to Chinese indie rock. Her Chinese heritage also finds a place on scarlet, featuring sections sung in Mandarin.

#isobelvankuiken