The Isley Brothers Discuss Their Collaboration With Beyoncé And Their Future Plans

In the year 1975. The Isley Brothers are presently on tour and have stopped in Chicago to play songs from their latest album, The Heat Is On. Future Isley hits included the funk-rock political hymn “Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)” and the fervent ballad “For the Love of You (Part 1 & 2).”

“We started singing ‘Make Me Say It Again Girl,'” guitarist Ernie Isley told Billboard in an exclusive interview.

Meanwhile, Ronald looked handsome in his leather suit. Later in the song, during Ronald’s final line and chorus, one of our coworkers came on onstage and draped a white mink over him. Every woman in that room transformed into melted chocolate, in my opinion.

The Isley Brothers are ready to take things to the next level in 2022, after 60 years in the industry. And it begins with “Make Me,” which Beyoncé enhances by mixing her gorgeous, soft voice with Ronald Isley’s ageless, supple tenor. The global streaming of “Make Me Say It Again Girl” on iHeartRadio begins on Tuesday, August 9th, after the Isley Brothers’ “Friends & Family” with Snoop Dogg last year.

They’ve also given the title to their most recent album. The album, Make Me, will be released in September by independent label RI Top Ten, according to Ronald and Ernie, with “many more guest features” to follow. “Beyoncé’s album [Renaissance] is out now,” Ronald says, referring to Beyoncé and Jay-“Make Z’s Me” collaboration. Our first single from the album, on the other hand, could not be released at the same time under any circumstances. Consider how vital this assignment is.”

Continue reading for more from the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and Ronald’s manager/wife Kandy, including the tale behind “Make Me Say It Again Girl (Part 1 & 2)” and Ronald and Beyoncé’s first ever collaboration.

It’s taken a long time

Ronald: When Beyoncé was a part of Destiny’s Child, I had the opportunity to chat with her. When we started recording our new album in Los Angeles last year, one of the first things that came to mind was the idea of working with Beyoncé. She had spent virtually the entire previous year working on her own album and singing for it while in the Hamptons.

Tina Knowles-Lawson, alias Kandy, was instrumental in getting this song off the ground and to where it is today. Her daughter was raised on Isley Brothers music and shares her mother’s enthusiasm for the band. We can only conclude that God was involved in every phase of this project. It’s really unusual for them to give us permission to distribute it right now. Beyoncé is tremendously gifted, and [producer/engineer] Tony Maserati did an outstanding job of blending her and Ronald’s voices such that they sounded as though they were in the same room.

What made “Make Me” appropriate for the situation?

Among Ronald, Marvin, Rudolph, O’Kelly, and Chris Jasper, this is one of Ernie’s best tunes. Every time we’ve performed this song live, the audience has responded positively. As a result, this song selection was appropriate.