When SOFIA ISELLA (yes, she’s got that artistic flair with her name) stepped onto the iconic Wembley Stadium stage to open for none other than Taylor Swift, it wasn’t just any regular night for her—it was, in her words, "The most insane Thursday night" ever. But let’s back up a bit because this momentous occasion didn’t just happen overnight.
Isella, a 19-year-old force of nature, wasn’t just another face in the crowd that night. She was the first of five incredible women to set the stage on fire before Paramore took over. Now, imagine this: thousands of fans, bedazzled and brimming with excitement, slowly trickling into Wembley as Isella kicked off the Eras Tour show. The energy in the stadium was palpable, and Isella fed off it like a pro. After belting out her opening track "Hot Gum," she made a bold move, ripping off her white tee to reveal a cedar brown leotard underneath. “This is the most insane view I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” she declared, gazing out at the sea of fans before launching into a 25-minute, six-song set that left everyone buzzing.
One of the highlights of her set was "Sex Concept," an electrifying and provocative single she had just dropped that very morning. This track is not your run-of-the-mill pop song; it's a haunting, poetic piece where Isella whisper-sings her lyrics with a sultry edge. The song’s lyrics are like a game of cat and mouse, with Isella playing hard to get in a tantalizing dance of lust: "Cause I'm the backyard heathen / The girl he's dreaming / I'll bend him over backward / Give him something to believe in." The crowd couldn’t get enough.
But playing a sold-out, packed Wembley Stadium isn’t something you just walk into without some serious prep. So, how did Isella get ready for what was likely the biggest night of her young career? Well, she kept it simple—daily cardio sessions at Regents Park, one of London’s lush, green havens. Picture this: a 19-year-old singer-songwriter running in circles in a 410-acre park while belting out her setlist at the top of her lungs. It’s no wonder she got some curious looks, but hey, when you’re gearing up to perform at Wembley, you do what you gotta do!
Isella’s journey to the Wembley stage is a story that’s just as captivating as her music. She’s been classically trained on the violin since she was just 3 years old and started writing songs by the time she was 8. Born in California, Isella’s life has been anything but ordinary. She spent several years living on the Gold Coast of Australia, thanks to her dad’s job, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, she’s back in Los Angeles, where she’s poised to take her career to new heights.
Her influences are as diverse as they are profound, drawing inspiration from the likes of Trent Reznor, Beck, Sylvia Plath, Margaret Atwood, Mona Awad, Anne Sexton, and, of course, Taylor Swift. These names aren’t just thrown around casually—Isella’s music and lyrics reflect the deep impact these artists and writers have had on her creative process.
The moment she found out she’d be opening for Taylor Swift was nothing short of a shocker. Picture this: It’s 7 a.m. on March 30, and Isella’s mom comes barging into her room, screaming with excitement. The reason? An email with the offer of a lifetime. “I just kept repeating, ‘Wow,’” Isella recalls, still in disbelief at the opportunity that had just landed in her lap.
But it wasn’t just the gig that floored her—Taylor Swift herself wrote Isella a letter. Now, imagine receiving a handwritten note from one of your biggest influences. For Isella, it was a deeply emotional moment. “What she wrote in there touched me so hard, all the black ink under my eyes was gone after reading,” she says, emphasizing just how much Swift’s words meant to her.
On the night of the show, Swift didn’t just let Isella shine on her own. During her opening "Lover" speech, she made sure to give Isella a heartfelt shout-out, asking the massive crowd of 92,000 fans to show their appreciation. And boy, did they ever—Wembley roared with approval.
Backstage, however, was a bit of a whirlwind. Although Isella didn’t get to meet Paramore or surprise guest Ed Sheeran (who, by the way, was just as much a surprise to her as he was to everyone else), she did have a brief but unforgettable encounter with Swift. “Taylor called to meet me right before she went on stage, and she was so, so kind,” Isella recalls. “Everything you would hope she’d be. She didn’t have to do all these kind things for me. She just did.”
With the Wembley performance now behind her, Isella isn’t slowing down anytime soon. She’s gearing up to release her EP, "I Can Be Your Mother," on September 6. This upcoming release promises to be a major milestone in her budding career. And if that’s not enough to get you excited, she’s also hitting the road for a series of shows across California. Starting in Santa Cruz, she’ll make stops in San Francisco, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, and San Diego. But here’s the kicker—her Los Angeles show on September 11 at The Echo will be her very first hometown concert. Talk about a homecoming!
Isella’s got big plans for that show, too. “You can expect that I will smell all of you because you will be two inches from my face,” she says with a laugh. She’s all about the intimacy of small venues, where the energy is raw, and the connection with the audience is as close as it gets.
So, if you haven’t already, mark your calendars because Isella is one artist you don’t want to miss. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to sign up for "This Swift Beat," the free weekly newsletter that keeps you in the loop on all things Taylor Swift. Trust me, you’re going to want to stay updated because if Isella’s journey so far is any indication, this is just the beginning of something extraordinary.
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