Laura Izibor
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
Izibor is currently featured in The CW
television show, One Tree Hill
., where she plays Erin Macree.
. She is the fourth of five children born to Irish
mother Trish and Nigeria
n father Saul and brother Evan. Izibor's parents separated when she was seven and she was raised by her mother. 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". 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 writing songs at age 13 and taught herself how to play the piano
at 14. 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.
and dropped out of school to record her debut album. 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. She won an award at the 2006 Meteor Music Award and became the first unsigned recording artist to receive a nomination. Izibor's debut album, Let the Truth Be Told
, was released in May 2009. The album debuted at number two on the Irish Albums Chart
.
Laura debuts in One Tree Hill during the 8th Season (2010). Her song "Can't be Love", which she created specifically for the show, debuted during the 6th episode on October 20, 2010.
, Aretha Franklin
and Carole King
as her inspirations. She described Phil Lynott
as her idol, while naming Roberta Flack
, Nina Simone
, Candi Staton
and Thin Lizzy
her "musical heroes".
Izibor music has been compared to recording artists Aretha Franklin
, Corinne Bailey Rae
and Alicia Keys
; her writing is compared to that of Carole King
and Joan Armatrading
. 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". 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". 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".
2012
|Love, learn, Live
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|60
|align="center"|64
|align="center"|27
|-
|align="center"|2004
|RTÉ 2fm Song Contest 2004
|Best Newcomer
|
|align="center"|
|-
|align="center"|2006
|Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2006
|Emerging Artist
|
|align="center"|
|-
|align="center" rowspan="2"|2009
|MOBO Awards
|Best UK Newcomer
|
|align="center"|
|-
|Soul Train Music Awards
|Centric Award - Soul Approved/Underground
|
|align="center"|
|-
RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
song contest while still in secondary school. She went on to win an award at the 2006 Meteor Music Awards. She also performed at that year's Electric Picnic
Electric Picnic
The 2005 festival took place on Saturday 3 September and Sunday 4 September. It is best remembered for Arcade Fire's performance which came before their subsequent mainstream success...
music festival and Music Ireland 2007. Izibor has opened for Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, India.Arie
India.Arie
India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado...
, Estelle
Estelle (singer)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
, Maxwell
Maxwell (musician)
Maxwell , is an American R&B, funk and neo soul musician. He played an important role in the development of the soul sub-genre, neo-soul.-Early life:...
and John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
on tour.
Her debut album, Let the Truth Be Told
Let the Truth Be Told (Laura Izibor album)
Let the Truth Be Told is the debut album by Irish recording artist Laura Izibor. It was released on 8 May 2009, under Atlantic Records.-Background:...
, 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.
Izibor is currently featured in The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
television show, One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
., where she plays Erin Macree.
1987–2003: Early life and career beginnings
Laura Elizabeth Arabosa Izibor was born in 13 May 1987 in Dublin, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. She is the fourth of five children born to Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
mother Trish and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n father Saul and brother Evan. Izibor's parents separated when she was seven and she was raised by her mother. 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". After singing "When You Believe
When You Believe
"When You Believe" is an Academy Award-winning song by American recording artists Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. The song was written and composed by Stephen Schwartz for the 1998 DreamWorks animated feature The Prince of Egypt. A version of "When You Believe" was produced as a single with...
", a duet by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
and Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, in her drama class, she discovered her interest for music; she began writing songs at age 13 and taught herself how to play the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at 14. At age 15, public service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
(RTÉ) held a song competition by radio station RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
, which Izibor won. Her winning song, "Compatible", received constant airplay
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
after she won the competition; RTÉ also filmed a documentary of Izibor after winning the competition.
2004–present: Let the Truth Be Told
At age 17, Izibor was signed to Jive RecordsJive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
and dropped out of school to record her debut album. After a dispute with the label, she signed with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and subsequently moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
after her mentor, Steve Lunt, was offered a job at the label. She won an award at the 2006 Meteor Music Award and became the first unsigned recording artist to receive a nomination. Izibor's debut album, Let the Truth Be Told
Let the Truth Be Told (Laura Izibor album)
Let the Truth Be Told is the debut album by Irish recording artist Laura Izibor. It was released on 8 May 2009, under Atlantic Records.-Background:...
