Some artists chase the spotlight. Isadora Vaughn spent years avoiding it. The elusive vocalist, known primarily as a session singer’s secret weapon, has stepped forward with RISE—a jazz album that’s really “a collection of lived-through songs” according to composer David, her collaborator and the project’s visionary. “These songs are quiet revolutions,” Vaughn tells me, her voice carrying the same unforced intensity that defines the record. What began as David’s personal odyssey—writing through recovery from a near-fatal 1998 motorcycle accident—has become Vaughn’s unexpected debut as a named artist, proving some material demands to be seen as much as heard.
David’s story permeates the album’s DNA. “The accident shattered my body and everything I thought I knew,” he shares, describing compositions born in wheelchairs and rehab beds, captured on a Sony mini-cassette recorder. Vaughn, typically most comfortable “in the booth, not the spotlight,” found herself unable to resist these songs that “make you feel… and think.” Her description of standout track “For Us” encapsulates their magic: “It sounds angelic, like you’re making soup—then suddenly you realize: this is a confrontation.”
The album’s creation was as unconventional as its sound. David, who can’t read music, worked with transcribers to give form to melodies that lived in his bones. Vaughn approached each song “like love letters,” her interpretations favoring raw truth over technical perfection. “There’s breath in every note,” she observes, citing Abbey Lincoln as a spiritual guide while carving something wholly original. The result? Jazz that contains multitudes—“And We All Go Down” stares mortality in the face with graceful defiance, while “Racing the Sun Undone” merges climate urgency with spiritual yearning.
In an industry obsessed with branding, Vaughn remains refreshingly resistant. “I’m interested in resonance, not relevance,” she states, dismissing both touring and social media posturing. David dreams of other vocalists adopting these songs (lead sheets are available online), while Vaughn hints at future collaborations: “I hope David uses me again.”
RISE ultimately asks listeners to do the same—to meet its quiet power with full attention. As Vaughn advises: “Sit back. Look at nature. Let it speak.” In a noisy world, these songs remind us how profound silence can be.
Stream RISE wherever you listen—preferably without distractions, and with an open heart.
