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Laura Izibor

 
Artist: Laura Izibor
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Similar Artists:

Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige

Influenced By:

Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Laura Nyro, Whitney Houston, The Jackson 5

Formal Connection With:

DJ Premier
See Laura Izibor Lyrics
  • Born: May 13, 1987, Dublin, Ireland
  • Active: 2000s
  • Genres: Rhythm & Blues
  • Instrument: Vocals
  • Representative Albums: "Let the Truth Be Told", "Live from Crawdaddy, Dublin

Biography

Laura Izibor is an R&B singer/songwriter from Dublin, Ireland, who began her major-label recording career with a series of soundtrack contributions in 2007 before making her full-length album debut in 2009 with Let the Truth Be Told. Born in Dublin and citing as her primary influences soul icons of the 1960s and '70s such as Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Candi Staton, and Roberta Flack, she began singing professionally as a teenager and developed a personal style that has been compared to Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott. Recognition came quickly for the young Irish R&B singer/songwriter, as she won the 2FM Song Contest at age 15 and was signed to a major-label recording contract with Jive Records at age 17. She began recording her full-length debut album while under contract with Jive Records, but her relationship with the label frayed. She subsequently moved to Atlantic Records, where she continued with the ongoing recording sessions for her debut album, a process that would ultimately take four years in total and include sessions in a variety of studios in Dublin as well as the United States. In 2007 some of her finished material was licensed for release on a series of soundtrack recordings: "Shine" was featured on the soundtrack for the film The Nanny Diaries, "Mmm..." on Why Did I Get Married?, "Carousel" on P.S. I Love You, and "From My Heart to Yours" on the television shows Grey's Anatomy and The Hills. Also in 2007 Atlantic Records released Live from Crawdaddy, Dublin, a five-track live recording. In the run-up to the release of her self-written and co-produced full-length debut album, "From My Heart to Yours" was released as a single in late 2008; a four-track EP featuring a DJ Premier remix of the song was made available digitally. A tour of Ireland and Great Britain as the opening act of Adele in late 2008 also helped promote Let the Truth Be Told, which was unveiled at long last in 2009. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Laura Izibor
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Laura Izibor

Izibor performing at Crawdaddy in Dublin, Ireland, 23 October 2008
Background information
Birth name Laura Elizabeth Arabosa Izibor
Born 13 May 1987 (1987-05-13) (age 22)
Dublin, Ireland
Genres R&B, soul, pop
Occupations Singer–songwriter, pianist, producer, arranger, composer
Instruments Vocals, piano
Years active 2000–present
Labels Jive, Atlantic
Website www.lauraizibor.com

Laura Elizabeth Arabosa Izibor (born 13 May 1987) is an Irish recording artist, musician and producer. She won the RTÉ 2fm song contest while still in secondary school. She went on to win an award at the 2006 Meteor Music Awards.[1] She also performed at that year's Electric Picnic music festival and Music Ireland 2007. Izibor has opened for Aretha Franklin, India.Arie, Estelle, Maxwell and John Legend on tour.

Her debut album, Let the Truth Be Told, was released in Ireland on Friday 8 May 2009, and in the UK on Monday 18 May with a U.S. release to follow on 16 June.

Contents

Life and career

1987–2003: Early life and career beginnings

Laura Elizabeth Arabosa Izibor[2] was born in 13 May 1987 in Dublin, Ireland.[3][4] She is the fourth of five children born to Irish mother Trish and Nigerian father Saul.[2][5][6] Izibor's parents separated when she was seven and she was raised by her mother.[2] As a child, she faced racial discrimination. She recalled being "paranoid about one teacher in particular, who I think was a racist" as well as "a few kids who made stupid little comments here and there".[7] After singing "When You Believe", a duet by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, in her drama class, she discovered her interest for music; she began writings songs at age 13 at taught herself how to play the piano at 14.[2][8] At age 15, public service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) held a song competition by radio station RTÉ 2fm, which Izibor won. Her winning song, "Compatible", received constant airplay after she won the competition; RTÉ also filmed a documentary of Izibor after winning the competition.[9]

2004–present: Let the Truth Be Told

At age 17, Izibor was signed to Jive Records and dropped out of school to record her debut album.[3][8][10] After a dispute with the label, she signed with Atlantic Records and subsequently moved to New York after her mentor, Steve Lunt, was offered a job at the label.[3][8] She won an award at the 2006 Meteor Music Award and became the first unsigned recording artist to receive a nomination.[1][9][11] Izibor's debut album, Let the Truth Be Told, was released in May 2009.[12] The album debuted at number two on the Irish Albums Chart.[13]

Film and television

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (July 2009)

Musical style

Izibor cites James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Carole King as her inspirations.[14] She described Phil Lynott as her idol, while naming Roberta Flack, Nina Simone, Candi Staton and Thin Lizzy her "musical heroes".[2]

