Izzy Withers Interview: ‘I don’t know where I’d be without the girls’
TOPNOTE talks to Izzy Withers. Image credit: Dawbell PR
‘We're put against each other often, young girls making popular music from London, we're all boxed in, but I think it's really freeing to understand that and choose to separate yourself from it.’
It may have been a TV advert jingle that switched Izzy Withers onto her dreams of becoming a singer, but the 20 year old’s true musical influences come from the ‘UK girlies’ before her.
As a new generation of neo-soul stars climbs the ranks — many of them her former classmates — Izzy Withers rises among them, rooted in the belief that there’s space for everyone. Alongside co-running Beau Beau’s Music Club, a community networking space that hosts workshops for sectors across the music industry, Withers frequently shares the stage herself, with past festival performances alongside RAYE, Loyle Carner, Lola Young and Flames Collective. Quietly composed and impressively eloquent, she’s content with a mug of tea, before sitting down to share a refreshingly honest take on what it means – and how it feels – to be in the starting spotlight.
TOPNOTE spoke to Izzy about the inspiration behind the singer’s newest singles, reflections on leaving home at 16 to pursue a career in music, and plans to hold her own Alice-In-Wonderland-Wizard-Of-Oz hybrid tea party with fans.
Izzy Withers, ‘Miss Envy’ single artwork. Image credit: Dawbell PR
This interview has been edited for clarity.
TOPNOTE: Your latest single ‘Miss Envy’ is about jealousy and comparison. What does that song mean to you and why did you feel the need to write it?
Izzy: I grew up in a small village and I was very much, big fish, little pond. I moved to London and went to Elam which is an amazing music school. I had a great two years there, but suddenly I was in this space where everyone was a singer and incredibly talented. Sekou, some of the girls from FLO, Sienna Spiro… we were all there around the same time. Being in a space full of such talented people for the first time, I had big imposter syndrome. I think naturally that brought up feelings of comparison.
Music is such a way to feel a feeling and let it go. I wrote that song to encompass that big feeling I didn't really know how to navigate, but also to leave it in the past. I think jealousy… everyone feels it a little bit, whether they want to admit it or not.
Do you think it helped, releasing that song?
Izzy: 100%. Even seeing that people relate to it, in their own way. Like a few girls have texted me and for example, they have a boyfriend and maybe an ex they find comparing themselves to. And it's helped them understand how they felt, they’ve screamed it in a car, and now they feel better.
A lot of my closest friends are in music. I don't feel that way about them. And I know they don't feel that way about me. It is a shame because we're put against each other often, young girls making popular music from London, we're all boxed in, but I think it's really freeing to understand that and choose to separate yourself from it.
When did you realise you wanted to be a singer?
Izzy: There was this advert on the TV like ‘Autoglass Repair, Autoglass Replace’, and that's the first thing I remember singing, I was probably about three or four. I just wouldn't shut up. I was an only child, so I had a lot of free space to just be and do. I did musical theatre as a kid. I loved ‘Annie’. I've been singing since I can remember, so it all just feels like an expansion of me really.
“There’s always going to be someone more talented than you just because that’s how life works. But you can always try and be the most hardworking. I’m not expecting anything to fall into my lap, I know I’m gonna have to work for it, but I think that makes it even more enjoyable when it actually happens.”
How old were you when you moved to London?
Izzy: I was 16 when I moved out, which is so young. I was singing at open mic nights, round Heathfield… Hastings…. Basically anywhere that would have me. I realised that if I wanted to do it for real, I needed to be somewhere bigger than I was. Also my parents split up around that time and my whole life was changing. I kind of just took it head on and was like well if everything is changing, then maybe it's natural for me to follow that.
In hindsight, was it a good decision?
Izzy: I’m in two minds, I definitely wouldn't be in the position I'm in now if I didn't take that step then. However, sometimes I do, I guess grieve the end of my [adolesence], because I had to worry about rent and adult problems before necessarily I needed to. It’s definitely a risk, but it was a sacrifice worth taking. I'm blessed now that I have amazing friends and family that allow me to be silly and young and not feel like I've had to completely shove that aside.
