Izzy Spears
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Izzy Spears | |
|---|---|
| Born | Isaac Benyamin Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | singer, songwriter, composer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Label | KRS Records |
| Formerly of | Deaddogs, Anonymous Club |
| Awards | Design and Art Direction Award, Clio Music Award, Berlin Music Video Award, Berlin Commercial Award |
Isaac Benyamin, known professionally as Izzy Spears, is an American singer, songwriter, and composer from Atlanta, Georgia.[1][2] He has released multiple EPs, including Monstar (2022),[3] M*A*D (2023),[4] and Blood, Sweat and Damnation (2024).[5] His work also includes the short film and music video for his single "Burn" featuring Leya,[6] which earned him a Design and Art Direction Award for Music Video,[6] a Clio Music Award for Music Film and Video Craft,[7] and a Berlin Music Video Award for Best VFX.[8]
Spears grew up in Atlanta, Georgia.[9] He was raised Jewish in a household led by his mother, who supported eight children.[10][11] He has described music as a formative influence from an early age, noting his brother's rap group and his own attempts at writing raps with the hope of joining the group.[11][12]
Spears began making his own music while in high school.[11] He has stated that he largely disengaged from formal education by the seventh grade and left school after completing the tenth grade.[11]
Career
In 2019, Spears began his music career as one half of punk duo Deaddogs with musician, and boyfriend at the time, Nigel Mackenzie.[9][13] The duo later gained wider attention within Atlanta's underground music scene.[9] In August, 2019, Deaddogs released their first song, "Regina", and opened for Upchuck during their Afropunk shows in Brooklyn and Atlanta.[9] Later in 2019, Spears was introduced to Shayne Oliver and joined his musical collective Anonymous Club.[14]
In August 2022, Spears released the single "FIST" after opening for Yves Tumor on the European stretch of his tour.[15][16] In late 2022, he released his debut EP, Monstar.[3] The following year, he was a supporting act for Tumor on select North American dates of his tour.[17] Spears then released his second EP, M*A*D in December 2023.[18] In October 2024, he collaborated with Jack Powers for the song "Hey There".[19] That same year, he released his third EP, Blood, Sweat and Damnation.[19]
Spears released the single "Burn" featuring Leya in 2025.[20] The short film and music video for the single was directed by the collective Ataka51.[21] The project was inspired by The Wizard of Oz, and was highlighted for its multidisciplinary use of music video, fashion, and short film.[5][21] The film features imagery where "dolls come to life" in a city that is "filled with living mannequins."[22][23]
"Burn" was shortlisted for Best Production Design at the Kinsale Shark Awards[24] and nominated for Best Visual Effects in a Video at the UK Music Video Awards.[25] It went on to win a Design and Art Direction Award for Music Video and a Berlin Music Video Award for Best VFX.[6][8]
In January 2026, "Burn" won a Clio Music Award for Music Film and Video Craft.[7]
Artistic style and influences
Spears's musical style draws on aspects of rock, punk, hip hop and grunge.[14] One critic described him as making "sweaty gay electro-punk with a cynical sneer".[26] Another critic described his work as "raw and uncensored", calling his songwriting "autobiographical".[1] George Clinton, André 3000, and Yves Tumor have been cited as influences on his work.[27]
Personal life
Spears resides in Los Angeles.[28] He identifies as gay.[19]
