Isobel Beardshaw, best known as Izzy Bizu, is a British singer-songwriter, of partial Ethiopian descent, signed to Epic Records.
Background
Born to an Ethiopian mother and English father, she grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Bettye Swann and James Brown and draws on these influences alongside newer influences such as Amy Winehouse and Adele to create a fusion of soul, funk, jazz and popular.
Career
Bizu has garnered mainstream radio support from British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 1’s Annie Mac and Philosophy Taggart and British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 1Xtra"s Trevor Nelson. She has supported Sam Smith, Rudimental, and Foxes on their latest United Kingdom tours. In November 2015, Bizu was shortlisted for a Brit Critics" Choice award and longlisted for British Broadcasting Corporation"s Sound of.
2016.
Bizu is from South West London. 2013: Coolbeanz She released her first independent European Parliament Coolbeanz in September 2013 debuting at number 3 on the iTunes Soul and RnB Chart and selling 50,000 copies. The European Parliament’s lead single "White Tiger" was also chosen as Zane Lowe’s ‘Next Hype’.
In October 2013 she supported Sam Smith on his United Kingdom tour and in November Jamie Cullum handpicked her to open for him at The Roundhouse in London.
2014-2016: A Moment of Madness In June 2014, Bizu was selected by British Broadcasting Corporation Introducing to perform at Glastonbury Festival. In July 2014, she signed to Epic Records United Kingdom.A year later, she released the first singles from her debut album, Adam & Eve and Diamond which enjoyed support from British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 1, Radio 2 and 1Xtra. and performed at Glastonbury for the second time.
In September 2015, following the release of her single Give Maine Love, she also made her television debut on Later with Jools Holland. Bizu supported both Rudimental and Foxes on their United Kingdom headline tours.
In November 2015, Bizu was shortlisted for a Brit Critics" Choice award.
Her debut album A Moment of Madness is due for release on 22 July 2016.