Disabled people will literally display the most concerning symptoms you’ve ever seen and then just be like nah it’s fine I’m good now that happens sometimes. anyways you wanna get tacos?

it’s me I’m disabled people

Introducing...

Izzy Staden.

Hailing from Greenwich, London, young singer-songwriter Izzy Staden crafts her unique vintage-pop sound from her love for music across all genres. Taking her cues from the silky production of acts like Dua Lipa, and incorporating elements of synth, alternative – Izzy Staden’s music is deeply inspired by household names like Anne Marie and Charlie Puth.

Izzy’s passion for music brings us her shimmering debut, ‘Addiction’. We had a chat with her all about the single, her influences and more. Read the Q&A below.

Please tell us a bit about yourself and what it was that led you to make music.

"I have been playing music since I was really young, I learned to play the piano when I was five and then moved on to playing the saxophone when I nine. I loved playing and joined my schools swing band which was unbelievably fun even though our most exciting gigs were in homes for elderly people! I then developed quite a few mental health issues which worsened around the age of 15. I was taken out of school due to suffering from Anorexia Nervosa in year 11 and taken out again in year 12 due to suffering with an illness called Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder. I was put in different psychiatric hospitals and my whole life completely changed however the only thing I consistently stuck with was music. After being discharged from a psychiatric unit at 17 I discovered my love of songwriting but there was so much that I did not know so I applied to study songwriting at University. I am finishing my degree in a few months and I feel that studying songwriting has really allowed me to develop my songwriting style in my own time."

How would you describe your sound? Who/what are your influences?

"I love pop music and I think my music definitely sits strongly in that genre, though my lyrics have a really personal story behind them I like combining that with a really fun upbeat track. I have a range of influences, I love a lot of mainstream artists like Charlie Puth, Anne Marie and Dua Lipa. I like a strong beat and a catchy melody and always stand by the statement ‘the easiest way to ruin a song is by over complicating it’."

You’ve just released your debut single ‘Addiction’. What was the inspiration behind the track? What do you hope listeners take away from it?

“I wrote this song about a situation that I experienced a couple of years ago, I was in a psychiatric unit and started dating a guy I met there who had some serious issues with substance misuse. He was a lovely guy but I found the whole situation really difficult because I would beg him to stop and though he promised to change over and over he never seemed to make any effort. I began writing the song out of frustration but actually came to the realisation I was a huge hypocrite. He was using his addiction as a way to escape his emotional problems and I was using him to escape mine. The song is about how over reliant I was on him and how unhealthy the relationship had become as I felt like I needed him rather than wanted him. Obviously the situation is quite unique so I don’t expect too many listeners to completely relate but I hope people can take whatever they need from it, whether they just want a fun song to listen to or are dealing with a dysfunctional relationship themselves.”

What’s your songwriting/creative process?

"Generally I start with being really upset or annoyed about something or reflecting on a situation that I had a really intense emotional reaction to as I find that the easiest way to write lyrics. Once I have a few lines I’ll figure out a melody that I naturally think fits with the phrasing and then come up with some chords. I’ll then try and come up with the rest of the song, I generally stick to very basic structures as a personal preference, I also think a simple structure lends itself well to pop music. Once I have a full song I start thinking about production, usually I come up with a repeating riff or a bass line and then build the rest of the song from there. I send everything I’ve come up with to my producer Ed Stokes and then he turns it into a fully formed track!"

Finally, what's next for you? Any plans for an EP/LP?

"I am planning to release another 5 songs over the coming months, I still need to record some vocals and get the songs mastered but as soon as I’m out of lockdown I’m very excited to get them finished! Not sure if I will release them all as singles or as an EP but I’m excited to hear what everyone thinks of them!"

‘Addiction’ is out now.