Melbourne’s indie-pop darling, Isabelle Skye, has returned with her second solo single, ‘Kaleidoscope’, a hypnotic and shimmering track that builds exquisitely on the dreamlike foundation of her 2024 debut, ‘Fairy Dust’. This new release firmly establishes Skye as one of the most compelling voices in Australia’s alt-pop landscape, blending tender, intimate lyricism with an ethereal, beautifully expansive soundscape.
‘Kaleidoscope’ is an immersive experience, weaving together psychedelic synths, sun-drenched, vintage guitar tones, and Skye’s own intimate vocals. The track's sound palette is a rich blend of influences, nodding to the woozy bedroom melancholy of artists like Clairo and The Japanese House, while maintaining the cinematic sweep of Lana Del Rey and Mazzy Star. There’s also a timeless quality here, thanks to subtle echoes of ’60s and ’70s pop icons such as Nancy Sinatra and The Zombies, giving the track a warm, analogue heart. This deeply rooted passion for all things retro is no mere sonic affectation; Skye actually runs her own vintage clothing business, Lucid Skye Vintage, proving she truly lives and breathes the curated aesthetic that permeates her music.
The song's core theme is universally relatable: the moment of uneasy realisation in a burgeoning romance. "‘Kaleidoscope’ captures that moment in dating when everything feels bright and promising, yet their actions quietly start to unravel the truth behind their words,” Skye explains. “It’s the realisation that your view of the connection doesn’t match theirs. To me, it’s like looking through a kaleidoscope—beautiful and captivating, yet fragmented and confusing, with reality shifting in unexpected ways.”
As an Aboriginal artist raised in Melbourne, Skye’s musical journey has been a steady climb. From her teenage songwriting days to her formal music study and her current status as a fixture in the Naarm scene—performing in notable projects like Doe Eyes, China Beach, and Shot By Jane—her experience is extensive. However, ‘Kaleidoscope’ represents a huge personal milestone, as it's the first solo material she has entirely written herself.
“This is the first time I’ve released solo material that’s entirely written by me. It feels like a huge milestone, especially after dealing with self-doubt and anxiety,” she reflects. The song’s exploration of "miscommunication and heartache in dating" aims to offer solace to listeners: "I hope listeners can relate and feel seen through it.”
Recorded at Fish Bones Tone Shack, with Fabian Hunter on production and mixing duties and Issac Barter mastering, 'Kaleidoscope' is a beautifully crafted piece of indie-pop. Fans can catch Isabelle Skye launching the new single live at The Retreat Hotel in Brunswick on Friday 14th November 2025, with support from CCTV and Butternut Sweetheart.
For more, be sure to connect with Isabelle today on Instagram and Facebook.