, was released in May 2009. The album debuted at number two on the Irish Albums Chart
Irish Albums Chart
The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically...
.
Film and television
- Her song "From My Heart to YoursFrom My Heart to Yours (song)"From My Heart to Yours" is a song by Irish recording artist Laura Izibor. It was released as the lead single from her debut album, Let the Truth Be Told.-Background:...
" featured in an episode of Grey's AnatomyGrey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
and the Vh1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
reality series Tough LoveTough Love (TV series)Tough Love is an American reality television series that airs on VH1. The host and matchmaker of the show is Steven Ward of the Philadelphia based Master Matchmakers...
. - Her single Shine was the lead track for the movie Nanny DiariesThe Nanny Diaries (film)The Nanny Diaries is a 2007 American comedy-drama film, based on the novel of the same name by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. Written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, it stars Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Keys, Paul Giamatti, and Laura Linney; and was produced by Richard N...
, is currently used in the Hibernian Aviva commercial in the Republic of Ireland and in the Norwich UnionNorwich UnionNorwich Union was the name given to insurance company Aviva's British arm before June 2009. It was originally established in 1797. It is the biggest life insurance provider in the United Kingdom, and has a strong position in motor insurance...
(soon to be AvivaAvivaAviva plc is a global insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the sixth-largest insurance company in the world measured by net premium income and has 53 million customers in 28 countries...
) commercial in the United Kingdom. Withfirst-week sales in the United States.The CD's first-week chart position is 27 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums. Diana Ross is rumored to have recorded a duet with Izibor for the European edition of her upcoming album. - Her song "Mmm..." is featured in Step Up 2: The Streets, Why Did I Get Married?Why Did I Get Married?Why Did I Get Married? is a 2007 comedy-drama film adaptation written, produced, directed, and starring Tyler Perry, which was inspired by the play of the same name. The film stars Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Malik Yoba, Sharon Leal, Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, Richard T. Jones, and Keesha Sharp...
and Seven PoundsSeven PoundsSeven Pounds is a 2008 film, directed by Gabriele Muccino. Will Smith stars as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven people. Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, and Barry Pepper star. The film was released in theaters in the United States and Canada on December 19, 2008, by Columbia Pictures...
starring Will Smith. - Her song "Carousel" is featured on the P.S. I Love YouP.S. I Love You (film)P.S. I Love You is a 2007 American drama film directed by Richard LaGravenese. The screenplay by LaGravenese and Steven Rogers is based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Cecelia Ahern. The film is dedicated to the memory of producer Molly Smith's sister Windland Smith Rice.-Plot:Holly and Gerry...
soundtrack. - Her song "If Tonight is my Last" was used as America's Best Dance CrewAmerica's Best Dance CrewAmerica's Best Dance Crew, often abbreviated as ABDC, is an American competitive dance reality television series that features street dance crews from the United States and around the world. It is produced by American Idol judge Randy Jackson and airs on MTV...
Season 4 elimination song. - A video of her performing her song "Mmm..." was featured in an episode of BonesBones (TV series)Bones is an American crime drama television series that premiered on the Fox Network on September 13, 2005. The show is based on forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, with each episode focusing on an FBI case file concerning the mystery behind human remains brought by FBI Special Agent...
called 'The Parts in the Sum of the Whole' as murder victim Gemma Arrington
Laura debuts in One Tree Hill during the 8th Season (2010). Her song "Can't be Love", which she created specifically for the show, debuted during the 6th episode on October 20, 2010.
Musical style
Izibor cites James BrownJames Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
and Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
as her inspirations. She described Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
as her idol, while naming Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
, Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
, Candi Staton
Candi Staton
Candi Staton is an American soul and gospel singer, best known for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" and her 1976 disco hit "Young Hearts Run Free". In 2007, Staton was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
and Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
her "musical heroes".
Izibor music has been compared to recording artists Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Corinne Bailey Rae
Corinne Bailey Rae
Corinne Bailey Rae is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist from Leeds, who released her debut album Corinne Bailey Rae in February 2006....
and Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
; her writing is compared to that of Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
and Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE is a British singer, songwriter and guitarist. Armatrading is a three-time Grammy Award-nominee and has been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist...
