How did I stumble upon Isaiah Flowers, @isaiahflowers99 because I do remember having his music in the local rotation for UTRGV Radio along with others. I remember the first song I listened to was "Can U Please Stay" and I went through his other work as well. I learned more about Isaiah from friends that spoke about his music such as Jackie, @jackieeperazaa when I first started digging through his work and I just really connected to music. It was one of those moments where someone described what I felt or what I was going through with their music, but here within the community. From songs such as "southsideboy" to "jansport" and even within the new album. Hitting a personal level with Isaiah as he goes through experimentation breaking his own boundaries as compared to his "Take me back" album which certainly shows his growth. One of this week's feature is Isaiah Flowers, @isaiahflowers99.
We start of with what Isaiah has been enjoying as of recently "Going to the movies, hanging out with friends, going to the movies with friends, pretty much going to the movies. The beach is nice also." I haven't gone to the beach or especially the movies in the longest time, but maybe one day. He continues by sharing some creatives within the 956 as he says "The valley local scene is jam packed right now, everyone is doing their thing making their own noise, it's so tight to see it happening down here. Joseph Stingely @joseph.stingley, HiMarcus @theregoesmarcus, Joelito @joelito.joelito.joelito , Sycamore @sycamoreband_ , 350 @350music, A3 @whereisa3, 86 grand, Geral @elonlygeral, and many others. Been in heavy rotation, mad inspired by them. Moving on to art, No paradigms @no_paradigms is really sick, along with La Dama @la.damaaa, Louie looter, Dr Sosa. Wanna give a huge shoutout to Tropicasa @tropi.casa, there shop is sick." A lot of creatives that's for sure! Maybe future creatives to be featured at Tropicasa? Only time will tell!
What can you tell us about the album title "All Dogs Go To Heaven" Why this name? It makes me think of the emotions in the album along with the repetitive messages of "my dogs" and Instagram posts with friends or rather "family." Especially in the first track as it says "all my dogs all my dogs yeah." As Isaiah shares with us "We all dogs trying to make it in this world, all my friends chasing dreams, we wanna make the impossible possible, especially living in the RGV. There's always gonna be obstacles coming our way, but we're still trying no matter what." We really do out here with our "dogs" chasing our dreams as we try to make the best out of everything and every opportunity given. What's better is that we can do it together and continuously support each other along the way.
On the track "All Dogs" I think I heard "its that valley sound everlasting" it makes me think of everyone. Not just musicians, but for example everyone at the listening party making "sound" and supporting the event. It isn't just that but the community in general their "sound is everlasting." That one line holds so much. Isaiah goes on to share this thoughts "This album is very special and my best work yet, these sounds on the project will forever be played in the valley. I think it’s one of those albums when you think about the valley you think about ADGTH. This record is too crazy to be unheard of, especially here in the 956." It has certainly be on repeat for me since its release and the album does have its place within the 956 just as other creatives hold their sound within the 956 as well. We're hitting moments where someone can hear a local jam for 30 seconds and be able to quickly tell who it is by their distinct sound.
I remember on your instagram stories someone said if any songs are going to make us cry and you said "the 2nd track." Listening to it and once that 2nd half started the lyrics "im too down i'm feeling so empty what's the rush when we're still in our twenties...where do we go from here now." and the word "hometown." It brought me back to about a year ago when I wanted to move away due to feeling lost in what I was doing in life. I teared up and now I'm here feeling where I should be. With the song "Hometown" and the personal emotional second half, what do
you want the listener to get out of this or what's the emotion trying to evoke? What do you get from listening to "hometown" now that it's complete? As he goes on to explain "I was in a similar situation as well, where I wanted to leave the valley so bad and start off new. I never had an opportunity to have a fresh start, and there was a time where I had a chance to just go and leave, but I wasn't okay. I wasn’t in the right mind set, I felt pressured, but there was a certain point where I just sat down and thought about how’d I be alone in a new environment but with no real friends and family. That's how the second half came about. Home will always be where you grew up in, the people, the memories, your street, will always be there waiting for you." It makes me think of the creatives that left to pursuit their new endeavors and even though they left they will always carry the 956 with them and when they return to visit they will be greeted with open arms because its their "hometown." With how Isaiah and I felt once upon a time I'm sure there has been others. There is certainly a connectivity when it comes to this song/album.
From your previous work to this new album what has changed? How have you seen yourself grow? How do you wish to continue growing alongside your work? As he says "I matured, you can hear it from 'take me back' to 'ADGTH'. It's a huge leap, now I understand that this can definitely work. I wanna keep on growing, I want the songs to get better, the music videos to go crazier, I wanna improve everything with every album I drop." As I mentioned in my Intro there is a difference between the two albums. Isaiah has certainly shown growth and growth with his work along with the themes/emotions within the album.
Do you have a favorite track off the album? If so, why is it that one?
