Determination, inspiration, imagination, dedication, words that come easily when talking about Swansea born classical / contemporary singer songwriter Ify Iwobi.
Recently ‘Love Rapsody’ ( featuring Anwar Siziba ) and ‘Thinking About You’ ( featuring Jinmi Abduls ) were the first of 4 consecutive songs designated as BBC Radio Wales Welsh A ’ list artist tracks, the first Black person to do so, on Radio Wales, with presenter Jason Mohammed commenting ” I absolutely love them”.
From a difficult childhood when bullying was prominent in her school years, a situation she has often used in her writing, Ify has become an international performer in venues from Swansea Bay to Ohio, London to her mother and manager Uzo’s roots of Nigeria. The journey has been as interesting as she has wanted to make it after taking control of her music after studying Performance Music at Brunel University, London.
There is a theme throughout her young career where Ify seems to be thinking of others and using her music to benefit and help. She performs regularly at charity events including fundraising for Stepping Stones, supporting children with autism in Wales and The Onani Foundation Sight 2020 where partially sighted children in Malawi, amongst others, are the benefactors.
Walking into a large dark rehearsal room in the Swansea Grand Theatre I was greeted by Ify’s warm smile and a big hiiii !!! Ify was in the centre of a semi circle of 5 involved artists. She was animated with arms pointing and giving suggestions from out of the shadows behind her keyboard and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness the other faces became recognizable. The first being Kizzy Crawford, a Bajan-Welsh singer songwriter from Merthyr who is a regular artist in concert and all genres of the musical media. The fact that Ify had the respect of Kizzy spoke volumes but the suggestions and respect came from all directions and even though it was Ify’s final decision there were no ego’s and the group were able to have a final outcome where everybody had a voice.
They were rehearsing an NHS tribute, an Ify Iwobi composition called We Wont Forget, a song dedicated to the NHS and the situation we have all found ourselves in during Covid. The song, a strong mixture of R&B and rap is a hypnotic tale with vocals from all in the semi-circle. The artists took no wage for their involvement and it raised over £2000 for the NHS.
Accompanying Ify included The Voice contestant FAITH, R&B singer songwriter Anwar Siziba who has also performed at the O2 and neo soul singer Asha Jane Fletcher who has performed on TV and is signed to Emkai Models with percussionist Dafydd Lewis.
This collaboration of Ify’s composition won the best covid track for 2021 in the Bread and Roses awards, Culture Matters Wales sponsored by Musicians Union Award and is still raising money with its on line streaming on Spotify. You can also find it on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnm2vVUNDLM
with a powerful video of stills of NHS staff and patients
For Ify it is not slowing down. The UK Services have found her music and on 19th / 20th October she will be performing a classical piece that Ify composed a few years ago called Flying High with the Royal Air Force Orchestra then later in the year she will perform two other self penned pieces with the British Army Brass Band and she still finds time to work on an 11 track hip hop album to be released around May 2022
Ify has strong anti-racism beliefs and performs regularly for Black History, Windrush and other related events. Her commitments are
- I will take a stand against racism and promote a more inclusive and equal society for all.
- I will not tolerate racial prejudice, discrimination, harassment, victimisation, abuse, or violence against any individual.
- I will stand in solidarity, come together, and say no to racism, in all its forms.
- I will promote good race relations between people from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
- I will promote equal and fair opportunities for people from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
They are statements that are true to her beliefs and true to her music.
From the difficulties of youth she is using those difficulties to promote harmony. Determination, inspiration, imagination, and dedication, but lets add one more word.. TALENT…This is Ify Iwobi.
Ify Iwobi Social Media
Facebook : Ify Iwobi
Twitter : @IfyIwobiMusic
YouTube : Ify Iwobi
Instagram : ifyiwobi
Website : http://ifyiwobimusic.co.uk/
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