FFO: Isabel Maria – Fairweather Friends

North-East artist Isabel Maria returns with Fairweather Friends, her first single in over six months and a preview of her second longform project, due in 2026. Written earlier this year and produced with Josh Ingledew at Blank Studios, the track follows a packed run of UK festivals, a US tour, and a growing reputation for emotionally resonant songwriting. Released via the Youth Music NextGen Fund, it marks a new chapter for the 19-year-old artist as she continues to build momentum.

The new single explores the highs and lows of close friendship, unfolding with cinematic scope and a production that places Isabel’s melodious lyrical storytelling—reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers, Joni Mitchell and Taylor Swift—firmly front and centre. It’s a beautifully layered soundscape of shimmering indie pop and subtle folk inflections, emotionally charged and delivered with the energy of a live set. A masterfully crafted and deeply engaging piece of music.

Here, Isabel uses three other tracks to sum up Fair weather Friends…

You’ve Got A Friend – Carole King

I love Carole King, and while I don’t think my music is necessarily reminiscent of hers, the themes of this one feel like they pair nicely with Fairweather Friends. Think of my song as a horror story about friendship, and this one a really lovely success story to pick you up after. I had to perform this in a singing exam when I was about twelve and I went straight to HMV after and bought Tapestry on vinyl – it’s a masterpiece and I think Carole King’s music is going to be classic forever. 

I Wish You Would – Taylor Swift

One thing about me is that in lockdown I became a huge Taylor Swift fan, and it really did a 180 on my taste in music – I was pretty young and up until then I really only listened to very lyrical sad music with very minimal production, so when I got into Taylor Swift it was like opening this Pandora’s box of music that was really fun, and massive production that was often incredibly different within each album. I feel like Fairweather Friends is up there in terms of the more poppy, upbeat tunes I’ve made – despite the trademark diabolically emo lyrics – and I remember listening to this Taylor Swift tune in the studio making it.

Welcome To My Island – Caroline Polachek

It would feel wrong not to give a nod to Caroline Polachek here – her music again is very different to mine, but she soundtracked a lot of Josh [Ingledew, producer] and I’s lunch breaks. She’s unbelievable, as a songwriter, a producer, and particularly in this song as a vocal performer. I found Fairweather Friends really quite hilariously difficult to record vocals for, so I distinctly remember wishing I could channel a little of Caroline Polachek’s ridiculous vocal range that day. I saw her live in early 2023 and I think about it all the time.