Laura Izibor, Little Miss Soul Shines
For the past couple of years, Dublin-born soulstress, Laura Izibor (20), has been the talk of towns, on both sides of the Atlantic. Since winning the Hope for 2006 Award at the Meteor Music Awards (the Irish equivalent for the Brits), Izibor has been likened to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and Alicia Keys, and she has graced many a film and TV soundtrack, from “P.S, I Love You” to “Grey’s Anatomy”. After extensive touring this year round, Izibor will stop by London for a couple of gigs, on November 27th and 29th. In between rehearsing sessions, she made time to speak to Catch a Vibe.
CAV: When did you first fall in love with music? Any song in particular made you?
Laura Izibor: I think it was with Otis Redding’s These Arms of Mine, although it wasn’t one defining moment for me, but more a nice progression once I started playing the piano and writing.
CAV: How many instruments do you play?
Laura Izibor: I play the piano and a little bit of guitar.
CAV: What is the first song you wrote and how old were you?
Laura Izibor: It was a song called Are We Compatible? when I was fourteen or fifteen
CAV: Who are your top three favourite artists of all time and why?
Laura Izibor: Marvin Gaye, for having written so many classics and because no one can sing the way he did. Then Otis Redding, because he was a true live performer with an amazingly sounding voice, and managed to combine the feel of Gospel and the energy of James Brown. And Donny Hathaway, who was a mind-blowing pianist.
CAV: As a musician, which of writing, recording and touring do you enjoy the most? Which is the most challenging and why?
Laura Izibor: I love performing live because it gives you instant gratification, I get all this adrenaline, and people who do attend my gigs, get the real deal of me. But I think recording is the most challenging in that you’re always aiming for perfection.
CAV: You took part in the “I Luv Live” showcase a few days back, and performed four songs. Could you talk us through each of them?
Laura Izibor: I performed my last single From My Heart to Yours, which is a feelgood hip hop/soul track. Then, there was Don’t Stay, which is about a break-up. I also sang Shine, which will be my next single: it’s about making the most of your life while you can. I ended my set with Yes, I’ll Be Your Baby, which is a flirty kind of song, where the woman takes all the initiatives!
CAV: Is there any place in particular you’d love to perform at?
Laura Izibor: Yes, it would have to be Paris, as I’ve never been yet. I have a lot of French fans on Myspace, so I’m looking forward to go out there.
CAV: You will be supporting Estelle at the IndigO2 on November 29th. How does that feel? Have the two of you met before?
Laura Izibor: No we haven’t met yet, but since we happen to be on same record label, it just made sense to share a bill somehow. I’m looking forward to it. I rate what she stands for, and I think she has got a good attitude and makes a good role model.
CAV: When will your debut album be released? Could you tell us a bit about it and sum it up in just three words?
Laura Izibor: Let the Truth Be Told should come out on the first week of February 2009. I think it’s a “soulful, honest and real” album. I co-produced it with a team of people, some of them have worked with Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige and John Legend.
CAV: Finally, what’s in the pipeline for you between now and the New Year?
Laura Izibor: I’ve got a few gigs and a radio tour scheduled in the U.S. I’ll also be supporting Aretha Franklin in New York. Then, I’ll tour Europe, France and Denmark notably, and probably the U.K in the spring.
