Izzy Bizu: 2017

Izzy Bizu’s breezy, blithe and sometimes wistful debut, 2016’s  A Moment of Madness, was the culmination of years exploring her identity as a singer and songwriter. Her inspiration springs from her London life, British roots, Ethiopian heritage and childhood years spent in Bahrain.

Her strikingly sweet voice — at once weary, gritty, tender and wise — adapts as easily to jazz as it does to pop and R&B. She’s garnered plenty of fans along the way too — she was personally invited by Chris Martin to tour the States with Coldplay in the summer of 2017.

Bizu, born Isobel Beardshaw, has earned plenty of accolades already: she was BBC Introducing’s Artist of the Year in 2016, longlisted on the BBC Sound of 2016 poll, received a BRITS Critics Choice Award nomination. She was a part of the very first BBC Music Presents tour in the States last year, along with Sundara Karma and Spring King.

Soft-spoken and earnest, Bizu marvels over her life-changing couple of years — and what lies ahead for her second album. When she visited Studio A, she discussed improvisation, the importance of her family, and the surreal by-products of fame — like the Irish racehorse that bears her name.

[recorded: 8/3/17]