Mizan (musician)

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Mizan
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Mizan, 2015
Birth nameMizan Kidanu
Genres
  • electronic
  • keyboard
  • blues
  • electronic music
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • producer
  • videographer
  • performer
Instrumentskeyboards, vocals, synth
Years active2010–present
Labels
Associated acts
  • King Krule
  • Serpent with feet
  • Yasiin Bey
Websitemizan.world

Mizan K., known professionally as Mizan, is an Ethiopian singer|singer, songwriter, videographer and producer.[1] Following a series of singles, she self-released her debut EP, Dark Blue in November 2015, which garnered attention for its minimalistic musical and performance style. [2] [1][3][4][2]

Biography

Mizan was raised in the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and attended a higher music institution at a young age where she studied piano.[5] At home, her family collected Ethiopian-pop tapes, Soul, and Motown records, including works of Aster Aweke, Ella Fitzgerald, Bizunesh Bekele, Tilahun Gessesse, and Bettye Swann. [6] She learned to compose lyrics, poetry, and experimented with creating lo-fi productions, and performed regularly for friends and in talent shows during her time in high school. [7] [8] [9] Mizan moved to the United States to study Literature before moving to New York in 2013. [10] [11]


Career

Dark Blue: 2010-2015

In 2013, Mizan moved to New York where she continued work on music. Her free-styled cover songs" including "Crazy" by CeeLo Green, and "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers earned her 1st place at the Amateur Night in the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.[12] She soon set up a studio with long time collaborator The Brown Ghost to start recording a collection of tracks, which would later become Dark Blue. [13] Together, they produced and composed all the music and videos with an all DIY approach.[14]. "Dissatisfied" with the limited and "sanitized romance" of pop music, the two combined "electronic", "keyboard elements," as well as traditional instruments to create a work that "looks to minimalism and relatability as the music's primary goals.” [15] Mizan announced the completion of her EP in November 2015, by releasing all tracks as singles with videos alongside them, including "Thru" and "Looking For," in which Pitchfork noted Mizan's vocals as a "vibrato that glows over self-discovery" [16] The album became recognized by Rolling Stone as a "terrific six-song EP" that was "stark and frank," naming it one of 20 best R&B albums of the year.[17] Billboard dubbed the work as "a refreshing take on the human experience...discussed everything from anxiety as an inherent part of urban living to waking up to one's surrounding...with Mizan's voice as the glowing centerpiece"[1]

  • Dark Blue (2015, Self-released)[18]

Music Videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"No Fool" 2013 str8ngecreature [19]
"Anxious" [20]
"Looking For" 2015 str8ngecreature, Mizan, Hasabie [21]
"Thru" str8ngecreature, Hasabie [22]
"7 Billion" 2016 Mizan, str8ngecreature [23]
"Awe" Mizan [24]

See also

  • Kelela
  • Aster Aweke
  • Asnaketch Worku
  • Bizunesh Bekele


External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Paley Martin (November 6, 2015). "Mizan Talks 'Dark Blue' EP, Directing Her Own Music Videos & Making Music that Uplifts".
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".
  3. ↑ Charles Aaron & Jon Dolan & Suzy Exposito & Maura Johnston & Mosi Reeves & Christopher R. Weingarten (December 16, 2015). "20 Best R&B Albums of 2015".
  4. ↑ Max Mohenu (November 17, 2015). "Reviews, "Looking For"".
  5. ↑ Heran Abate (November 4, 2013). "Tadias Interview with Musician Mizan Kidanu".
  6. ↑ Heran Abate (November 4, 2013). "Tadias Interview with Musician Mizan Kidanu".
  7. ↑ Heran Abate (November 4, 2013). "Tadias Interview with Musician Mizan Kidanu".
  8. ↑ Bethel Biru (November 26, 2015). "Artist Spotlight, Mizan".
  9. ↑ Ian David Monroe (November 20, 2015). "Looking for Mizan".
  10. ↑ Heran Abate (November 4, 2013). "Tadias Interview with Musician Mizan Kidanu".
  11. ↑ Kiana Fitzgerald (October 15, 2015). "Songs We Love: Mizan '7 Billion'".
  12. ↑ Heran Abate (November 4, 2013). "Tadias Interview with Musician Mizan Kidanu".
  13. ↑ Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".
  14. ↑ Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".
  15. ↑ Paley Martin (November 6, 2015). "Mizan Talks 'Dark Blue' EP, Directing Her Own Music Videos & Making Music that Uplifts".
  16. ↑ Max Mohenu (November 17, 2015). "Reviews, "Looking For"".
  17. ↑ Charles Aaron & Jon Dolan & Suzy Exposito & Maura Johnston & Mosi Reeves & Christopher R. Weingarten (December 16, 2015). "20 Best R&B Albums of 2015".
  18. ↑ Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".
  19. ↑ Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".
  20. ↑ Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".
  21. ↑ Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".
  22. ↑ Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".
  23. ↑ Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".
  24. ↑ Constant Gardner (October 22, 2015). "Mizan K Is The Director and the Star of her "Looking For" Video".

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