RISE

Isolde Fair - Single & Video release June 19th

“ the multi-talented 16-year-old singer/songwriter, pianist and violinist truly transcends her status as a young newcomer and meets the moment brilliantly, with boldness, encouragement and a sense of optimism that courageously dares to defy the trouble, despair and hopelessness that we’ve all been flirting with or immersing in and desperately need to shake off.” - Jonathan Widran (JW Vibe)

RISE

(verse 1) I've been thinking of a time,
where everything will be alright.
Helicopters up above,
my feet touching the underground.
Where have you been - yeah. Luck, I need you now. Won't be running away - yeah, We'll break the chains somehow.

(chorus) - Cause we rise until we're standing.
We rise until we're strong. Our dreams are never ending,
So we rise until we're standing.

(verse 2) See the violence on the street,
running rampant I don't want it to repeat. Calling voices from the crowd,
will you hear us, we are so damn proud.
Where have you been - yeah. Luck, I need you now. Won't be running away - yeah,
We'll break the chains somehow

(chorus) Cause we rise until we're standing.
We rise until we're strong. Our dreams are never ending,
So we rise until we're standing.

(bridge) - We let our voices be heard,
there's strength behind every word.
So even when we're gonna fall,
we'll still stand tall, we'll still stand tall...

(chorus) Cause we rise until we're standing,
We rise until we're strong. Imagine where we're going, When we rise until we're standing.

Cause we rise until we're standing, We rise until we're strong. Our dreams are never ending, So we rise until we're standing.

Cause we rise until we're standing, We rise until we're strong. Our struggle's never ending, So we rise until we're standing.

Cause we rise until we're standing, We rise until we're strong. Our dreams are never ending, So we rise until we're standing.
- Isolde Fair

RISE
(audio credits)

Performed by: Isolde Fair
Written by: Isolde Fair & Starr Parodi
Produced by: Starr Parodi & Jeff Eden Fair
Recorded and mixed by: Jeff Eden Fair
Mastered by: Emily Lazar (The Lodge - NYC)
Photo by: Milly Hopkins

(video cast & crew)

Directed & Edited by: Sara Nesson
Produced by: Starr Parodi & Jeff Eden Fair
Executive Produced by: Lynn Sperling, Michael Rothman, Justin Moore-Lewy, Sara Nesson, Starr Parodi & Jeff Eden Fair
Dancers: Makaio Carinio, Emma Eling, Elija Hall, Ella Grace Memmott, Ryan Sadowsky, Kyra Stafford, Uno Unemar, Nanea Yu
Choreography by: Bonnie Story, Suzi Lonergan
Assistant Choreographer: Bayli Baker
Cinematographer: Senda Bonnet
Color: Chris Mammarelli
Still Photography: Gina Conte
Line Producer & 1st AD: Kate Hamilton
Costume Design: Anita Rinaldi-Harnden
Hair & Makeup: Samantha Joselle
First AC: Hao Yu
Gaffer: J. Garrett
Key Grip: Joel Duncan
PA: Daniela Hummel, Carolina Hummel, Trystin Saure
Location: Kiapos Ranch

Video Director’s Statement

The empowering message behind Isolde’s song resonated deeply with me and as director it was important to convey a feeling of what it’s like to try and make sense of the world around you, especially as a young person today where fear and isolation are part of their reality.

I wanted to go for a post-apocolyptic world reminiscent of the photographs of Sebastion Selgado's gold miners in Brazil. The filming location we found had burned in the Sun Valley brush fires and you could still see the soot on the walls and sense the spirits of the old couple that lived there and tragically perished in the fire. It felt like we were honoring them in some way by bringing dance and music and creativity into their home. The house was surrounded by gorgeous hills coming to life by recent rain. The landscape was the perfect metaphor as the dancers climbed out of the ashes and up to the ridgeline where they joined Isolde as she sang, ‘we’ll rise until we’re strong.’  

This project was a labor of love and feel very blessed I had the chance to collaborate with Isolde, Starr, Jeff, the choreographers, Bonnie and Suzi, our DP, Senda Bonnet, and all the talented people that helped bring our vision to life. I hope this music video and song inspires kids to know their voice matters and their futures depend on them using it. - Sara Nesson

Visit: Isoldefair.com

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Press release below:

Isolde Fair, 16-Year-Old Singer-Composer-Musician, to Release “Rise,” a Song of Empowerment and Resilience

Studio Track and Exquisitely Choreographed Video Available June 19

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word “rise” more than 20 different ways, both as a verb and a noun. But all the book’s publishers really had to do was provide a link to Isolde Fair’s poignant new song of that title: “Rise,” the 16-year-old singer-songwriter-musician’s newest release, following 2017’s highly acclaimed media sensation “To All the Little Girls,” explores several connotations of the word within one performance teeming with emotion and insight. The four-minute recording—featuring Isolde’s vocal, piano and violin work—and its elegantly choreographed video, are available June 12 via all major streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon) and YouTube.

“Rise” focuses on using one’s voice for positive change, and the power that each person possesses to allow our voices to be heard against injustice—the unstoppable drive to never give up. It’s a message for people of all ages, but especially speaks to youth. “‘Rise’ came to me on a grey day,” says Isolde, reflecting on the tune’s origin. “I started to wonder what the world would be like with no anticipation of any injustice. I was thinking about a world with no flaws. With the message in the song, there are so many things to say. I don’t want it to only relate to one type of situation, but to have multiple meanings.”

