Introducing Aisa

Julia Falcone

Aisa, a rising alternative R&B artist from Las Vegas, is driven by a pure desire to create. At just 23 years old, he possesses a clear vision for his music and is dedicated to achieving his goals. His lifelong passion for music has seamlessly transitioned into his adult life, and his influences, including Frank Ocean, Ryan Beatty, and Steve Lacy, are evident in his work. Inspired by Steve Lacy’s TEDTalk, Aisa boldly opened GarageBand and began his journey into music creation. Aisa blends R&B with pop, structuring his music around guitar riffs and soothing production, all complemented by simple yet thoughtful lyrics. Humble is a word that will always come to mind when I think of Aisa. I asked him what he wanted his listeners to take from his music. His response was entirely unexpected. Instead of what I anticipated, he seized the moment to thank everyone who had listened to his music, repeatedly expressing his gratitude for their time and support. From there, I got to really peer into who Aisa is.

Who are some of your influences?

Well, when I was first starting out, Steve Lacy was number one because I saw his TEDTalk about the bare maximum, and I was like, okay, I’m buying an iRig. So I bought one, and then I started doing all the iPhone GarageBands. Yeah, it worked out for me. I found myself loving making music. Then, I started off making my own in 2018 and went from there. Steve Lacy is a big one. If not Lacy, I would say Dijon. Dijon’s up there for sure, as is Ryan Beatty. I’ve been loving Mk.gee a lot. I’ve been loving his latest record.

You produce, sing, and write your music. What inspires you to take the lead when it comes to your music? What makes you want to dip your hand in everything?

That is a good question. I think it’s because I had access to everything, and everything’s in front of me already. It just feels the most natural when I’m doing it myself. Like, my own hands, and I’m starting from scratch. That’s when I find myself just making the best things. It’s not that I don’t like collaborating with others–I do. I love collaboration, and I love working with other people, but nothing hits better than just me, myself, and I in my room chipping away at this Ableton project for hours on end. And then I sit at the end of the month, or I listen to it, and I’m like, “Oh shit, look at all this stuff I made.” I can rely on other people, but I just choose not to. I don’t like asking for help. That’s why I like doing stuff on my own. Plus, I think there’s beauty in just being able to do everything yourself, and it’s gonna sound different every time. It’s more authentic to me. It just makes me feel more like myself with the music.

When you write songs, do you start with writing lyrics, or do you lean more towards the production aspect, like strumming a guitar?

It changes. For “Bad Daze” specifically, I played guitar first and then the first lead line, “The bad days taking over good days,” which was just stuck in my head when I was playing those chords that I found. I wrote the song first, and then when I had a verse figured out, I was like, “Okay, take it to Ableton.” I went to my computer and just put together something really simple, and then it ended up just sticking. For “Company,” it was very similar. A lot of the time, I start with playing chords on the guitar and I’m just singing to myself, or I’m humming. But then, sometimes, it’ll just start from the beat. I’ll make a beat, and I’ll start with drums. I like to chop up my own little samples here and there and then play along with them just to see if something sticks, but it changes every time. I feel like I don’t really have a set routine for making music.

I’ve been following you for over a year now, and as a fan, it’s exciting to watch your following expand. How do you feel about your growth as an artist?

Well, first and foremost, I’m always just thankful that people like it in general. I don’t put out music because I want people to like it. I just put out music because it’s something I’ve been wanting to do. But in terms of growth, all I can be is grateful because I don’t expect anybody to listen. I try not to force it down people’s throats besides, you know, self-promotion on TikTok or whatever. But if you want to listen, just thank you for taking the time. And then, if you don’t want to listen, that’s fine. You’ll find another artist that you’re gonna love, and it’s cool. I mean, there’s too much music out there. Whenever someone shares my songs or they’ll tag me, I’m just like, you could have listened to anybody today, but you sat there and listened to me, and that is amazing. I’m excited. I have a lot of stuff planned for this year in terms of my music. I’m excited to see even more growth because I know it’s coming, I can feel it.

To your listeners, what do you want them to take from your music?

Well, in a lot of my songs, I just write about love–whatever it is. Or, I will write about the emotions you go through when seeing somebody. Not to say that that’s all I write about; I’m trying to venture off. When I listen to an artist that I really love, there’s a reason why I go to that artist. For instance, let’s say Dijon. Dijon’s music makes me feel safe and secure. Sometimes, I’m just down bad. I play a song of his, and all of a sudden, that fear, anxiety, whatever I’m feeling, just dissipates. I hope that my music can do the same for whoever’s listening. I hope that you can go to my music when you feel like an ass. And then you listen to it and go, “Oh, never mind.” I hope this conveys my whole journey from being a do-it-yourself artist, knowing that you can do it if you want to. Just do it. Just do this shit because I’ve been pedal to the floor ever since 2018, and I would have never expected to get to where I’m at right now. 12 year old me would be like, there’s no way you’re making music. There’s no way, yet here we are. Just do it. I hope that they see me do it and feel they can, too. Take a leap. It’s not a race.

Since our conversation, Asia has released a new song called “Rescue,” an introduction to his upcoming debut album, San Marino, which will be released this August. The accompanying music video is filled with nostalgia, especially since his mom also stars in it. With lyrics such as “Do you need saving? Or should I save my energy for somebody else?” the song lingers in your mind, prompting you to contemplate all the possibilities of salvaging a relationship and questioning if it’s ultimately worth the effort.

When Aisa said, “It’s not a race,” it seemed like a statement that more people should adhere to. Being an artist, or anyone in the creative field takes a lot of work to cultivate. You have to nurture whatever project you have so that when the time comes for it to be released, you do all you can. Through our conversation, it was obvious that Aisa has been working hard and striving to make music that speaks to his listeners, all while doing it in his childhood bedroom. I was struck by Aisa’s refreshing willingness and eagerness in our interview. In the past, others can have a different demeanor, especially in new settings like an interview over Zoom; many individuals struggle to move forward. However, Aisa’s nearly-giddy excitement when discussing his upcoming music was truly infectious. I can only imagine the anticipation felt by his fans. As a fan myself, witnessing an artist express such genuine enthusiasm for their work makes it all worthwhile. Make sure to check out Aisa on all socials @iceuuh and listen to “Rescue” on all streaming platforms.