Isabel Maria returns with her sophomore EP Because I Care, a five-track release that brings together self-acceptance, regret, mental health and the unsettled reality of growing up. Releasing on 17th April, the project arrives alongside a UK headline tour, giving the songs a chance to connect in a live setting straight away.
The EP follows a packed year. Between live shows, writing camps and working towards a music degree, Isabel still carved out time in Newcastle to develop the project with collaborator Josh Ingledew. That balance shows in the writing. Nothing feels rushed, but nothing feels overworked.
Each track holds its own space. The title track opens things up with a broader, more cinematic feel, while ‘Did I Deserve It?’ turns inward, questioning identity and expectations with a sharper edge.
‘Fairweather Friends’ shifts into reflection, focusing on relationships that don’t quite hold up over time. Then ‘Not Scared At All’ moves into more exposed territory, addressing anxiety with a level of directness that doesn’t soften the experience.
Closing track ‘Sixteen’ brings everything back together. It looks at youth with a mix of frustration and longing, giving the EP a sense of perspective as it reaches the end.
Taking it on the road
To support the release, Isabel will take Because I Care on a six-date UK tour, performing across a mix of full band and more intimate settings.
Tour dates and venues:
- 17 April – Pop Recs, Sunderland
- 20 April – Morocco Bound, London
- 22 April – Script Haven, Worcester
- 23 April – Leith Depot, Edinburgh
- 24 April – Repas7, Berwick
- 28 April – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
The mix of venues reflects the tone of the EP. Some shows will carry a fuller sound, while others will strip things back, allowing the writing to sit front and centre.
Review
What makes Because I Care work is how clearly each track defines its own space.
‘Did I Deserve It?’ feels unsettled in the right way. It keeps questioning itself without landing on an answer, and that gives it a sharp edge that stands out straight away.
‘Fairweather Friends’ pulls things into a different direction. It’s quieter in tone, but there’s still something uneasy running through it. It doesn’t feel like closure, more like looking back and not quite knowing what to do with it.
Then ‘Not Scared At All’ cuts through everything else. This is where things feel most direct. There’s less distance, less cushioning, and that makes it hit harder.
The title track sits slightly outside those moments. It feels broader, almost like it’s setting the frame before everything narrows into something more personal.
By the time ‘Sixteen’ closes things out, the perspective has shifted. It looks back rather than forward, and that change gives the EP its shape.
Nothing here blends together. Each track carries its own weight, but they still feel connected. That’s what keeps it engaging all the way through.
You can listen to Because I Care on your favourite streaming platform and follow Isabel Maria over on Instagram.
