Grammy-nominated producer and artist Terrace Martin and soul singer Alex Isley have released a new project, I Left My Heart In Ladera, via Sounds of Crenshaw/BMG.
The EP consists of nine tracks, including “Paradise,” a cover of Sade’s 1988 classic. It was released as the official lead single from the joint release.
Among the standout tracks is “2 Step In The Living Room,” which is an essential cut to add to a playlist promoting Black love. Isley sings about wanting to return to simpler times with her partner, when their love was strong and worries were few.
Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Robert Glasper and pianist Paul Cornish appear on I Left My Heart In Ladera as guests.
The former appears on the groove-based jazz title track, while the latter plays a rich piano on the lulling “La Brea & Stocker.”
Regarding collaborating with Isley, Martin wrote in a post, “We didn’t hold back anything musically on this album. @LoveAlexIsley is the first artist in years to actually challenge me and pushed me to be better.”
Martin compared his experience in the studio with Isley to his work with Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, and Snoop Dogg.
Meanwhile, Isley wrote in a separate post that she and Martin “built this album with intention and love.”
I Left My Heart In Ladera is Martin’s most recent collaborative project. He collaborated with James Fauntleroy on Nova and Dinner Party for Enigmatic Energy.
Gallant made a comeback recently, which marks another era ushered in by Martin. The two released the track “311!” featuring Glasper and Keyon Harrold.
It will appear on their forthcoming joint EP, sneek, set to release on Martin’s newly-minted O’Conner imprint in partnership with Lowly and Create Music Group.
Other projects released by Martin this year include Fine Tune and Curly.
Isley has experience working on collaborative projects. Last year, he teamed with her frequent collaborator, Jack Dine, to release Marigold. The project was featured on Rated R&B’s 30 Best R&B Albums of 2022 list.
“It’s a lot of reflecting on this album. This album reflects memories — some pleasant and some not so pleasant,” Isley shared with Rated R&B.
Most recently, Isley collaborated with her father Ernie Isley and SiR on “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Back to Love,” respectively.
Listen to Terrace Martin and Alex Isley’s new project I Left My Heart In Ladera below.