Izibor music has been compared to recording artists Aretha Franklin, Corinne Bailey Rae and Alicia Keys;[2][10] her writing is compared to that of Carole King and Joan Armatrading.[2] Nicole Frehsée of Rolling Stone magazine described Izibor's debut album, Let the Truth Be Told, as "a sunny, chick-flick-worthy take on vintage soul".[10] Noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of 'Blues & Soul' described the album as "Anchored firmly in classic R&B and effectively combining a reverence for the traditions of vintage, warm piano-driven soul with a fresh twist of modern sensibility".[15] While Pete Daniel Smith of Sunday Mercury described the album as a "dazzling R&B debut", noting a "a remarkable soul vocal that'll send shivers down your spine".[16]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
IRE
[17]		 FRA
[17]		 NLD
[17]		 U.S.
[17]
2009 Let the Truth Be Told
  • First studio album
  • Released: 8 May 2009
  • Label: Atlantic
 2 60 64 27

Singles

  • 2008: "From My Heart to Yours" #26 US R&B #7 US Urban AC
  • 2009: "Shine" - Released on 27 February 2009 as a digital download on the iTunes Store. #2 JP
  • 2009: "Don't Stay" - Released on 11 May 2009 [18]
  • 2009: "If Tonight is My Last" [19]

Soundtrack songs

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Result Source
2004 RTÉ 2fm Song Contest 2004 Best Newcomer Won [9]
2006 Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2006 Emerging Artist Won [1]
2009 MOBO Awards Best UK Newcomer Nominated [20]
Soul Train Music Awards Centric Award - Soul Approved/Underground Nominated [21]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The 2006 Meteor Awards". Eircom. http://home.eircom.net/html/meteor/awards2006/. Retrieved 2009-04-15. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Paton, Maureen (2009-05-25). "Celtic soulstress Laura Izibor: 'I don't think I've ever been in love'". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1172559/Celtic-soulstress-Laura-Izibor-I-dont-think-Ive-love.html. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  3. ^ a b c Birchmeier, Jason. "Laura Izibor > Biography". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=&sql=11:ajfuxqyrld6e~T1. Retrieved 23 November 2009. 
  4. ^ "Laura Izibor Biography". lauraizibor.com. http://www.lauraizibor.com/bio/. Retrieved 2009-07-13. 
  5. ^ "Second Cup Cafe: Laura Izibor". CBS News. 2009-06-20. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/18/earlyshow/saturday/secondcup/main5096121.shtml. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  6. ^ Pool, Hannah (2009-01-14). "Hannah Pool meets black Irish soul singer Laura Izibor". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/14/urban-music-ireland-laura-izibor. Retrieved 2009-06-02. 
  7. ^ Power, Ed (2009-04-24). "American Dreams: Luara Izibor". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/american-dreams-1718551.html. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  8. ^ a b c Haider, Arwa (2009-05-11). "Laura Izibor is blessed to be young". Metro. Associated Newspapers. http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/music/article.html?Laura_Izibor_is_blessed_to_be_young&in_article_id=653757&in_page_id=25. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  9. ^ a b c "Laura brings her talented soul to Sligo". Sligo Weekender. Sligo Weekender Limited. 2006-02-28. http://www.sligoweekender.ie/news/story/?trs=cwgbidkfsn. Retrieved 2009-10-15. 
  10. ^ a b c Frehsée, Nicole. "Artists to Watch". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/22683004/page/2. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  11. ^ Lester, Paul (2008-10-17). "No 412: Laura Izibor". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/oct/17/new-band-laura-izibor. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  12. ^ Clayton-Lea, Tony (2009-05-01). "The truth is out there, finally". The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2009/0501/1224245711413.html. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  13. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (2009-05-16). "Tinchy, N-Dubz remain top in Ireland". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.com/music/a156127/tinchy-n-dubz-remain-top-in-ireland.html. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  14. ^ Coffey, Sandra (2006-03-07). "Ireland's brightest new star bares her soulful side". Sligo Weekender. Sligo Weekender Limited. http://www.sligoweekender.ie/news/story/?trs=cwgbididcw. Retrieved 2009-10-15. 
  15. ^ Lewis, Pete (2009-03-02). "Born To Shine - Pete Lewis Interviews Laura Izibor". Blues & Soul. Blues & Soul. http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/392/laura_izibor_born_to_shine/. Retrieved 2009-09-20. 
  16. ^ Smith, Daniel (2009-05-10). "Laura Izibor: Let the Truth be Told". Sunday Mercury. Trinity Mirror. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2009/05/10/laura-izibor-let-the-truth-be-told-66331-23580934/. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  17. ^ a b c d "Laura Izibor - Let The Truth Be Told - Music Charts". αCharts. http://acharts.us/album/43252. Retrieved 2009-07-13. 
  18. ^ "New Releases - UK Forthcoming Albums". Radio1.gr. http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-15. 
  19. ^ http://twitter.com/TheLauraIzibor/status/3198315680
  20. ^ Singh, Anita (2009-08-26). "Mobo Awards 2009 nominations unveiled". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/6095726/Mobo-Awards-2009-nominations-unveiled.html. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
  21. ^ "Beyoncé, Maxwell and Keri Hilson Lead the Nominations for the CENTRIC PRESENTS: 2009 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS SHOW Premiering on Sunday, November 29 at 9:00 PM". Reuters. 2009-10-22. http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS238802+22-Oct-2009+PRN20091022. Retrieved 2009-10-23. 

External links


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