Alexandra Isley (born April 16, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter and producer. She released her debut EP The Love/Art Memoirs in 2012. Isley has worked with artists including Scarface, Terrace Martin, Masego, 9th Wonder, Rapsody, Tank and the Bangas, and Lucky Daye. Isley has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.
Early life and education Born Alexandra Isley, she is the daughter of Ernie Isley of the prolific soul group the Isley Brothers. Isley was born in New Jersey, but spent most of her childhood in Los Angeles. She named Stevie Wonder, Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, Toni Braxton, Aaliyah, and Mariah Carey as early favorite musicians. She loved singing from childhood and her family supported her pursuit of music as a professional career.
She began classical vocal training at age 12 and later graduated from LA County High School for the Arts. Isley received her bachelor's degree from UCLA, where she studied in the jazz department.
Isley has synesthesia, and described the phenomenon to LA Weekly: "There's a canvas in my mind, and the whole thing is painted, or it's a continuous wave of color...Sometimes I'll start composing something and I'll have to change the key because the color won't sit right with me."
Career Isley released her self-produced debut EP The Love Art/Memoirs in 2012. Okayplayer reviewed the EP positively: "please believe Alex’s lush vocals over her own calming production is capable of spawning a generation of love babies much like “Between The Sheets” did."
Isley described her music as r&b with hip hop and jazz influences. Samantha Callender of Essence referred to her voice as "silky smooth vocals that ride neo-soul melodies." She has collaborated with artists such as 9th Wonder on the track "Rain Clouds"; Lucky Daye and Masego on "Good & Plenty (Remix)"; Chromonicci on "Interstellar"; and Christian Kuria on "Toroka."
In November 2019 she released the joint EP Wilton with producer Jack Dine. In May 2020 Isley performed a remote concert and a studio concert June 2025 for NPR's Tiny Desk series. In 2020 she was also a featured vocalist for the Cautious Clay track "Reaching", on the soundtrack for Insecure'''s fourth season.
In 2022 she released Marigold, a collaborative album with Jack Dine. Jackie B. of Soul Bounce reviewed the project positively: "Alex Isley and Jack Dine remain as a melodious match made in heaven as they take us through a cycle from sprout to blossom to full bloom on Marigold." She was featured on Tank's recent single "No Limit" from his 10th album R&B Money.
Isley released the album I Left My Heart in Ladera'' with Terrace Martin in October 2023. The album, her first to chart on Billboard, debuted at number two on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums list and at number 22 on Jazz Albums.
She earned her first two Grammy Award nominations as a featured artist on "Back to Love" by Robert Glasper at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. The song was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance.
In February 2025, Isley signed to the imprint Free Lunch Agency which is distributed by Warner Records.
Personal life Isley resides in Los Angeles. She has a daughter with singer Kenyon Dixon (b. 2017).
Discography
Albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions Con.Jazz JazzDreams in Analog Released: August 10, 2013 Label: self-released — —L U X U R Y Released: December 26, 2015 Label: self-released — —Marigold (with Jack Dine) Released: March 30, 2022 Label: self-released — —I Left My Heart in Ladera (with Terrace Martin) Released: October 20, 2023 Label: Sounds of Crenshaw, BMG 2 22When the City Sleeps Released: March 20, 2026 Label: Free Lunch, Warner Records TBD TBD
Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected details Title DetailsThe Love/Art Memoirs Released: May 20, 2012 Label: Self-releasedThe Beauty of Everything, Part 1 Released: February 27, 2018 Label: Self-releasedThe Beauty of Everything, Part Two Released: May 3, 2019 Label: Self-releasedWilton (with Jack Dine) Released: November 15, 2019 Label: Isley & Dine RecordsWHEN Released: April 18, 2025 Label: Free Lunch, Warner RecordsLive from NPR's Tiny Desk Released: October 24, 2025 Label: Free Lunch, Warner Records
Singles + List of singles, as lead artist, showing year released and album name Title Year Album "La Brea" 2015 L U X U R Y "Feel No Love" 2017 "On II U" The Beauty of Everything, Pt. 1 "We'll Always Have Paris" 2018 The Beauty of Everything, Pt. 2 "Think of Me" (with Jack Dine) 2019 Wilton "Gone" (with Jack Dine) 2020 "People Get Ready" (with Terrace Martin and Robert Glasper) I Can't Breathe / Music For the Movement "Reaching" (with Cautious Clay and Raedio) Insecure: Music From The HBO Original Series, Season 4 "Mine" (with Jack Dine)rowspan="4" "Interstellar." (with chromonicci) "Toroka (Remix)" (with Christian Kuria) 2021 "Good & Plenty (Remix)" (with Lucky Daye, Masego, and Jack Dine) "At Your Best (You Are Love)" Spotify Singles "Remind Me" (with Butcher Brown)rowspan="2" "Fellowship (Remix)" (with Ambré and serpentwithfeet) "Still Wonder" (with Jack Dine and Robert Glasper) Marigold "Love Again" (with Jack Dine) I WANT YOU BUT YOU'LL NEVER KNOW..." (with Rory and DRAM) 2022 I Thought It'd Be Different "Brown Eyed Girl"(with Ernie Isley) 2023 "Back To Love" (with Robert Glasper and SiR) Run The World: Season 2 (Music form the STARZ Original Series) "Paradise"(with Terrace Martin) I Left My Heart In Ladera "Same Mistake"(with Destin Conrad) 2024 "Hands" 2025 WHEN & When The City Sleeps "Ms. Goody Two Shoes" "Fool's Gold - A COLORS SHOW" "Remember Love" (with Eric Benét) The Co-Star "Thank You For A Lovely Time - Raphael Saadiq Version" "JUST A DREAM" (with Isaiah Falls) LUCKY YOU "The Christmas Song" "Sweetest Lullabye" 2026 When The City Sleeps
Awards and nominations Year Award Category WorkResult 2023 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Duo or Group "Still Believe" (with Jill Scott and PJ Morton) 2024 Grammy Award Best R&B Performance "Back to Love" (with Robert Glasper and Sir) Best R&B Song 2026 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Female Artist Herself
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