Rosa Bordallo’s ‘Isidro’: The Voice of the Future, Rooted in Resilience
Rosa Bordallo (formerly Manett) is a singer-songwriter and Chamorro artist from Guam, now based in New York City. Since moving there at 19, she has released multiple albums and EPs as a solo artist and as a member of indie rock band cholo. Her second full-length solo album, Isidro, is out today.
Bordallo picked up guitar in high school, quickly discovering songwriting as both an outlet and a challenge. Supporting her music through office jobs and restaurant work, she eventually transitioned to the service industry while balancing rehearsals, recording, performances, and single parenthood.
“Music has always been my pressure valve,” she says. Growing up shy and introverted, she was deeply influenced by the music her older siblings brought back from the U.S.—Björk, PJ Harvey, David Bowie, and Pixies. She aspired to make the same kind of impact, despite being oceans away.
Lately, her thoughts have returned to home. Guam, one of the world’s most militarized regions, faces climate threats and an expanding U.S. military presence that already occupies over a third of the island.
“I wrote these songs in 2021 and 2022, in the wake of the pandemic and personal loss. I found strength in the resilience of my ancestors. I’m a survivor. We all are.”
Bordallo composed all the music and lyrics for Isidro and recorded it with producer Ben Etter (Deerhunter, Hazel English) at MAZE Studios in Atlanta. With Etter’s guidance, she prepped full demos before tracking the album in just eight days. Atlanta musicians Sean Zearfoss (drums) and Keegan Krogh (production assistance) rounded out the sessions.
The result is a lush mix of indie pop and psychedelic electro-rock, blending shimmering synths, dynamic rhythms, and searing guitar solos. The album closes with its first single, “I Feel Numb”—a towering orchestral rock track that, despite its title, leaves the listener feeling anything but.
