Izzi Dunn

Known for her valued contributions to various recordings, Izzi Dunn (real name, Isabelle Dunn) is an English cellist and singer. Dunn became involved with music at an early age. Raised by her mother (a classically trained opera singer) and her father (a singer and radio presenter), music, sound, and performance were already a prominent aspect of her life by the time she decided to take up cello lessons at the age of nine. Born in Sheffield, she grew up in Hastings, East Sussex on a diet of traditional jazz and classical music, with her parents frequently playing classics from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Stan Kenton. She went on to study her instrument with a scholarship program at the Trinity College of Music, where she discovered U.K. soul and hip-hop. Throughout the years, she developed her cello skills, honing her craft through numerous performances and live sessions, eventually paving the way for collaborations with numerous talented British musicians. Having worked with a number of talents from Roots Manuva and Duran Duran to MJ Cole and Wookie, she put out her first release and eponymous EP in 2002. The effort received widespread acclaim and was praised for its varied and eclectic sound palette. She followed up with her first album, The Big Picture, in 2003, via her own label, Fireworx. Like its predecessor, it was commended for its innovative songwriting and Dunn's open-minded approach to sound, tone, and mood. In 2005, she formed the all-female string collective Demon Strings. The group came to prominence for its collaborative efforts and provided backup for recordings and live performances with artists such as Madness and Damon Albarn's many projects: Gorillaz, Blur, and the Good, the Bad, and the Queen. Dunn also continued to put out her own solo efforts. The Cries & Smiles album (2010) and Visions EP (2012) both displayed even further diverse and assorted sounds. Centered on Dunn's cello and vocal skills, her songs had begun to incorporate different kinds of breakbeat, neo-soul, trip-hop, and electronic folk, all the while continuing to receive commendation for her honest and observant lyrics. Her third full-length, Recycle Love, was released in 2017. Featuring performances from Demon Strings and Leeds-based ensemble the Haggis Horns, the record encapsulated the fears, paranoia, and anxieties caused by social division and also included more introspective lyrics focusing on the self. Recycle Love was produced by Dennis "Dego" McFarlane of the electronic outfit 4hero. ~ Rob Wacey