Izzy Escobar Talks New EP, Single And More

New York based singer/songwriter Izzy Escobar has released her debut EP ‘Sunny In London’ via Artist House. She took time out of her busy schedule to talk to us:

What is your earliest musical memory?

My earliest musical memory is picking up a violin at age four. I remember how challenging it was, the discipline, the repetition, the patience it demanded, but also how alive it made me feel. The notes on the page were the first place I ever felt truly seen and heard. Classical music gave me a voice before I even knew how to express myself in words, and since then, I’ve viewed my entire life through the lens of music.

When did you begin songwriting?

It started around the same time I began playing the violin. I remember looking at the sheet music and thinking, these notes should have words underneath them. I would sit on my bedroom floor and write lyrics under the melodies I was learning. I quickly realized that expressing myself through song came more naturally than speaking or writing plain words. From then on, I filled my journals with lyrics every day, after school, in the car, anywhere I could. Music became my voice and the way I processed my emotions.

You have your new EP Sunny in London out now. How did you want to approach the making of the EP?

Since this was my first project, I wanted to stay both direct and open. It was a fine balance. I approached it with the intention of being as authentic as possible lyrically, while staying true to the sounds I naturally gravitate toward instrumentally. We recorded the entire record live in New York City with real musicians, which gave it an organic energy that can’t be replicated digitally. I followed my gut on what felt right in each moment and chose not to look back. Everyday was different. At the end of the day, these six songs capture a very specific, present chapter of my life, one of growth, honesty, and rediscovery.

Which of your new EP tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest, and c) most reflective?

I’d say my happiest song is Sunny in London, it captures that feeling of finding light again after heartbreak. My angriest is definitely Vendetta, it was pure release, a way of reclaiming my power. And my most reflective would be Jackie O, it’s a mirror of self-realization and becoming the kind of love you’ve always dreamed of in order to attract it.

Who were the musicians who were on the EP with you?

I was lucky enough to work with some of the best musicians of my life during this process. Since we cut the record live, the energy in the room was electric. Sunny in London EP was executive produced largely by Gregg Wattenberg, and I’m eternally grateful for his ear, his belief in me, and his vision for this project. He knew exactly how to bring these songs to life. Future Cut produced the song Sunny in London in London, which was an incredible experience. In NYC, Jerry Barnes played bass, John Lampley brought the horns, David Stam A&R’d the record beautifully, and the list goes on! It was refreshing to do things the “old-school way,” recording live horns, drums, bass, you name it, and creating melodic lines in real time. There’s an authenticity and humanity in that process that you just can’t fake.

Does the EP’s title have a specific meaning or significance?

Yes, Sunny in London is a metaphor for finding light in the dark. It’s about realizing that even in the rainiest moments of your life, you can still create your own sunshine.

Was it a difficult EP to write?

I’ve never liked the word difficult, it feels unmomentous. Recording this record while going through a heartbreak in real time was actually the greatest gift. Emotionally, I was able to process what I was feeling day by day in the studio and create from a place of complete honesty. My team and I kept pushing the music and lyrics to be better and more intentional with every session. We were constantly outdoing ourselves as time went on, and I think that process, that relentless pursuit of truth in the music, made me a stronger musician and person.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you’ve left the stage?

That people feel something, truly and deeply. And that they leave feeling empowered, reminded that there’s strength in perseverance. If someone walks away believing they can overcome whatever they’re facing, that light can still exist in their own version of London, then I’ve done my job.

One of the tracks is the single Vendetta. What was the inspiration behind it?

I call Vendetta the catalyst of all the songs on the EP. It deals with one of the hardest emotions I’ve ever had to work through, betrayal. For two years, I couldn’t even write about the situation; it was too raw. Then one day, it all just came out, every lyric, every melody, like I’d finally released what I’d been holding onto. Ironically, when the song was finished, I didn’t feel angry anymore. I felt empowered. It transformed from pain into strength, and that shift set the tone for the rest of the record.

Where is your hometown and could you describe it in five words?

I’m from a small town in Massachusetts, historic, soulful, grounding, quiet, and a bit of a bubble.

Feature Image Photo Credit: Nico Ramirez

Izzy Escobar’s debut EP ‘Sunny In London’ is out now via Artist House.

Listen: https://found.ee/SunnyinLondonEP

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/izzy.escobar/?hl=en