Izïa Higelin, also known by her stage name Izia, is a multifaceted French artist born on September 24, 1990, in Paris. She is the daughter of renowned French singer Jacques Higelin and dancer Aziza Zakine, and comes from a family of artists. Her father, a Belgian and Alsatian descendant, introduced her to jazz and British pop music from an early age, which greatly influenced her musical journey.
At the tender age of seven, Izïa began performing with her father, providing vocals while he played piano. As she grew older, she developed a passion for rock music, citing Nirvana and Led Zeppelin as major influences. This led her to write her first song, "Hey Bitch," which would later appear on her debut album.
Izïa's music career took off when she met Caravan Palace bassist Antoine Toustou through her parents. The pair played their first live show in 2004, and soon expanded to a trio with the addition of Sébastien Hoog and Vincent Polycarpe. At the age of 15, she left school to focus on her music, releasing her first extended play in 2006.
Her debut studio album, Izia, was released in 2009 and garnered comparisons to Janis Joplin in some reviews. The album performed well in the French charts, reaching a peak position of #31 and staying in the top 100 for 17 consecutive weeks. Since then, Izïa has released three more albums that have charted in France: So Much Trouble (2011),La Vague (2015),and Citadelle (2019).
In addition to her music career, Izïa has also pursued acting. She made her film debut in 2012's Bad Girl, under her full name Izia Higelin, and received several award nominations, including the César Award for Most Promising Actress. She has continued to act sporadically, appearing in films such as Summertime (2015) and Rodin (2017),in which she portrayed Camille Claudel.
Izïa's most recent project is her 2019 album Citadelle, which showcases her growth as an artist. She has also contributed to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist, releasing a cover of the Metallica song "My Friend of Misery" in 2021. With her unique voice and style, Izïa has established herself as a talented and versatile artist in the French music scene.
