Isolate by The Rap Lab at UVA

On Wednesday March 11, 2020, President Jim Ryan of UVA announced that students would not be returning from Spring break to finish the semester on grounds but would instead complete their classes online. For some classes this was more feasible than for others; for those of us in collaborative art spaces this was initially taken to mean that our semester was over. However, our group of 15 student musicians decided to find a way to finish what we had started and to remain In Solidarity Online. Thus, our group took the name ISO and under the direction of Dr. A.D. Carson finished our mixtape, Isolate, whose sound reflects many of our feelings throughout the semester. Starting off with introspective exploratory tracks such as “Like That” and “Earmuffs,” the first half of the mixtape, which was completed before Spring break, showcases the different personalities involved in the project and their personal challenges, as well as a desire to not be labelled or forced into a box. The tracks finished from home studios and iPhone mics form the second half of the album and generally present a darker sound reflective of the dashed hopes and somber spirits of students who have had something taken away from them. Tracks like “Night Time” and “Never Again” reflect on lost time and thoughts that only become clear in isolation. Finally, the outro, “Afterglow,” leaves listeners with a sound that encapsulates the project as a whole: reflection, melancholy, and silver linings.

Contains tracks

• Like That by The Rap Lab at UVA
• Means To Be by The Rap Lab at UVA
• Main Street by The Rap Lab at UVA
• Earmuffs by The Rap Lab at UVA
• Island Interlude by The Rap Lab at UVA