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Izzy Bizu
British-Ethiopian singer-songwriter (born 1994) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Isobel Bizu Beardshaw[1] (born 28 April 1994), better known as Izzy Bizu, is a British-Ethiopian singer-songwriter[2][3] previously signed with Epic Records.[4] Bizu has garnered mainstream radio support from BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac and Phil Taggart[5] and BBC Radio 1Xtra's Trevor Nelson.[6] She has supported Coldplay, Sam Smith,[2] Rudimental,[7] and Foxes.[8] In November 2015, Bizu was shortlisted for a Brit Critics' Choice award[9] and longlisted for BBC's Sound of... 2016.[10] 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.
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Biography
Izzy Bizu is from southwest London,[11] and attended Stamford High School, Lincolnshire.[12] Her mother is Ethiopian and her father is English. She grew up between Ethiopia and Bahrain, where her father worked, before moving to London as a teen.[1] She studied music tech in college, but dropped out shortly afterwards,[1]but still attended and completed Point blank music school's song writing course before making a name for herself.[13]
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Career
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2013: Coolbeanz
After the girl group SoundGirl split, Bizu won an open mic night competition in February 2013 winning over the crowd, which included Emeli Sande and Naughty Boy, who were in attendance.[2] She released her first independent EP, Coolbeanz, in September 2013, which debuted at number 3 on the iTunes Soul and RnB Chart and has sold 50,000 copies.[14] The EP's lead single, "White Tiger", was also chosen as Zane Lowe's 'Next Hype'.[15] In October 2013, she supported Sam Smith on their UK tour,[16] and in November Jamie Cullum handpicked her to open for him at The Roundhouse in London.[17]
2014–2016: A Moment of Madness
In January 2014, Bizu entered Glastonbury Festival's Emerging Talent Competition and made it to the final 8 of the competition,[18] performing at the live finals of the event at Pilton Working Men's Club in April 2014. Bizu was named runner-up, winning £2,500 from the PRS Foundation and a slot at that year's Glastonbury Festival.[19]
In June 2014, Bizu was also selected by BBC Introducing[16] to perform at the Glastonbury Festival.[20] In July 2014, she signed to Epic Records UK.[4] A year later, she released the first singles from her debut album, "Adam & Eve" and "Diamond", which enjoyed support from BBC Radio 1,[21] Radio 2[22] and 1Xtra,[6] and performed at Glastonbury for the second time.[23]
In September 2015, following the release of her single "Give Me Love", she also made her TV debut on Later... with Jools Holland.[24] Bizu supported both Rudimental[7] and Foxes[8] on their UK headline tours. In November 2015, Bizu was shortlisted for a Brit Critics' Choice award.[9] In January 2016 Bizu's song 'White Tiger' featured on the advert for National Citizen Service (NCS) and in March 2016 she performed at NCS Yes Live alongside Tinie Tempah and Jess Glynne. Her debut album, A Moment of Madness, was released on 2 September 2016.[25] In April 2016, Bizu recorded (with the BBC Concert Orchestra) an uptempo, updated version of the Edith Piaf 1957 hit "La Foule" as the theme music for the BBC's coverage of the Euro 2016 Football Tournament.
Izzy Bizu was featured as a vocalist on Milky Chance's track "Bad Things" on their 2017 album Blossom, and on Kungs and David Guetta's 2024 single "All Night Long."
2016–present
Bizu is UK ambassador for Studio Samuel, a non-profit that empowers girls in Ethiopia through education and job-based training.[26]
Bizu is currently signed with Hi-Tea records, a division of the UK-based Logan Media Entertainment music label, where she is also a music producer.[27]
In the United States, Bizu is represented by Sony's RED MUSIC label.[28]
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Personal life
Bizu once wanted to be a veterinarian but began pursuing music after being discovered during an audition for a teenage-girl band at the age of 15.[28]
Bizu is a skateboarder, having picked up the practice from her former ex-boyfriend and guitarist Mika Barroux.[29]
She regularly visits her mother's birthplace of Ethiopia with family to volunteer.[28]
She's not a fan of rollercoaster rides, saying in a 2016 interview that she freaked out and had to leave a Thorpe Park ride before it started.[30]
Artistry
Bizu has described herself as a fan of jazz-fusion mixes and a lover of squat parties and warehouse raves. She grew up listening to Whitney Houston, Ella Fitzgerald, Bettye Swann and James Brown[11] and draws on these influences alongside newer influences such as Amy Winehouse and Adele to create a fusion of soul, funk, jazz and pop.[31]
She lists The Black Keys, Diana Ross, Grammatics and Sam Cooke among her other influences.[32]
Her Ethiopian heritage is also an influence in her music.[28]
Bizu hopes to one day collaborate with Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar.[33]
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Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
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Notes
- "White Tiger" did not enter the Flemish Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 3 on the Ultratip chart.[36]
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
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