Laura Elizabeth Arabosa Izibor
(born 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. [1] 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.
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LAURA IZIBOR TICKETS
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Life and career
1987–2007: Early life and career beginnings
Laura Elizabeth Arabosa Izibor
[2] was born in May 1987 in
Dublin,
Ireland.
[3] She is the second youngest of five children born to
Irish mother Trish and
Nigerian father Saul.
Izibor's parents separated when she was seven and 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".
[6] 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 writings songs at age 13 at taught herself how to play the
piano at 14.
She won a song competition held by radio station
RTÉ 2fm at 15 and was signed to
Jive Records at 17.
[8] She dropped out of school to record her debut album.
After a dispute with the Jive, she signed with
Atlantic Records and subsequently moved to
New York after her mentor, Steve Lunt, was offered a job at the label.
Izibor won an award at the
2006 Meteor Music Awards,
[1] making her the first recording artist without an official release to be nominated.
[11]
2008–present: Let the Truth Be Told
Izibor's debut album,
Let the Truth Be Told
, was released in May 2009.
[12] The album debuted at number two on the
Irish Albums Chart.
[13]
Film and television
- Her song "From My Heart to Yours" featured in an episode of Grey's Anatomy and the Vh1 reality series Tough Love.
- Her single Shine
was the lead track for the movie Nanny Diaries, is currently used in the Hibernian Aviva commercial in the Republic of Ireland and in the Norwich Union (soon to be Aviva) 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?
and Seven Pounds
starring Will Smith.
- Her song "Carousel" is featured on the P.S. I Love You soundtrack.
- Her song "Shine" is featured in an episode of Ghost Whisperer called 'Cursed' which aired 1 May 2009
- Her song "Shine" is featured on the Special K advert
- Her music was used in Second Chances
an episode of MTV's The Hills.
Musical style
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".
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".
[14] Izibor described
Phil Lynott as her idol, while noting
Roberta Flack,
Nina Simone,
Candi Staton and
Thin Lizzy as her "musical heroes".
Discography
Studio albums
| Year
| Album
| Peak chart positions
| Certifications
(sales thresholds)
|
IRE
[15]
| FRA
| NLD
| U.S.
|
| 2009
| Let the Truth Be Told
- First studio album
- Released: 8 May 2009
- Label: Atlantic
| 2
| 60
| 64
| 27
|
|
Singles
- 2008: "From My Heart to Yours" #26 US R&B #7 US Urban AC
- 2009: "Shine" - Released on 27 February 2009 as a digital download on the iTunes Store.
- 2009: "Don't Stay" - Released on 11 May 2009 [16]
- 2009: "If Tonight is My Last" [17]
Soundtrack songs
- 2008: "Carousel" (from P.S. I Love You)
- 2008: "Mmm..." (from Step Up 2: The Streets)
Awards
| Year
| Nominated work
| Award
| Result
|
|
|
| RTÉ 2fm Song Contest 2004
| Newcomer
| Won
|
| Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2006
| Emerging Artist
| Hope for 2006
| Won
|
| Let The Truth Be Told
| Mobo Awards 2009
| Best New Act
| Nominated
|
References
- The 2006 Meteor Awards
- Celtic soulstress Laura Izibor: 'I don't think I've ever been in love'
- Laura Izibor Biography
- Second Cup Cafe: Laura Izibor
- Hannah Pool meets black Irish soul singer Laura Izibor
- American Dreams: Luara Izibor
- Laura Izibor is blessed to be young
- Laura Izibor - Biography
- Artists to Watch
- The 2006 Meteor Awards
- No 412: Laura Izibor
- The truth is out there, finally
- Tinchy, N-Dubz remain top in Ireland
- Laura Izibor: Let the Truth be Told
- Laura Izibor - Let The Truth Be Told - Music Charts
- New Releases - UK Forthcoming Albums
- http://twitter.com/TheLauraIzibor/status/3198315680