“Rise” begins with a brief spoken-word recitation by Isolde over a haunting bed of synths, then glides into its opening verse, sung to her soulful piano chords: “I've been thinking of a time where everything will be alright/Helicopters up above, my feet touching the underground/ Where have you been, yeah/Luck, I need you now/Won’t be running away, yeah/We’ll break the chains somehow.”

Then, the thought-provoking chorus: “’Cause we rise until we’re standing/We rise until we’re strong/Our dreams are never ending/So we rise until we’re standing.”

Throughout “Rise,” Isolde invokes a continual stream of strong, solid images that expand upon the themes: “violence on the street,” “voices from the crowd,” a never-ending struggle. Always, though, there is resilience, spirit and hope. “We let our voices be heard, there’s strength behind every word,” she sings in the bridge. “So even when we’re gonna fall, we’ll still stand tall,                                                                                           we’ll still stand tall...”

“With the song, whatever a listener is feeling, or going through, that’s what they should take away from it,” says Isolde. “I hope it vibes with people. We are all in different situations and if it helps anybody, it’s cool.”

“Rise” is a collaboration between Isolde and her multi-talented parents: her mother, the esteemed pianist and composer Starr Parodi, who co-wrote the song with Isolde; and Jeff Eden Fair, Isolde’s father, who co-produced it with Starr and handled the engineering and mixing. Starr and Jeff also produced the video, which was directed by Sara Nesson and choreographed by Bonnie Story and Suzi Lonergan.

The basic concept for the song first came to Isolde while she was riding in a car. At first, she says, she came up with “only the main melody of the verses as well as a mumbled version of the lyrics: ‘I’ve been thinking of a time where everything will be alright.’ Then I brought this idea to my mom, and from there we started working on it. Honestly, it came together through a stream of consciousness with words flowing whatever way they came out.”

From there, Isolde continues, “It just all laid out. The writing process of the song came pretty quickly. We already had a good idea for the structure and for what the story would be for the song before we brought it into the studio. In the studio we started with the piano, then did the vocals and overdubs.”

The framework for the captivating “Rise” video emerged once the song was fleshed out. “It took me by surprise how it turned out,” Isolde says of the video. “It was a big collaboration with a lot of creative people who believe in the song. It started small and from there it grew. When I’m writing and even before I start writing a song, I have a lot of visuals in my head.”

Oscar-nominated director/editor Sara Nesson took “Rise” from the vision stage to a visual entity, along with the help of a talented crew of artists and technicians. “When looking for locations, Sara knew of a place called Kiapos Ranch that had been burned down, yet there was a beautiful love story that went along with the fire that happened there,” says Isolde. “It was more real than any set we could have ever built. We really could feel the intensity while we were filming there.”

Says Nesson, “The empowering message behind Isolde’s song resonated deeply with me and as director it was important to convey a feeling of what it’s like to try to make sense of the world around you, especially as a young person today where fear and isolation are part of their reality. This project was a labor of love. I hope this music video and song inspires kids to know their voice matters and their futures depend on them using it.”

“When I first heard this song, I was so inspired,” says Emmy winning choreographer Bonnie Story (High School Musical, So You Think You Can Dance). “I loved creating to it and I loved what it was about: to know that we can rise and get through tough times. This song says it all, and Isolde Fair is beyond her years. I’m so proud and grateful to be part of this project.”

“‘Rise’ is the anthem of this moment,” adds Suzi Lonergan, the project’s other choreographer. “With Isolde’s outstanding voice and musical talent, this song captures all that is good in America as we, this country and its citizens stand united with undefeatable resilience.”

Isolde’s own stellar musicianship provides the ideal accompaniment to her vocal. “Since I could count my birthdays on one hand, I’ve played piano and violin, and I really like to incorporate the violin into the songs I create,” she says. “The violin is practically the love of my life. I’ve been studying it since I was five. The violin really gives me a different perspective in my music and I’ve gradually tried to incorporate its beautiful personality into my songs.” Isolde has performed as an artist, singing in front of a full orchestra at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully in New York City, as well as soloing on violin with members of Cirque du Soleil and in other high-profile situations.

Isolde Fair first gained recognition at age 13 with her composition and recording “To All the Little Girls,” a song that set words from Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential election concession speech to music. The song came about as the result of a class assignment; her teacher listened to the result and knew it was something special that had to be heard by others. 

The lyrics focused on a portion of Clinton’s speech dedicated to young women: “Never doubt that you are valuable…” Eventually, the song reached the ears of Clinton herself, who wrote online of her appreciation of the sentiments expressed by Isolde. Subsequently, Isolde was courted by numerous media outlets eager to know how such a young girl created such a profound piece of art.

“It meant a lot to me when I got to meet her at the Women in the World Summit, when I performed ‘To All the Little Girls’ at Lincoln Center,” says Isolde. “I’m still hearing from people all the time telling me how they find ‘To All the Little Girls’ inspiring and helpful and they take in and treasure the message of girls being valued.

“I’ve grown a lot since writing that song,” she adds, “and although both songs have messages of encouragement, I feel ‘Rise’ has a more complete story for today. ‘Rise’ is about empowering yourself and pulling through any dark situation, especially with what is going on in the world right now.”

Now, as she moves on to the next phase of her career and artistic development with the release of “Rise,” Isolde is looking ahead, excited to continue pursuing her dream. “I’ve been writing a lot, playing the piano and violin, practicing, listening to music, and also going to high school.” she says. “I have a lot of songs I want to record and release that I’m working on right now.”

With so much raw, innate talent, and a bottomless well of visions and inspirations to draw from, Isolde Fair can only continue to rise.