Meet IZZY T | Alternative Recording Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with IZZY T and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi IZZY T, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Consistency is key to progress in anything. It’s not enough to just say you want to do something, then make a few steps towards that goal, but not go HARD at it. I found myself going in circles for YEARS because I wasn’t consistent enough with what I was doing. It’s not enough to just set an intention, you’ve got to set goals with deadlines, and steps towards getting there. There’s lots of lessons I’ve learned whilst pursuing my artist career, I had to make some really tough decisions, and step back from certain situations that were hindering my mental health, therefore hindering my productivity for my passion. You’ve got to be a little bit selfish sometimes, you can only help people if you’re helping yourself first.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When people ask why I’m an artist, I usually respond with “to empower people”, the further I go through life, I actually realise that I actually started being an artist to empower myself, giving other people strength through my music is just a very rewarding bonus.

I come from a small city in the north of England (Hull), where when I was growing up, being an artist and moving out the city was almost seen as ridiculous, or snobby. Everyone I knew worked a normal 9 to 5, which if you want to do that, that’s GREAT. There’s a lot of comfort and peace of mind with stability like that, I just happened to be one of those kids that it didn’t suit, I just didn’t see my future with a mortgage, husband and a baby by 25.
Some people want extravagant holidays abroad twice a year with the family, I wanted to play stadiums.

Growing up I was a white girl with big bushy, Middle Eastern curly/frizzy hair, with big eye brows and a braces, instantly a target for bullying! Some days it would get so severe I’d make myself vomit in the toilet so I could be sent home.
Writing poetry was a way for me to let out the anger and frustration I had built upside me, those poems eventually turned into songs, I started learning how to sing and play guitar, then the rest is history.

Fast forward to today, I play shows around the world, singing the songs I wrote about feeling like a victim, then finding my power. Sometimes life does happen TO you, but the only thing you can control is how you handle it, how you can learn from it, and move forward.

I also tour places of education, talking to kids about anti bullying and mental health, its something I really wish happened more when I was at school. I think if a girl not too far away from my age came to my school and spoke about stuff like this, there would have been some things I would have approached differently in life.

Being half Iranian, I’ve been singing at Iranian human rights protests to aid awareness in the UK about the atrocities that are happening in Iran right now.

I would describe my music as sonically dark, but with empowering lyrics, and catchy as hell choruses!

I fund my life and my career through providing session vocals for other peoples projects, and vocal lessons for anyone aspiring to learn how to sing, or simply sing better.
being an entrepreneur can be a lonely path, you don’t have the same work hours as a lot of people, you never really switch off, and not a lot of people actually get it. But I don’t want to work for anybody, my goal is to be my own boss, as that’s the only way I’ve really progressed.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hmm okay, so if in London, first spot I’d hit with them would be Camden! It’s such a cool music hub and so many up and coming artists are performing there, its an area with a lot of attitude

If in LA, sunset strip! For the iconic venues and bars like whisky a go go, the rainbow bar etc, those are just such cool places to hang and meet likeminded people.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
OK, so there’s a lot of people I need to shout out for the help and support they’ve given! I’m going to start with my family, they didn’t get the daughter who wanted to become a lawyer or a dentist, but they DID get the crazy daughter who’s mad enough to chase a dream so big its scary.. and they’ve been with me, supporting from the start.

Vincent Heavy, started out as my business coach, now he’s my best friend.
He helped me when I was overcoming my depression, and knows how to give me a brutally honest, but still motivating pep talk! He tells me not what I want to hear, but what I need to hear, and I think that’s the mark of a real friend.

Helen Hurd, another dear friend who is also a sound therapist, helped me throughout my depression MASSIVELY.
I’ll never forget her saying, “Izzy, all of this trauma will actually be the making of you”, and she was right.

Gustavo, Kim Nickerson, Cemilla Kabadai, Neil Fox, Kevin Reynolds, and many more dear people who helped me get back on my feet when I was at my lowest, or helped me in my career in some way.

Instagram: @izzytofficial

Youtube: Izzy T official

Image Credits
Walwin