My friends and family are my rocks. I have no idea what I'd do without the girls… And I think it takes time to find that as well. I really struggled with friendships growing up and even when I first moved to London, finding my feet. It’s only in the last year or so that I've found amazing people that I know I can rely on.
Who were your inspirations growing up and who are you listening to now?
Izzy: I’m a bit Trinny, my dad's Caribbean, so Soca was something that played in my house 24/7 growing up. I work part-time as a barista and I have really early morning shifts, so some mornings I'll get up and I'll be blaring Soca in my headphones. Sometimes it’ll be a little bit of gospel music, my faith is something I hold quite dear to me. But then sometimes it'll be an R&B track.
In terms of main influences, I love Olivia Dean, Mahalia, Jorja Smith, Joy Crookes. They really shaped my teenagehood and probably the music I create. Growing up, I listened to a lot of neo soul. There was a lot of Lauryn Hill in my house. Corinne Bailey Rae is probably my biggest inspiration. And now, it's a lot of UK girlies, I think there's some really exciting names coming up. I love Nectar Woode, Amie Blu, my friends Lola Moxom, Mulaa Joans. I think the UK scene, for soul music as well, is super exciting.
Let's talk about fashion. I want to know the story behind your red shoes.
Izzy: I was opening for Loyle Carner at All Points East, I was in Camden shopping for some looks and found these £2.50 shoes in Triad. I loved The Wizard of Oz growing up, that was my favourite movie. I was like, you know what, red shoes kind of makes sense for me – I'm at home on stage, two clicks and I’m there kind of thing.
I wore them for a couple shows and people started to notice them… slowly and surely it’s become a thing. I love them. I'm trying to expand my collection, I have my OGs, the lucky pair, but I only wear them on special occasions. It's become one of my favourite things to style around. I'm excited to see some people wearing red shoes at a show.
“As an artist, I don’t want to be put on a pedestal. For example, Mahalia... I can imagine myself getting coffee with her, and I want to be like that. I want to make sure the people who listen to my music and are supporting the journey feel connected to me like I did with her.”
What are your plans for summer, is there anything you can share with us?
Izzy: Well, I actually just finished a song yesterday that I'm super happy with. I'm really excited to get that into the world and just get things moving. It's called ‘Selfish’, it's about someone not realising what they've got till they've lost it, and the empowerment that comes with realising that, and setting yourself free from a situation that doesn't serve you anymore. I think having some events as well, maybe a tea party, and getting ready for a headline show.
What’s this about a potential tea party?
Izzy: So I love tea... I’m British so I guess that make sense. There are a lot of familiar faces that I've started to see now at my shows, and I just want to connect with them. As an artist, I don't want to be put on a pedestal. For example, Mahalia, she seems like an artist you can resonate with, I can imagine myself getting coffee with her, and I want to be like that. I want to make sure the people who listen to my music and are supporting the journey feel connected to me like I did with her. So I’m planning to have a little tea party, a little conversation over a cuppa, and also play the new music before anyone else has heard it.
Is there a dream headline venue for you in London?
Izzy: I actually have a few. The other week I opened for my best friend Mulaa Joans at Hoxton Hall, the sound was amazing. I'd also love to play KOKO in Camden, I love the big disco ball. I would also really, really love to play Brixton Academy and Hammersmith Apollo. They’re the top four in London… but I also have to say Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury. That is the big goal. Maybe… 2030, 2031. I feel super happy about my live stuff and I'm excited to see what happens over the next year in terms of support slots. I'd love to do a support tour.
There's always going to be someone more talented than you just because that's how life works. But you can always try and be the most hardworking. I'm not expecting anything to fall into my lap, I know I'm gonna have to work for it, but I think that makes it even more enjoyable when it actually happens.
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Keep your eyes peeled for an Izzy Withers tea party and headline show on the horizon.
Upcoming British neo-soul singer Izzy Withers talks to TOPNOTE. Image credit: Bethany Cordery