IZZY BELLA

(the journey)

 

We all like to hear history of an artist.  We also love to hear about the journey--it’s what makes an artist’s life and career interesting.

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Izzy Bella (Isabel Gutierrez) was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and was raised in a low-income household. She is of Native American and Hispanic descent. Izzy was born to sing; at the age of four, she started a scrapbook with cutouts of artists like Cher and The Rolling Stones. By the time she was 8 years old, she was performing around Corpus at local Talent Shows until her family moved across the state to a small town in the middle of nowhere. Her opportunities as a singer dwindled.

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During that time, Izzy began songwriting and teaching herself guitar and keyboard while working multiple jobs. One day as she was working at a local Subway sandwich shop, a customer named Steve came in and ordered. The two struck up a conversation about Izzy’s dream to pursue music, and Steve mentioned his work with a successful local label--one that was about to open a new pop division.

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At that time, Chris Lieck, the CEO of Tejas Records—arguably the most successful Latin-based label in Texas—had just launched a new label called Record Ink that would reflect Lieck’s return to his roots of pop and rock after 10 years of producing Latin hits. Lieck had just built a million-dollar studio from ground up and was winding Tejas Records down into a catalog company. The label had hosted many Latin stars who collected Grammys and awards from Gold and Platinum, BMI, and Billboard.  

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The day after meeting Steve, Izzy drove to Lieck’s office and aggressively finagled a meeting with him. Weeks later, after continually impressing the label with her drive and unique voice, Record Ink singed Izzy to a deal under the condition that she find a larger label that would eventually take over the sub-label.

 

“We didn’t want to follow the standard--what I call-- questionable way of getting a fan base through other people’s music. We focused on developing Izzy’s songwriting, singing, and style. Style is what’s lacking today. Half the singers on the radio sound the same. We get calls from The Voice, The Four, and Idol all looking for power singers, as we house the largest and most reputable vocal teaching facility in the State. I tell them all the time: If you have nothing but power singers, you bore people. How many of those finalists and winners sell? Very few.  People want charisma, style, and uniqueness. Mick Jagger is not the world’s greatest technique-based front man and vocalist, but he’s an iconic, stylistic singer. Your voice, style, fashion, and brand is what creates today’s lasting stars.”

 

-CEO Chris Lieck  

 

The label went all in on the development of Izzy Bella, producing some giveaway tracks and videos to gain a small fan base while the music was still in the process of growing. The label avoided producing cover songs and instead encouraged Izzy to write her own songs and perform anywhere she could.

 

During this process, Izzy endured some rough transitions: Her mother’s health declined during the recording of the EPs; her house burned to the ground; she broke her arm right before the newest video “Young Birds” and had two wrecks that totaled two cars.

 

Throughout this time, Lieck and his staff produced 26 tracks, but began narrowing it down in hopes to soon release an eight-track EP.

 

In late 2016 and early 2017, Lieck and Izzy took the basic tracks and headed to Capitol Studios in Hollywood to produce the first two EPs. They produced 12, most of which will be released in the next couple months and submitted to major labels that want to sign Izzy.

 

Izzy is still in the studio daily songwriting and producing songs with the help of Record Ink’s in-house staff and video producers. Last week she recorded two new tracks.

 

According to Lieck, Izzy’s focus and drive is incredibly impressive. Lieck owned a well-established studio in Hollywood in the 80’s and 90’s. Having dealt with thousands of musicians, he says Izzy is the most focused artist he has ever met.

 

Please contact Record Ink for additional information, videos, songs, and productions by Izzy Bella.