By Zion McDowell ‘24
Marigold is a rare album in this day and age, because every song on it is melodious. From attending the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts at the age of 12 to being a Jazz Studies major at UCLA, under-appreciated singer/songwriter, Alex Isley, has more than enough knowledge for her to write such a masterpiece. It’s also produced by Jack Dine, who also has some backup vocals within her songs. The talent of music runs within her family going back to the Isley Brothers, consisting of her father, Ernie Isley, and her two uncles, Ronald and Rudolph Isley. She began writing her songs in college, which were based on not just her own personal experiences, but her family and friends as well. R&B/Soul is written all over this album, which is a music genre that millions of people loved back then and still love today.
The cover art of the album is appealing with the color sunburnt orange. The font color stating the title, Marigold, is the same sunburnt orange and it has a Marigold almost taking up the whole cover just below it. It was photographed by Jordan Pories, who has also designed and put together other simple but stunning pieces for Isley and Dine. Isley saw an episode of Grey’s Anatomy and one of the characters was explaining the symbolism of marigolds and how they represent celebration and joy, and she liked the contrast and the meaning of the flower which she saw fitting for the album. The musical pair had begun working on the album back in June of 2020, and even though everyone had to stay safe inside, they worked within the same area. She wanted to let things flow naturally when it came to how the album was going to be built, so it came out two years later in March of 2022.
People’s reaction towards this album has been more than welcoming, and that was just the beginning of it. Some people found some songs surprising then were moved by the next one. The main theme catches up with people in the third song titled, ‘Love Again.’ Some songs go from being about how you never knew a love so rewarding while experiencing that unconditional love, to showing the honesty and sincerity that comes with it as well.
I could write about how all of the songs have their own unique spot in my musical heart. “Such A Thing” was one that stuck out to me with its chill but catchy beat, and Isley’s harmonies especially when she repeats the lyrics, “So beautiful/wonderful.” She never imagined ‘such a thing,’ and that thing is love. It wasn’t expected nor was it part of her plan as she goes to say “Just one year ago/You couldn’t have told me/That this was a part of my plan.” When she was still finding herself, she found someone who loved her equally as she loved herself without looking for it. Finding someone, unexpectedly falling in love with them, and getting that feeling of being able to love again would be the description for the titled “Love Again,” which is the third track on the album. “Paper faith and I landed on my feet/Up in the air but so easy to breathe” is one of the lines that I kept thinking about and not just because it’s relatable.
She talks about the topic of vulnerability and uncertainty that comes in a relationship that is needed to build and maintain it, as well as getting a fresh start at love without knowing it with the lyrics, “Reset on my heart and a brand new slate.” We get another soft guitar beat in the beginning of ‘“Under The Moon” and it sounds like its echoing which gives you a comfortable and warm feeling. The idea of trusting your gut is what I get from this song along with longing for someone and getting that butterfly feeling in your stomach. “I’m under the moon/Hoping I’ll get over to you,” she says in this thoughtful piece, and it reminds me of when people tell someone that they’ll always be waiting for them no matter what.
What I get from the album is that there’s a lot of different aspects of love such as understanding, affection, vulnerability, emotional connection, care and more. The theme of love is present in every song and even if you haven’t experienced what she went through, it’s like we’re in her shoes with the way that she describes it. Love brings so much happiness and growth, and it’s like discovering a whole new world with that special someone. “Without” is the sixth track on the album and it explores the feelings of longing and dependency, by trying to paint the picture of not being able to imagine a life without your person. “Jumped right out of a plane without a parachute/Nothing beats the view or the thought of you.” This song for me was written more about new experiences with the different sides of love, while capturing the essence of it.
“Square Zero” has the meaning in the title of it. It’s about a relationship that is starting from scratch, it’s going back to square one or even less, square zero. The relationship has been stuck at square zero, and no changes are being made so it’s difficult for the lovers to continue on. “On & On” has the singer bringing up their past relationships because of the lingering effects that they had on them. Their thoughts are being consumed by this haunting past. “Too Bad I Forget” brings up the subject of heartbreak and it is easy to forget about how bad it was even though it varies from person to person. Learning from old mistakes is what this song could also be about, just so the singer can or event that kind of heartbreak again. Wondering about what could’ve been is what “Still Wonder” is about which is the second to last track on the album, and it’s just something that’s maybe better left in the past. “Over and over, just like before/I need something more/More than the memory,” is one of a line from the last song on the track titled “105.” We’re shown the desires that the singer has and they reflect on breaking away from old habits within a relationship.
Alex Isley has such a captivating voice as well as discography. Her music has a way of touching people’s hearts and I’m one of those people and I truly do not wish to look back. Even though I haven’t been through most of what she has written about in her songs, it still resonates with me somehow. It’s like I’m really being put into her shoes. From songs of reflection like “Square Zero” and “On & On,” to songs about experiencing an unforgettable kind of love in “Love Again” and “Such A Thing.”I truly recommend this artist to anyone because even if you don’t like the genre of R&B/Soul, this album might change your mind. I give it a solid 8.5/10.