SOMETIMES A TRAUMATIC EVENT CAN BE A CATALYST FOR ENGAGING ART. THIS HAS CERTAINLY BEEN THE CASE WITH ISAAC DUNBAR, WHO AFTER GETTING HIT BY A CAR ON A NEW YORK NIGHT WROTE A RECORD INSPIRED BY THE LUST FOR LIFE HE GAINED FOLLOWING THE CRASH. IN HIS EP BEEP BEEP REPEAT, THE AMERICAN ARTIST MIXES THE EUPHORIA OF THE 2010S POP (DUNBAR IS A LADY GAGA STAN AFTER ALL) AND THE SOULFUL SONGWRITING OF THE 1970S AND 1980S. WHILE WORKING ON THE DELUXE EDITION OF THE RECORD, ISAAC CAUGHT UP WITH US TO CHAT ABOUT HIS NEW SINGLE TAKE IT SLOW, CRYING TO STEVIE NICKS AND ROCKSTAR’S GIRLFRIEND FANTASIES.

Left Vintage leather jacket and pants, shirt and tie **Hugo Boss**
Right Full look **Yves Saint Laurent** Archives

Last spring, you released your EP Beep Beep Repeat and you’re currently working on its deluxe edition. I read that the record has been inspired by the time you spent living in New York – how did the city’s energy influence your sound and lyrics?

The whole record is actually inspired by a time when I got hit by a car in New York and the lust for life that this event gave me. I was leaving the studio around 5 am and riding a City bike back to my apartment in the rain, and ironically enough, I was also listening to Outside the Rain by Stevie Nicks. Then, I felt a bang and it turned out to be a grey SUV. My afro saved my life, I think it took some of the impact. I couldn’t walk for three days and I was really sad and depressed. But as I looked outside my window, I saw people continue to go about their lives and I found that really inspiring, this idea that life goes on. It was a moment when I really had to choose happiness, as cliché as that might sound. It sparked my interest to be more of an extrovert and meet people and go dancing, go to parties and DJ sets. It lit a fire under my ass.

Left Full look **Celine Homme**
Right Trench coat and pants **Laquan Smith**, shirt, tie and sunglasses **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**, gloves stylist’s own

So, as you’re working on the re-edition of the EP, did you notice any shifts in the narratives you’re drawn to?

Things have definitely shifted. I think that there’s a lot more to the story that needs to be told, especially when it comes to the after-effects of leaving New York and how a lot of its soul stuck with me even though I’m in LA right now. I feel like I really needed that time in NYC, as it was so healing for me. I’m from a really small town and the vibrancy of the city is incomparable.

Left Full look **Yves Saint Laurent** Archives
Right Full look **Amiri**

Your new single Take It Slow talks about a man who gets too clingy too fast on a night out - what do you think is the appropriate way of courting someone at a club?

Well, I don’t have too much experience with romance in the club because I’m scared of people. But I think the best way is to walk up to the person, be upfront and say, “How are you feeling? I think that you’re sexy and I want to kiss you.” [Laughs] Something not serious. You can’t be doing too much.

Left Full look **Yves Saint Laurent** Archives
Right Full look **Celine Homme**

Yeah, it brings up the question of, “Why are you being so pushy?”

Exactly. It’s terrifying. Some people adore being love-bombed but I instantly freak out and would rather stay in my apartment and paint my nails. [Laughs]

In both your sound and look you are inspired by the 1970s. What do you find fascinating about that era?

I love the ‘70s! It was definitely a moment when people could be free in their artistic expression. The decade was pure glamour. Personally, I feel like I’ve always been drawn to it on a more musical level. The chord progressions were beautiful, the melodies were gorgeous and there were such incredible singers and songwriters – my favourites are Fleetwood Mac and Queen. Stevie Nicks has been somebody that I’ve been really inspired by for the past 4-5 years. There was a lot of purpose behind what was being done [back then]. But honestly, in my recent studio outings, I have been a lot more inspired by the ‘80s.

Jacket **Adidas**, vintage pants and scarf, sunglasses stylist’s own

You’re progressing into the next decade. [Laughs] Have you ever seen Stevie Nicks live?

Yes, a few months ago. I went by myself when I first moved to LA. I was surrounded by many people who were much older than me, and I cried my eyes out like a baby. The first song that she played was actually Outside the Rain! Which is my favourite of hers and the song to which I got floored by that SUV.

Left Jacket **Heowhan Simulation**, shirt **Ernest W Baker**, tie **Ralph Lauren**, Pants **MM6**, boots **Celine Homme**
Right Coat, shirt and tie **Ernest W Baker**, vest **Neil Barrett**

Wow! It’s definitely some sort of sign. If you could transport yourself to the ‘70s or ‘80s, what would you want to experience first-hand?

There’s a sentiment that Gaga used to say back in the early 2010s about the whole rockstar’s girlfriend trope. So, I think I would like to be a rockstar’s girlfriend, a groupie, and travel the world with a really troubled band. And then in my seventies, I would put out a tell-all.