Written in partnership with Sidon Farris
Meet izye, a 22-year-old singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer from the music-rich San Francisco East Bay Area. Music has been a part of her life since childhood, and she discovered her passion for solo performances at 17. In 2019, izye released her debut single, “24 hours,” featuring Will Grey and Sam Trenton, produced in her childhood bedroom with her friend Will Kouch. After moving to Los Angeles for music school, izye dropped out in 2020 and moved to Hollywood to chase her dreams full-time. There, she met her producer KundoCrankin’, who helped her create her signature R&B sound and persona. With influences like Ariana Grande, Tinashe, JoJo, SZA, and Kehlani, izye brings a unique blend of smooth R&B and hyphy Hip Hop to the music world.
izye plays with the lyrics in a freewheeling frenzy on “tiramisu.” A sense of such swagger veers wildly from side to side. She embodies the bliss of the summer jam, for the song has summer humidity. Lost in a haze, the lustful nature feels incredible to behold. She chooses her words carefully, allowing a little humor into the proceedings. The song exudes giddy energy. Tempos come in fast, as the song has a party atmosphere. Beats bounce off the walls, and some of the sounds have a hyper-pop quality, suggesting the nimbleness of 1000 gecs, all the way down to some of the handclaps and acidic tinge.
The song wastes no time, for the rush of color starts it off just right. Various melodies emerge from the beats, giving it a delirious energy. Layers get filtered into the fray, allowing the song to go for a pitch-perfect passion. Her vocalizations have a futuristic R&B meets hip-hop flavor, never neatly settling into a singular style. A delicate balance is struck between the affectionate and the guarded as she instills the narrative with a living, breathing quality. These lyrics feel fully lived; she seems to filter in many different moments within the journey. Going for this cyclical approach results in a meditative quality, like wondering what all those relationships meant and whether any of those people were worth the time. For the final stretch, the rest of the song fades out as it transforms into an intimate conversation among friends.
“tiramisu” overflows with izye’s absolute free-flowing confidence.
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