What is your name?
Ezzy is artist name – it’s a nickname for Eira, as no one ever seems to be able to pronounce my name!
What is your genre of music?
Pop, primarily – but there’s a lot of different genres mixed in there.
Give us a little bio about you.
I grew up in Barry, Wales, and moved to Stafford to live with my aunt as soon as I’d finished Sixth Form. From there, I was able to commute to BIMM Birmingham, a music university, where I am still currently studying as a second year. I started taking music seriously in 2019 and haven’t looked back since. All my lyrics are reflections on my life and mean a lot to me. If you were to listen to my discography in order, you’d hear a diary of events from when I started back in 2019 to now. I love listening back on who I used to be and how much I’ve grown.
What made you go into music?
I’ve always been into music and wanted to be a singer ever since I was young, but when I was about thirteen/fourteen I fell in love with musical theatre, and my music journey took the back pedal a little bit. I wanted to become a musical theatre star, but I realised when I went to study acting for a term at university that music was my main passion, and I missed it. I realised how much I loved writing music, too, and singing the music that I’d written. From that moment everything I had went into researching and recording how to make it as an artist, and I’m still on that journey now.
Who are your influences?
My influences are vast; I listen to a wide range of music – when I was younger, the Disney Channel singers like Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale really inspired me. Artists like Katy Perry and Rihanna too, and I used to adore Jesse McCartney. I love his album ‘Right Where You Want Me’. Also artists like Paramore and My Chemical Romance too. Nowadays, I listen to so much variety who I’m listening to changes weekly, sometimes even daily. Back when I started writing, it was when Billie Eilish’s debut album came out, so I was really into her. I loved Khalid too and Ariana Grande, but also artists such as Slipknot, Vampire Weekend and The Raconteurs. All very different types of music. Nowadays, rap is more my thing: Central Cee and Gunna are two examples, although I could give many more. Local artists, too, such as The Nu and The Novus – they’re both fantastic. It’s hard to pin down where my influences come from, because they come from everywhere. The people in my life are my main influences, though, as they are the lyrical influences for my music.
Are you signed?
I’m not, no. I go back and forth between wanting to be signed or not – I like that I own my masters, and I’d most likely be giving that up if I signed to a label.
You released your new single ‘Puzzled Ambiguity Mind’, tell us more about the single.
I wrote it back in 2019 when I was obsessed with the Jonas Brothers. That’s where the pop-rock vibe comes from. I only recorded it this year, though, as it’s expensive to record things properly! I have such a wide discography of songs I’m so antsy to release.
What is the meaning behind the single?
It was written as a sort of thank-you to my aunt for helping me through a really tough period in my life. I’d just dropped out of university (that acting course I mentioned) and didn’t know what I was doing with my life. She took me in and gave me guidance and helped me find my path and give me a home in a time where I didn’t really have one. I was really depressed, and she gave me the tools to help me pull myself out of it. Anxiety and depression are still things I struggle with, but that’s the great thing about my music – I can listen to it and remember what I’ve overcome, and that I can overcome anything that life throws my way. That’s what ‘Puzzled Ambiguity Mind’ is to me. A celebration of life and overcoming the hardest struggles life can throw.
What was the writing and recording process like?
I wrote the lyrics myself, and it was a long time ago now, but I topline almost everything I write, so I just sent my producer the idea and he came back to me with exactly what I was looking for, as he usually does. Then I took it to my other producer in Stoke-on-Trent who records, mixes and masters everything for me, and the song was born. I think personally vocal production wise it’s the best yet.
Describe the track in two words.
Pop rock – I’m not sure you could explain it any other way. It’s essentially what it is, commercial pop rock. If you were looking for more feeling – Overcoming demons?
Who did you work with on the single?
Imad Salhi produced the track and Shaun Lowe recorded, mixed and mastered it at Prism Studios.
Will we see a Music video for ‘Puzzled Ambiguity Mind’, what can we expect from the creative process?
Maybe, eventually – I’ve never made a music video before. There are other songs I want to explore creating the visuals for first. ‘Darkroom’ is first on my list, I think, but if I had the money I’d do them all! All of them have a story to tell – as for the creative process, I’ll have to get back to you on that once I’ve had that experience. I can’t wait – I’m hoping to get one done this year, so stay tuned for that!
Will we see an EP or Album and if so, can you give us a teaser of what to expect?
Definitely – I’m planning to release both this year, if finances don’t get in the way. I’d say expect the unexpected – all my music is at its core inherently me, but nobody is just one thing.
Do you have any live shows or a tour coming up and if so let us know where we can catch you at?
I have a show coming up next weekend actually at 02 Institute 3 Birmingham as main support for Eighty Eighty Miles, another great BIMM band. Fantastic guitarist. You should come on down if you can! It’s setting up to be a great show! I’ve got my live band there – Matt on guitar, Harry on bass and Becca on saxophone/flute. We’re all excited to play the first show of the year.
What else can we expect in 2022?
I am planning to tour – whether at the end of this year or next year; I’m not too sure yet. It’s still in the works. Other than that, a lot more music coming your way and vlogs – I have a YouTube channel under my name where I film my day-to-day life, new videos every Monday and Saturday – they’re super fun! This year I’ve already had some interesting meetings with some super interesting people in the industry so who knows? It’s looking like 2022 may be a good year for Ezzy…you might want to stay tuned ;).
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Doing this, but on a much bigger scale – global, definitely. I won’t stop hustling until the only competition is myself – and that’s when the real fun can begin
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
‘If not now, when?’ is a constant one for me – although I think it can make me a bit impatient in terms of my career. I have a little ‘Be Brave’ I tell myself if I’m scared on stage – like my exam last week, I was singing ‘Defying Gravity’ and I told myself ‘Be brave’ as it came into the second verse and I took the mic off the stand. It makes me proud of myself. There’s a quote by Idina Menzel I can’t remember, but one of my friends gave me a card with it in in Sixth Form because she knew I was going through a hard time. That was a special moment for me.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
You mean to bring? A bottle of water, my laptop to play the backing tracks, my earphones (not to necessarily use, I just always have them on me in case I need them), makeup (to do my makeup in the bathroom before I go on or, if I’m lucky, my dressing room) and a pen and my songbook. I don’t know why, but I always tend to bring that with me. I can’t remember a time I ever actually wrote anything at a gig, but you never know, right?
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yep – I’m pretty much everywhere:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube: Ezzy (maybe type in a song or vlog to find me. I find YouTube’s harder to navigate)
You can also find my music wherever you can stream it – so go stream it!
