Interview: Isabella Osborne Chats About Her New Single "Our Friendship is Dead (Come Down)"
What inspired the creation of this single?
I wrote "Our Friendship is Dead", aka "Come Down," last year when one of my longest-standing relationships was coming to a bitter end. I saw the end coming, but didn’t know how to stop it. It all came to a head with a betrayal in the form of a single photo posted to social media. I didn’t know what else to do when I saw that snapshot except to pick up a guitar and cry some lyrics onto a page. Initially, I had thought about releasing the song as a kind of warning or not-so-secret message to my fans about what was going on in my life, but the timing didn’t feel quite right. Now the timing feels right, even if I still feel the ickiness of the moment that inspired the song. It's for anyone going through the same kind of soul-stabbing relationship breakup, watching a friendship crumble right before their eyes. The song is truly for whoever needs to scream it in their car, make sad edits, or just give it a listen.
What story or message does the song convey?
The song not only speaks to the actual events that I experienced but also tells part of a story that will be incorporated into future music videos and lore. There is an entire storyline behind my project that is consistently evolving, but that has been planned out since I began this project last September. A lot of the more illustrative and symbolic representations in the song tie into the storyline. I can’t reveal all my cards, but I can’t wait for the future fans to discover all that I have in store for them. In the end, the song is about resilience and moving forward. Yes, I’m still grieving, angry, and bemused by the situation that led to this song, but “I’ll be fine in the morning”; the sun will rise, and whether it is in shadow or sunlight, we will keep moving forward.
Can you tell us about the creative process?
I pick up a guitar (or just sing alone)...and that’s how my songs come to be. There’s a lot more to the recording part of the process, but in the initial songwriting, the lyrics and chords all flow very naturally. I have to give credit to God regarding all of my music releases. God definitely helps me to write. Shout-out! Occasionally I will go weeks or months with unfinished lyrics and chords, but other times I can sit down and write an entire song right there! It is strange how much my process varies regarding the amount of time it takes to write a song, but through it all, I utilize my emotions to help others process theirs.
How does this song differ from your previous releases?
For starters, I had the pleasure of collaborating with my friend David Ford, guitarist of the band The Heiress. David is a fantastic guitarist and also recorded some drums, backing vocals, and bass, and did production on the song. If anyone is looking to work with someone new in Colorado, I would highly recommend David for the job. We had quite a lot of fun. Additionally, the song is the first rock-ish single I have put out as a solo artist. I have roots in rock and couldn’t stay away. There will certainly be more songs like this soon!
What challenges did you face while writing or recording?
Recording the song posed a slight challenge as I was in the midst of trying to sort out treatment for thyroid cancer. I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer in March 2026 and had surgery to remove my thyroid and thyroid cancer in May. We recorded the song before my surgery and worked on getting things to sound just right as I recovered. It was therapeutic in some regards to process my broken relationship(s) and cancer while working on the song, even if at times it was tough emotionally and logistically.
Did you experiment with any new instruments, techniques, or styles?
I really wanted to involve new people in the song outside of my fantastic bandmate, Kanyon Dickerson. We weren’t sure how much we would work on the song in our studio and how much David would work on it in his. In today's day and age, where artists can work on a project from across the world, it was extremely valuable and novel to work collaboratively both in-person and through messaging back and forth. I knew that I wanted a guitar solo in this song, something I haven’t had in my solo releases up until this point, and David really delivered! Additionally, having both Kanyon and David work on drums offered a unique sound and perspective when it came to the soul of the track.
Is there a personal connection or story tied to the lyrics?
The song is extremely personal. Nearly all of my songs are. It takes one of the lowest moments when my life began to spiral and turns it into something a little more tangible. I am so glad that fans don’t have to beg me to record this song when I see them at live shows, and they can listen whenever they need it.
Have you performed it live yet, and what was the audience’s reaction?
Thus far, folks have been extremely receptive to the song. My fans have enjoyed my small “return to rock,” as it were, and audiences quite like the way it breaks up my live sets. It is quickly climbing the ranks in my “most listened” and “popular” sections online, and many people are complimenting the spooky imagery in the verses. There’s always at least one person headbanging when the guitar punches in and someone jamming out with me during David’s guitar solo. It’s wonderful to see!
Is this single part of a larger project, like an album or EP?
Yes. There is always something bigger planned. I don’t know how much more to reveal…I’m sure I will reveal more in time...
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