"All of them are my babies, but 'not getting younger' has a special place in my heart. It’s a song I've always wanted to make and it came out the way I wanted it. When I hear the track it takes me back and makes me think of what was going on in the moment." If I had to choose it would be between "hometown, not getting younger, and ten speed." There is very specific things that I love about these tracks within the album. From its connectivity, the emotion, and the little details such as a the homies cheering in "ten speed" that just add to the song.
What process did you have making this album? Were there any struggles and now that it's complete how do you see your finished album? As he shares what went on with the album "I came in wanting to make an album about me and the problems I struggle with (mentally). I wanted to share a piece of me with this album. The struggles with this album was pretty much being broke and the whole covid stuff but we did it and now it's out. After it being complete and released, I see it as what the valley really be like, a sound to represent the RGV." We're really going through it together especially through this time. We never truly know what goes on in the background of a creative with their work. What exactly goes through it and the amount of time this album took to be released. but now it's out. We can easily go through an album, but there's always something hidden by the creators.
Listening to "Not Getting Younger" but seeing that there was an added Intro "Is this It" What made you decide on this decision? The track goes hard, but listening to the intro then having it transition to the song goes even harder. The flow and the energy doesn't stop once it transitions. What was your goal behind this decision? As he goes explains his decision behind this "The beat was too crazy. I needed something before the song to get the people interested before going into the track. Luckily my friend sent me a clip of PJ Tucker talking about his basketball team learning how to be dogs and winning the finals and it just fit so well." It truly transitions very well! It certainly hypes me up and I am not able to skip the intro before getting to "not getting younger" it is certainly a must need if you're going to be listening to this song. PJ Tucker encouraging us to be dogs and win just exactly what we needed!
Finishing off the album with "Superhero" What made you decide on this being the final track to end the album? I know the music video ends off with a camera shot of a spider man necklace. Making me think that's YOUR superhero. The superheros can also be our "dogs" as well. In the words of foo fighters as well "there goes my hero" and in connection to your song "you try to help me with my fumes...no matter what they say no matter what they say you're still my superhero." As the listener is the "Superhero" open to my own thoughts? What would you like the listener to think of especially when hearing the word "superhero" or this song in general? Isaiah goes on to explain " The message within this song was about being your own superhero, no one's gonna save you but you. I was in a dark time during the process of this song, I was pretty much fighting with myself. I hated the way I looked, I wasn't happy with how things were going, I felt lost and alone and I wanted to get a message across with me that I'm strong, that I can do this, I'm my own superhero, i'll win this battle." Sometimes we be our own worst enemy and sometimes we are the only ones who can truly save ourselves. We can be our superheros. We cannot co-depend heavily when there are things only we can fight and we can't let the opposing feeling/thoughts win. We can certainly do this, we can love ourselves and we can be our own "superheros" as the song says "no matter what they say no matter what they think you're still my superhero."
What are your thoughts on this album? What is some of the feedback you have received on this album? "Everything has been great, I'm receiving lots of comments on how this album is crazy good. I knew the people would love it for what it is, I'm happy they like this album, it means a lot". This is truly my album that ended my summer perfectly. Exactly what I needed. It's crazy to think about on how it came out in such a great moment for myself. I've been seeing great feedback on this album as well. Great job!
On the tracks "Send it to the ground" and "Ten Speed" besides Sycamore and Mira are there any other artists on this album? What made you decide to collaborate with these artists? Are there any artists you would like to work with in the future?
"Other than them 2, it was just me and Joel. Me and Joel were big fans of Mira so one day Joel made a beat that would sound good for the both of us to get in on and yeah that's how it came about! With sycamore, I dm one of the members (Yan) and asked if I could pull up and watch them rehearse. I saw how crazy talented and cool they were so we just started kicking it and now we are all good friends." Making friends along the way of creating an album is good to hear and especially the idea of them working together in the future as well. Looking forward to any future collabs they may have or involving any other creatives.
As we finish the album, what would you like for us to get out of it as he goes on to express "It's okay to be who you are, love yourself, learn from your mistakes, and forgive."
Is there anything you would like to experiment with in the future with your work as he goes on to explain "I wanna touch everything, I wanna make all these types of songs, I never wanna put a label on what I make. I wanna make a song that you think wouldn’t work, actually work if that makes sense. I wanna have endless possibilities." Looking forward to what comes afterwards for sure with what is mentioned "I wanna make a song that you think wouldn't work, actually work if that makes sense" surely has me curious on what it could be.
video/editing by @green.go.slug
How did you feel showcasing your work at Tropicasa? "Along with the energy everyone brought I didn’t expect it to go that route, it was supposed to be a listening party! We all got live and made it into a concert, it was so sick. The love was there, it was a special night, you had to be there." I thought it was gonna be chilling, chatting and drinking beers together, but it went from 0 to "Ten Speed" real quick! You really had to be there. It was really unexpected.
Isaiah goes on to share his thoughts on the local scene in the valley,
"Exciting, can’t wait for what's next for us down the line."
He continues by adding one final comment,
"ADGTH ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN"
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