Serena Robb AKA Isle of CC

This interview with Serena Robb, who performs under the name Isle of CC, explores her development as a singer, songwriter and event organiser, and her experiences growing up creatively in Milton Keynes. Born and raised in the city, her earliest connection to music came through church, where she sang in choirs, performed in plays, and took part in dance groups. These early experiences built her confidence and laid the foundation for her interest in performance. Her musical influences came largely from home, including gospel, R&B, soul and hip-hop artists played by her parents, creating a broad and eclectic taste from a young age.

She initially studied performing arts at Milton Keynes College before moving into a music course, eventually going on to university. Although she first imagined herself working behind the scenes as a backing vocalist or songwriter, she was encouraged to step forward as a solo performer. Around 2017, during her final year, she began writing and recording her own material in earnest, creating and launching her debut EP Agoraphobia alongside a live show. The project was deeply personal, shaped by experiences of loss, heartbreak and anxiety, including her first panic attacks, which informed the EP’s title and themes. Her creative process often began with listening to beats and building lyrics from emotional reflections and word associations, later collaborating with producers to develop finished tracks.

Before this, she had released her debut single “Losing” in 2016, initially sharing it online with little expectation, but it gained traction and encouraged her to continue making music. Over time she has blended singing, spoken word and storytelling, drawing on influences such as Childish Gambino and other contemporary artists, while developing a poetic style focused on emotion and narrative.

Her live performance journey began while studying in Brighton, later bringing her music back to Milton Keynes with shows at venues such as Bogota Coffee, The Craufurd Arms, MK11 and local theatres. She has also performed for BBC Introducing and Sofar Sounds, experiences she describes as both exciting and nerve-racking, particularly performing for attentive audiences in intimate settings.

Alongside her own releases, including the later project Void, she has become increasingly involved in organising events and supporting the local music scene. She highlights both the growth of grassroots creativity in Milton Keynes and the challenges artists face, particularly the lack of affordable, central performance spaces. Winning a Milton Keynes Multicultural Excellence Award strengthened her commitment to supporting other creatives, attending events and helping build a stronger local community. For her, music and hip-hop culture are rooted in storytelling, connection and shared experience, helping bring people together across generations and backgrounds.