Exclusive Interview: BIZZY Talks I Don’t Get Breakups EP, Bringing Her Authentic Self to the Stage and Her Music, and More

In the realm of music, Bizzy emerges as a captivating force, blending introspective lyricism with raw vulnerability to create a sound uniquely her own. Transitioning from behind-the-scenes songwriter to center stage, Bizzy’s journey reflects a profound evolution, shaped by experiences in both music and life.

With her debut EP, I Don’t Get Breakups, she unveils a collection of songs that delve deep into the complexities of love and self-discovery, offering listeners a glimpse into her soulful artistry and promising a bright future ahead.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with BIZZY about I Don’t Get Breakups, her journey to becoming the artist she is today, and more.

PC: Before starting your own artist project, you spent years writing for others. How did those experiences and that circle of collaborators ultimately lead you into your own artist project? What did you learn from those experiences that you brought to your debut EP?
BIZZY: I attribute so much of my artistry and where I am in my life right now to writing for other artists because I got the experience to be a fly on the wall and see how they were able to present themselves and what they said in different rooms.

I was able to take that and be like, “What do I like? What do I not like?” It was years of getting to see that from a front row seat. When I finally got the courage to do it myself, it felt so organic and natural because I had seen it happen from another point of view. I was finally getting to do it, so that was really awesome.

I also learned how to co-write. I didn’t even know what that was like. When I first moved to Nashville, I was like, I need to get into a room. I didn’t even know how to do that. I learned how to sit in a room and be comfortable enough to be vulnerable and share certain things that you wouldn’t normally share to someone you just met, but in order to write a good song you have to be as vulnerable as possible. That was a good learning experience. I attribute a lot to that.

PC: There was also a time in your life when you thought swimming was the path for you. How did you ultimately make that pivot into music?
BIZZY: You did your research, I love that. [laughs] That was crazy. It’s funny to look back on because at that time, my entire focus was on the Olympics. Swimming was my passion—I wanted to pursue it professionally. Now, here I am, fully immersed in music, and swimming feels like a distant memory.

That transition was crazy. It was around seventeen when I shifted from swimming to music. It was a natural progression. What happened was that I injured my back and couldn’t compete at the level I was used to.

So I thought, music has always been a beautiful part of my life. Many people ask if it was the hardest thing for me when I got injured and couldn’t swim anymore. But the timing was perfect because I had really started to immerse myself in music. I had been playing guitar since I was twelve and writing music as a hobby.

Around the same time, I felt drawn to music. I started thinking, maybe I could pursue this. I had no idea how, and no background in it, but I thought, maybe. Then, when swimming was no longer an option, it pushed me towards music. That transition happened naturally, without me having to force it.

PC: Your voice is so mesmerizing to listen to. It’s haunting, and it was shocking to learn that you grew up with stage fright. How did you overcome that?
BIZZY: Oh my gosh. The stage fright was a huge thing. I didn’t sing in front of my family. I didn’t sing in front of anyone until probably sophomore year of college. It was like doing a moment of therapy on myself when I asked, “Why is it so scary for me to sing in front of people?” I love singing. I love the music that I’m writing. Why is it so hard for me? It took me a minute.

I grew up very much as a people-pleaser, focusing on what other people were thinking of me. When I would walk into a room, my mind wouldn’t be in my own body. It would be like existing in the other person’s body and what they wanted me to do, so I could take the temperature of the room. I realized that when I was on stage, I was doing the same thing. Instead of being in my own body, playing my songs, and projecting out to the crowd, I was floating my awareness to the crowd and projecting what they were thinking onto me, which made me feel anxious and overwhelmed. I was constantly wondering what they were thinking.

I’m trying to please a crowd of 100 people, but you can’t read 100 people’s minds. You can’t read one person’s mind. It was an impossible task. When I finally realized that I have to put my awareness to my own body, it started getting so much more fun. It’s like I get to do what I want, and then it opened the door for me.

