Today, Isabella Manfredi has ushered in a new era, one that is entirely her own. Always a leading lady - once of The Preatures - now of her own sound, Manfredi is going solo, and her debut track Jealousy tells us all we need to know about the direction Manfredi is headed.
It is music like herself, captivating 70s rock and soul interlaced with new wave pop and silky bass lines that energetically march along to her voice, that voice, the one we fell in love with attached to the choppy jet-black mop on stage, now softened, full, ready to step into her power. After spending the last two years writing, collaborating, and recording in some of the worlds most creatively-charged cities in anticipation for her forthcoming debut album, it was her hometown of Sydney where Manfredi conceived Jealousy alongside collaborator and co-producer, Chris Collins.
"Jealousy’ was the very first song I wrote in London with producers Rich Cooper and Johnny Latimer (though there was a brief stint in Berlin with Anton Newcombe – another story)." Manfredi said in a press release. "I did the demo vocals in one or two takes and they are what you hear on the record. It was one of those essential and immediate co-writing experiences where I couldn’t tell where I ended and the others began, and I’m truly grateful to both Johnny and Rich, masters of their craft, for helping me shape the shock and anger I was feeling that day into a lean, mean pop song."
It seems Isabella Manfredi has got her groove back, all with the birth of her first child very much on the way - a sentiment Manfredi leant into for Jealousy's music video, directed by Byron Spencer.
"I was pretty pregnant by the time we got to conceiving a video for Jealousy, and the two things already felt so incongruent and ludicrous - a song about an unfaithful, embittered ex, meanwhile I'm happily committed and pregnant and moving on with my life!" Manfredi said. "I loved the idea of flipping the concept to be about creative - even energetic - jealousy. I'm bigger, I'm fuller, I'm making life, I'm making pasta, I'm selling you the dream, I'm in my element. Meanwhile this 'Wake in Fright' type male fan is becoming obsessed with my baby belly. It's just so funny. Byron and I have known each other for years and it was my absolute dream to work with him on this with an amazing team."
At the beginning of newness and full on heaping spoons of optimism, Manfredi's electrifying presence is about to hit us at maximum speed, and we can hardly wait.
Watch the video for Jealousy, below.
