Sassy and soulful, wildly talented and strikingly humble; Laura Izibor’s personality offers as wide as range as the songs recorded on her hit debut album. You may have heard her one of her tunes as a background to Meredith and McDreamy’s antics on Grey’s Anatomy, or you may have had the chance to hear her live as the opening act for Aretha Franklin or John Legen ; you might even be discovering her right now. However you met her, you will be glad to enter the beautifully soulful world of Laura Izibor; we certainly were as The New Yooxer met her for an exclusive interview.
Scopri la Dream Box di Laura Izibor
1. You named your debut album Let The Truth Be Told , can you tell what kind of truth?
I named my album Let The Truth Be Told as I felt being the sole writer of the album this was my truth. About my life, love and just telling things from my perspective.
2. Do you have an inspirational figure in music who has guided you?
Nina Simone is a really big influence. Especially lately. She didn’t care what people thought of her. She was not typical in any sense and her songs where just so real and straight from her.
3. During your career, what’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I’ve been given is “be yourself”, no two people are the same and that’s what keeps us all original and fresh. But in this industry it’s hard sometimes to remember that. So that’s why I regularly quote it back to myself.
4. What does make you cry and what does make you happy?
Some of the sweet things my fans say through Twitter or Facebook. They have no idea how much they uplift me and so often make me teary eyed! Spending time with my nephews and nieces; they’re hilarious and always get me laughing my head
5. You can’t live without….?
I can’t live without my iPhone. It’s got so much of what i need on a daily basis. I need to listen to music and that’s that. I also need to talk to my sis or my mam once or sometimes twice a day. Pictures of my fam… and some apps to keep me occupied on the plane!!
6. What’s on your iPod?
My iPod has got Coldplay (Viva la Vida). Damien Marley and NAS (Distant Relative), Muse (The Resistance), Corinne Bailey Rae (The Sea).
7. What does your wardrobe say about you?
Oh….it’s ever changing, I’m getting a little bit more bold these days. Whatever I rock I have to be comfortable. So i guess it says I dress for myself, not for anybody else.
8. High heels vs flats?
I’d say flats….but I love putting on some heels for stage and at events. They just make you feel sexy.
9. If you had a bad day what would you do?
I’m a big baby, I call my mam or my sis and get lots of TLC… and then I’ll snuggle up with a hot cup of tea, ha!
10. A message in a bottle for the next generation?
Wow… Do not dream with a limit…… you are change. Now go and be great!
BIO
Born to a working class family in Dublin, Ireland, Izibor didn’t grow up in a musical household but once the love for musicians like Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack took hold, she was smitten for good. After winning prestigious national performance competition at only 15, she then started work on her debut album. Let The Truth Be Told was recorded over the course of four years in a diverse range of cities from New York to Dublin. Laura also performed live constantly during this period, finding her true home onstage. Having performed several sold-out shows in Ireland, and opened for acts including James Brown, Angie Stone, and The Roots, she’s now made her name for herself as “The Soul of Ireland”. The album came out in 2009 to reveal a collection of songs full of authenticity, both sassy and inspirational. Izibor has become a success on both commercial and artistic fronts as she continues the lineage set out by artists like Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott, between reverence for the traditions of early R&B and a thoroughly modern sensibility.
