ISQ is the project of acclaimed jazz-pop vocalist Irene Serra, blending groove-driven jazz with rock and electronic elements. Joined by Richard Sadler (bass), Chris Nickolls (drums), and Luca Boscagin (guitar), they pair rich melodies with powerful, evocative storytelling.
Their albums—including Too (Time Out Critics’ Choice) and Requiem For The Faithful —have earned UK tours and collaborations with top international producers. Their upcoming fifth album, The Silence Is Deafening (Oct 2026), introduces a guitar-and-electronics-driven sound described as “noir jazz meets Massive Attack”, continuing their reputation for bold, distinctive music.
The origins...
Irene was a 4 year old Italian girl living in Denmark when her dad had brought her big sister the “Madonna” cassette tape back from one of his (then) distant travels to Japan. She would sneak into her sisters room and play the cassette tape over and over again until she had memorised all the lyrics and made up questionable dance moves to the songs so that she could perform them in full glory in front of the family hamsters, Coco and Chanel. A few months after, she proudly announced to her mother that she was going to be a “singer” when she grew up. It was at that precise moment that the seed for ISQ was officially planted.
...AND The Inspirations...
Just as her love for Madonna was waning (but never for too long!) her family forgot her in front of the tv one fateful winter evening where she discovered the dulcet tones of Judy Garland and “The Wizard Of Oz”. A lifelong love of Jazz and red sparkly shoes ensued.
After much experimentation with various instruments growing up including the recorder, a brief and misguided stint on the violin and the piano (she was mostly diligent because of the delicious salty liquorice the teacher would give her at the end of each class), Irene decided to study singing when she moved back to Milan as a teenager. Fascinated by her mom’s love of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Mina and other classic Italian singers she heard playing on her mom’s radio in the kitchen, she was hooked on the Great American Songbook.
...Behind ISQ!
Deciding to take another geographical leap and follow that yellow brick road, Irene moved to London to study music and, after A LOT of practise and repertoire learning, she was soon warbling on the London Jazz scene where she met the rest of the ISQ crew. It was at one of those gigs that she met Richard, soon-to-be double bass player and co-founder of ISQ. Although he was playing Baritone Sax on that gig, Irene never held it against him.
Chris Nickolls, an incredibly versatile jazz drummer and electronic music aficionado, was recruited shortly afterwards, having played with both Richard and Irene in a variety of bands on the London music scene over the years. Irene met and developed her musical affinity with Luca Boscagin, guitar extraordinaire and ISQ’s newest member, over many years of playing duo gigs together. Luca’s insanely creative guitar chops and their shared passion for Brazilian music and British Pop songs made him the obvious choice when Irene, wanting a sonic change whilst writing the 5th album, decided to replace the piano with guitar. And the rest is ISQ history.
