Izzie Derry

Currently working on her debut album, Brighton-based singer-songwriter Izzie Derry talks to us about being a self-taught musician, crowdfunding her record and what’s in store for her over the next year.

When did you know you wanted to be a musician?

I started playing guitar when I was 14, I taught myself and picked it up really fast, and knew pretty quickly that it was what I wanted to do. I’m not very good at being told what to do, so I think teaching myself was the best way to go! I was 15 or 16, I think, when I started writing my own music - I released my first EP when I was 16.

Did you know from the start what kind of musician you wanted to be?

I started out quite folky, and I think it’s gone more pop-y, kind of feminist. Over the past few years I’ve gotten into artists like Fiona Apple and PJ Harvey, and I think listening to them has made me express my opinions and feelings on things like they do.

Are you particularly involved in the production of your music?

In terms of arrangement I do that, and I have a band I’ve worked with for about five years so I kind of tell them what I want a song to do and they add in their own flare. They come up with some good ideas too, but I’d say I have creative control over the dynamics and the arrangement.

Did you manage to get much done during the pandemic, when venues were closed?

It was extremely productive for me - I learnt to play piano, and wrote my whole album, which I’ve now just finished crowdfunding!

Did you always plan on crowdfunding the album?

At first I was just trying to figure out how to come up with the money, but I hadn’t been earning much as I’d been out of work for so long with the lockdowns. Then I decided to apply to different funding charities, but didn’t get any funding from them. The crowdfunding was kind of a last resort - I didn’t think I’d actually get any money! I’m lucky to have a good fanbase from playing shows all around the country, so it was those people, and family and friends, who really helped.

You went to BIMM in Brighton - do you think it’s useful for a musician to go somewhere like that?

Yeah, I mean it’s not just useful for like learning, but it’s great to meet and be around like-minded people - I met my whole band there!

What do you have planned for the rest of the year?

I have some shows coming up over the summer and the album’s going to be recorded until about the start of July. Obviously it’s got to go through all the mixing and everything, but I think the first track will be out around the end of September! There’ll be five singles coming out, and I’m planning on July next year for the full album release.

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Words: Scott Bates

Photos: Amelia May