Isabelle Gitlin Confronts Emotional Stagnancy on “It Still”

Boston-based pop artist Isabelle Gitlin isn’t just writing songs; she’s creating sonic mirrors. Her latest single, “It Still,” is an emotionally raw, atmospheric track that tackles the disorienting feeling of being trapped in the past while life keeps moving forward. It’s a vulnerable, slow-burning reflection on trauma, time, and the exhausting loop of “what could’ve been.”

On “It Still,” Gitlin explores the invisible weight of unresolved pain, how it lingers, how it infiltrates your present, and how it blurs the lines between memory and reality. Her voice floats with quiet urgency over moody production, giving the listener space to sit with their own memories and emotions.

“I wanted to show how certain traumas and past events can still feel so recent despite occurring years or decades ago,” Gitlin explains. “It can be a dangerous and uncomfortable space to live in, but it’s very real.”

Sonically, “It Still” leans into minimalist pop with cinematic undertones. There’s restraint in the arrangement that mirrors the emotional paralysis the lyrics describe. The result is a song that doesn’t just tell a story, it feels like the story. Frozen moments. Lingering thoughts. Painful clarity.

Gitlin’s artistry is defined by emotional honesty and intentional experimentation. Influenced by a range of genres and visual elements, she creates fully immersive experiences with each project. And while a full body of work is on the horizon, “It Still” feels like a powerful standalone statement from an artist unafraid to confront the darker corners of the mind and invite us to do the same.

“I hope people feel less alone and understood,” she says. “It’s important to validate those feelings and slowly work to break that cycle… I want people to know that I’m right there with them.”

"It Still" explores the weight of unresolved emotions. How do you personally begin to untangle yourself from the past when you're writing?

Writing itself helps me untangle myself from the past because I'm putting it into words and sharing it. A lot of times, it's easy for me to become withdrawn and get lost in my thoughts, but art, music, and creativity give me the space to process everything and explore the different parts of myself that I would otherwise find extremely difficult to express. 

You've mentioned your love for building sonic worlds. If "It Still" were a physical space, what would it look like?

"It Still" would look like a dimly lit, maroon-colored room filled with mirrors on every surface and every wall, where you can only see your reflection staring back at you. With the mirrors, your reflection is endless, and you're essentially unable to escape yourself. I view it as a space that forces you to confront the parts of yourself and your past that are uncomfortable to face. 

How do you balance the vulnerability of a track like this with the pressure to present a polished "pop" image?

I think that being authentic to myself and not boxing myself into one area, genre, topic, etc., is helpful in growing and finding myself as an artist. I love it when artists show different sides of themselves in their work that aren't always "polished" or "perfect," even though that's often what we as artists strive for and want. But I think it's what makes an artist human, and that's what we, as an audience, connect to and admire, that humanity and imperfection. And I just hope people connect with my work in that way and feel seen by it. 

What would you say to someone who feels completely stuck in their past and sees no clear way forward?

That I hear them, and I see them. It's difficult to move forward, but moving forward doesn't mean forgetting or erasing it; it means giving yourself space to keep growing and living. It isn't always a linear journey; it takes time, but it's possible, but it's possible to feel lighter and not feel weighed down by your thoughts, feelings, and traumas. And I'd just let them know that I'm there for them. 

When you're crafting emotionally intense music, what role do visuals and aesthetics play in supporting the message?

Visuals and aesthetics play an immense part in supporting and conveying the message because they add another layer of storytelling. They set the scene and invite listeners and viewers into a more curated space where the music, lyrics, and visuals intersect to showcase the full picture of what I'm trying to say. I typically visualize each project as its own story, with its own images as I'm writing, recording, and building it. I see different colors, specific scenery, or a certain piece of clothing, and work to incorporate those elements into the project.

What's next for you?

I'm always writing, working on music, planning ahead, and continuing to learn and grow to improve my craft. I do have a project I'm finishing up that I'm hoping to put out in the next month or so, which I'm very excited about, and I'll be performing in a show with a couple of incredible artists next month as well.