Today we’d like to introduce you to Isa Machado.
Hi Isa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
All my life, I have always been magnetized to music. I was always the kid picked to sing during school events, and showcases, but it wasn’t until I was 12 when I finally picked up a guitar and taught myself how to play. As soon as my skills were good enough, I began writing original music. Utilizing it as an outlet. It became a passion very quickly, and even though I have circled through an infinity of hobbies, music has been the only one that has really all throughout stuck. Converting it into more than a hobby for me.
My first time in a band was when I was 15 years old. Some friends and I formed a band called “Parental Attention” and played songs that I had been written. It was my first time sharing my music with other people and the fact they liked it meant a lot to me. We played a few shows but eventually the band split. I remember our drummer selling his drum set to get a road bike was the point where we all knew it was over.
I kept making music.
While in lockdown, at age 16, I remember rounding up all my money to get FL studio and taught myself how to plot down my compositions, and record demos of the songs i was writing. Leading me to learn production tools and inspiring me to study audio engineering in college. I ended taking a gap year after graduating high school and all I did during it was work, party, and obviously keeping the habit of making music; dreaming of eventually making a living out of it.
Eventually my gap year ended, and I moved from Villahermosa, Tabasco, in Mexico, to Houston, Texas, so I could study audio engineering. Probably 6 months from moving into the city I made some musician friends who I began a 3 piece band, (R.I.P. Inercia) in which I began playing bass in as my main instrument; and I was also the lead singer. I remember making a conscious decision, wanting to challenge myself to be both a bassist and a singer.
In the amidst of playing shows around the Houston area, I joined another band called “Bone Creature” where at first I was only the bassist but later then proceeded to also be a bassist/lead singer. I got to know the music scene, and venues available for locals bands to perform at, something not very available to me in the town I grew up in. It was such a culture that lacked in my hometown.
Eventually that three piece band turned into my current project “isa”. I was aching for the need to make my own music and let my own sound and voice be heard. Every time we play an “isa show”, no matter how big the crowd is or how terrible the sound of the venue is, I feel like my soul can breathe.
Additionally! Earlier this year I joined a band called Psychedelic Maggot Engine, and decided to leave Bone Creature to focus on my solo project.
This is where I am right now!
I have dropped a couple singles under my name and still playing shows every weekend in Texas. Not just Houston anymore!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
NO! The path of an artist is… dramatic and silly (for the lack of a better word). Definitely one of the challenges for me and many of my artist friends of the world is the ability to balance things; work, personal life, shows, family, romance, finances, art… It takes a long time to learn the skill, and honestly I believe there is no such way to balance everything out. I find myself always rotating which aspect is neglected. My friend and bandmate, Asael Gallardom, once said “I feel like my life drifts me away from my life.” I also would say there aren’t enough hours in a day to do everything i want to do, I need my days to be 30 hour-long and to not have “mortal duties” like eating, sleeping, resting, doing chores, etc… That would fix a lot of my struggles. Ah, and not having The Capital Mortal Duty of imperatively needing to have a job to keep up with the great cost of, modern survival.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I do audio engineering and AV tech as my bill paying job, and I am incredibly grateful that I get to do something I love for remuneration. But my true calling is being a musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer and philosopher.
I am most proud of my music. The response people have to my songs and how they reach out to me saying what my songs have meant to them is surreal and inspiring because; I make music for myself, because it calls me, and having people connect to it is like we are tuned alike. Call it a cosmos. I am also proud of playing shows so often, it is such a privilege.
What I think sets me apart from others is my sound. Me, myself, and other people, have expressed that they can’t pinpoint my music to a specific genre. Always have been told my music sounds different and interesting, in a good way I want to think, and i am really proud of that, as I am adventuring to create my own sound. I don’t want to sound like anyone else, that’s boring.
How do you think about happiness?
Redundantly, music makes me happy. It speaks to me on so many levels, it is not limited to melodies and arrangements but the complete painting of it excites me and fulfills me. Sometimes, I wake up feeling like a bug, and all i need to do is play instruments and, or, sing for 10 minutes and it lights up my day. Makes me feel like I am born to do this. Funny addition to strengthen my thesis, I mentioned to one of my exes that if I ever was gonna marry anyone, I would marry music. And she was absolutely pissed that I was not joking…
Other things that make me happy are my friendships and human interaction. I love talking to people and love hanging out with my friends, i love seeing what others are up to and love collaboration. Most of my friends are artists, and it brings me so much joy to hear them talk about their interests and ambitions and inspires me to grow alongside them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://isasaurusrex.my.canva.site/your-paragraph-text
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wav.isa
- Other: https://hyperfollow.com/wavisa
Image Credits
Daniel Dioxide
