There’s nothing better than hearing a new album by someone just starting out in there recording career. However, this young lady is no beginner. 14-year old Isabela Moner debuted in Broadway’s Evita, stars in Nickelodeon’s 100 Things To Do Before High School, and now releases her debut, 12-track album Stopping Time on Broadway Records.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Isabela made her Broadway debut in the revival of Evita at age ten. That same year, Isabela made her national and international television debut as a singer in The Next Big Thing: New York. She earned her first feature film lead role in the critically acclaimed The House that Jack Built, winner of numerous awards at film festivals across the United States.

In 2013, Isabela went on to star as Wendy in the world premiere of Fly the Musical. Other workshop and theatre credits include: Zorro (Young Lisa), Little Miss Sunshine (Rosa Maria), A Christmas Carol (Sarah Cratchit), Annie (Annie) and Les Miserables (Young Cossette).

Broadway Records’ Van Dean, already an ardent fan, quickly signed her to a recording pact with the intention of developing a more pop-oriented vehicle for her. Says Dean, “I recognized immediately that Isabela is an artist with her own unique vision and is an incredible musician. We started working together when she was only 11 but it was already clear that she had an astounding knack for crafting new songs and making songs we’ve heard before, very much her own. Given how accomplished she is already, I can only imagine what the future holds for her. She is definitely one to watch and I am honoured to have been there at the beginning.”

Isabela currently stars as CJ Martin in the Nickelodeon show, 100 Things To Do Before High School. Isabela sings the show’s theme song 'Brand New Day', as well as an episode solo 'Rock Out'. She previously appeared in NBC’s Growing Up Fisher and the Nickelodeon movie Splitting Adam, as well as voices a series regular character on the Nickelodeon animated preschool series, Dora and Friends: Into the City. She has performed with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and Contemporary Youth Orchestra, and has performed at various notable venues such as 54 Below, Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, and the Apollo Theater.

There is much to like about this release. Moner can clearly sing, and looking at her growing list of credits, she must be able to act. She doesn’t get much chance on the album unfortunately, and that is my biggest problem with this release. I would have liked to hear some songs that she could really get her acting teeth into. Musical theatre is only briefly featured here (the obvious track from Evita, and 'Bring The Future Faster' from Rooms, a track favoured by many at the moment) and I think more of a theatrical element to the album would have helped to really showcase her talent. As it is, we’re left with some extremely good versions of some well known songs ('Wonderwall' - which I wasn’t expecting in the slightest!) to more recent chart songs such as 'Halo'. My favourite track on the album was new to me, a song called 'Everything', which really captured the character of Moner’s voice.

A very promising start to a recording career.

7

Ian Gude