Izzy Bizu
Sun-drenched soul with a raspy, jazz-inflected edge. Bright, rhythmic R&B that feels like a warm breeze and a sudden burst of optimism.
Sun-drenched soul with a raspy, jazz-inflected edge. Bright, rhythmic R&B that feels like a warm breeze and a sudden burst of optimism.
Izzy Bizu creates a sound that feels like the musical equivalent of a sunbeam. Her music sits at a vibrant intersection of modern R&B, classic soul, and indie-pop, characterized by a persistent sense of movement and joy. There is a rhythmic bounce to her tracks that draws from her Ethiopian heritage and her love of warehouse raves, giving even her more sentimental songs a danceable, kinetic energy.
What truly distinguishes her is her vocal character. She possesses a distinctive rasp and a breathy agility that allows her to skip across jazz-fusion chords with the ease of a veteran scat singer, yet her delivery remains grounded in accessible, catchy pop sensibilities. It is sophisticated without being cold, and polished without losing its organic, hand-played warmth. Her production often favors live-sounding drums and warm analog synths that wrap around her voice like a favorite sweater.
For those new to her catalog, the breakout single White Tiger is the essential starting point. It perfectly encapsulates her ability to blend a Motown-inspired pulse with 21st-century production. From there, her debut album A Moment of Madness offers a full spectrum of her sound, ranging from intimate, stripped-back moments to high-energy soul anthems that are perfect for any upbeat playlist.
Isobel Bizu Beardshaw (born 28 April 1994), better known as Izzy Bizu, is a British-Ethiopian singer-songwriter previously signed with Epic Records. Bizu has garnered mainstream radio support from BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac and Phil Taggart and BBC Radio 1Xtra's Trevor Nelson. She has supported Coldplay, Sam Smith, Rudimental, and Foxes. In November 2015, Bizu was shortlisted for a Brit Critics' Choice award and longlisted for BBC's Sound of... 2016. She won the BBC Music Introducing Award at the 2016 ceremony. On 25 June 2016, Bizu performed on the Park Stage at the Glastonbury Festival.
Shares jazz fusion, funk, soul, hopeful (subgenre)
Shares raspy, summer, hand played, hopeful (signature)
Shares jazz fusion, funk, soul, joyful (subgenre)
Shares hand played, funk, soul, falsetto (production)
Shares hand played, funk, soul, falsetto (production)
Shares jazz fusion, hand played, funk, soul (signature)
Shares jazz fusion, funk, soul, falsetto (signature)
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