PC: That’s such a great lesson for anyone about being your authentic self. There’s also such a universal quality to your songwriting where it feels so personal to your own experiences and what you’re writing about, but listeners are able to take these songs and bring them to their own lives. Is that something that you’re mindful of during that songwriting process? How are you able to toe that line?
BIZZY: I think it’s by not being mindful of it. I adore that you said that, but when I go into a room and the doors are shut, I’m just in my own world. I come in, and I can write about anything. If someone said write a song about a cat, I would write a song about a cat. But I don’t enjoy singing or performing those songs because they don’t feel like they have a part of my soul.

When I go into the writer’s room, everything that I’m writing about is 1,000% true, which is detrimental a bit to my personal life, but it’s fine. [laughs] In being so vulnerable and honest and treating songwriting like my journey, I’m able to say exactly how I feel.

On a baseline level, us as human beings, although we’re also very different, we all go through the same things just in different ways and in different shapes. But we all feel the same things, and we all gravitate towards that. When someone expresses how they feel, if it’s being vulnerable and honest, you’re bound to get 100 other people that feel the exact same things. We’re going through it together. It’s just different stages and experiences. That’s why it’s able to connect with people because I’m just trying to be as honest as possible for almost my own sake, and if other people like it, that’s awesome.

PC: If you had to select a song off of the I Don’t Get Breakups EP that best encompasses who you are as an artist at this moment, which would it be and why?
BIZZY: That’s a hard question. I guess “Just Yet,” but I’d also like to throw in “I Don’t Get Breakups.” “Just Yet” is the rawest version of me in the saddest form. But “I Don’t Get Breakups” is the raw version of me in the “I don’t know what the fu*k I’m doing” kind of thing. Whenever someone says, “You’re doing great,” I always think, “I have no idea what the fu*k I’m doing. I’m winging it and hoping to God that things will work.” “I Don’t Get Breakups” feels like honest word vomit that came out. I feel like we’re all faking it. No one knows what they’re doing.

PC: With this being your debut EP, what’s the most surprising part about putting it together? What’s been the biggest takeaway?
BIZZY: It was so cool because the entire EP is about one relationship. It’s funny because writing these songs, I didn’t intend for them to be an EP that was going to be about this one guy. It was truly me processing a breakup and writing how I was feeling. It kind of wrote a story itself.

In wrapping it up into an EP, the most beautiful thing that happened out of it was I feel like I flipped to the next chapter. I was like I closed the book on that and that relationship. I got to go through all the insane emotions and the highs and lows of those feelings and healing.

Now I feel like I closed the door on that. When I go into rooms now, I’m not writing about him. I’m writing about new experiences, which feels awesome.

PC: As we look ahead to 2024, what can fans expect from you?
BIZZY: A lot of new music. I’m constantly in the studio and I’m constantly writing. I’m excited to share with everybody what I’ve got. I hope to be back on the road, but I don’t know yet.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
BIZZY: They wouldn’t be surprised because I talk about them all the time, but the style is surprising. It’s Rainbow Kitten Surprise. They’re an indie rock band. They’re so sick.

PC: First album you bought?
BIZZY: Taylor Swift’s Fearless. She’s awesome. I adore her and will forever be a Swiftie. It’s part of the reason why I’m a songwriter and singer.

PC: First concert you attended?
BIZZY: It was Taylor Swift. It was crazy.

PC: That’s setting the bar high.
BIZZY: Definitely. If they’re not all like that, I’m out.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
BIZZY: It’s Julia Michaels’ Inner Monologue, either Part 1 or Part 2. It came out around the time when I was figuring out that I wanted to do music. But I didn’t know what sound I liked. I didn’t know how to present myself. She was so raw and real. I find so much solace and inspiration from her realness. It opened a door for me in music. I realized I could say whatever I wanted and it doesn’t have to rhyme. [laughs] That was really cool.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
BIZZY: Red Rocks.

PC: A must-have on the road?
BIZZY: Emergen-C. I get sick too much. [laughs]

To keep up with BIZZY, follow her on Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Listen to I Don’t Get Breakups today.

Photo Credit: Hunter Henderson