. Nicole Frehsée of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine described Izibor's debut album, Let the Truth Be Told
Let the Truth Be Told (Laura Izibor album)
Let the Truth Be Told is the debut album by Irish recording artist Laura Izibor. It was released on 8 May 2009, under Atlantic Records.-Background:...
, as "a sunny, chick-flick-worthy take on vintage soul". 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". While Pete Daniel Smith of Sunday Mercury
Sunday Mercury
Sunday Mercury is a Sunday tabloid published in Birmingham, UK, and owned by Trinity Mirror.The first editor was John Turner Fearon , who left the Dublin-based Freeman's Journal to take up the position...
described the album as a "dazzling R&B debut", noting a "a remarkable soul vocal that'll send shivers down your spine".
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRE Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
NLD |
U.S. Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|||
| 2009 | Let the Truth Be Told Let the Truth Be Told (Laura Izibor album) Let the Truth Be Told is the debut album by Irish recording artist Laura Izibor. It was released on 8 May 2009, under Atlantic Records.-Background:...
|
2 | 60 | 64 | 27 |
2012
|Love, learn, Live
- Second studio album
- Released: 2012
- Label:
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|60
|align="center"|64
|align="center"|27
Singles
- 2008: "From My Heart to YoursFrom My Heart to Yours (song)"From My Heart to Yours" is a song by Irish recording artist Laura Izibor. It was released as the lead single from her debut album, Let the Truth Be Told.-Background:...
" #26 US R&B #7 US Urban AC - 2009: "Shine" - Released on 27 February 2009 as a digital download on the iTunes StoreITunes StoreThe iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
. #2 JPJapan Hot 100The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... - 2009: "Don't StayDon't Stay (Laura Izibor song)Don't Stay is the third single released by Irish R&B recording artist Laura Izibor, from her debut studio album Let The Truth Be Told.-Music video:...
" - Released on 11 May 2009 - 2009: "If Tonight is My Last"
Soundtrack songs
- 2008: "Carousel" (from P.S. I Love YouP.S. I Love You (film)P.S. I Love You is a 2007 American drama film directed by Richard LaGravenese. The screenplay by LaGravenese and Steven Rogers is based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Cecelia Ahern. The film is dedicated to the memory of producer Molly Smith's sister Windland Smith Rice.-Plot:Holly and Gerry...
) - 2008: "Mmm..." (from Step Up 2: The Streets)
- 2008: "Shine" (from The Nanny DiariesThe Nanny DiariesThe Nanny Diaries is a 2002 novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, both of whom are former nannies. The book satirizes upper class Manhattan society as seen through the eyes of their children's caregivers....
) - 2010: "Can't be love" (from One Tree HillOne Tree Hill (TV series)One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
) - 2010: "What More Can They Do" (from For Colored Girls)
- 2010: "WTF" (from NothingNothingNothing is no thing, denoting the absence of something. Nothing is a pronoun associated with nothingness, is also an adjective, and an object as a concept in the Frege-Church ontology....
)
Collaboration songs
- 2010: "Baby Baby" (from Miho FukuharaMiho Fukuharais a Japanese pop star who made an indies debut in 2006, releasing a single titled "The Roots" and mini-album titled Step Out. In early 2008, she made her major-label debuted under Sony Music Entertainment Japan . Her debut single, "Change", was the number ninety-two yearly song on the Billboard...
in her album Music Is My LifeMusic Is My lifeMusic Is My Life is the seventh studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1972. The album contains Preston's first #1 single, "Will It Go Round in Circles", which would become one of Preston's most well known songs...
)
Awards and nominations
!Source|-
|align="center"|2004
|RTÉ 2fm Song Contest 2004
RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
|Best Newcomer
|
|align="center"|
|-
|align="center"|2006
|Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2006
|Emerging Artist
|
|align="center"|
|-
|align="center" rowspan="2"|2009
|MOBO Awards
|Best UK Newcomer
|
|align="center"|
|-
|Soul Train Music Awards
Soul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment...
|Centric Award - Soul Approved/Underground
|
|align="center"|
|-