Isabelle Rezazadeh(born 28 March 1995), who is known by her stage nameRezz(stylized inall caps), is a Ukrainian–Canadian DJ and record producer fromNiagara Falls,Ontario.
Rezz | |
|---|---|
 Rezz in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Isabelle Rezazadeh |
| Born | 28 March 1995 Kharkiv,Ukraine |
| Origin | Niagara Falls, Ontario,Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | |
| Instrument | Digital audio workstation |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Labels |
|
| Member of | REZZMAU5 |
| Spouse | Sydney Fisher (m. 2024) |
| Website | officialrezz |
Rezz released her debutextended play(EP)Insurrectionin 2015 throughOwsla's sub-label Nest HQ. In 2016, she signed with record labelmau5trapand released her follow-up EPsThe Silence is DeafeningandSomething Wrong Here.Rezz released her debut studio albumMass Manipulationin 2017 and her follow-up albumCertain Kind of Magicin 2018. She released her third albumSpiralin 2021 throughRCA Records.She then founded her own label HypnoVizion Records, through which she released her fourth albumCan You See Me?(2024), which focuses on abass musicsound.
Early life
editIsabelle Rezazadeh was born on 28 March 1995[3][5]in Ukraine to a Ukrainian mother and an Iranian father, before moving to Canada at a young age.[6][7]The family settled in Niagara Falls.[4]While attending high school there, Rezz worked at a branch ofHard Rock Cafe.[8]
Rezz began DJing at the age of 16,[9]playing music by other artists until she became inspired by adeadmau5concert to create her own.[10]According to Rezz, she knew she wanted to work in the music industry when she was 18.[9][11][12]
Career
edit2013–2016: Early career
editIn 2013, Rezz started producing music on herlaptopat her home in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and uploaded it to the music-sharing websiteSoundCloud.[13][14]She releasedInsurrectiononOwslasubsidiary NEST on 20 July 2015. Later that year, she released music on deadmau5's record labelMau5trapand her track "Serenity" was included on thecompilation albumWe Are Friends, Vol. 4(2015).[15][16][17]During her early career, the American disc jockey (DJ)Skrillexnoticed Rezz via a blog; he followed her and sent her a message viaTwitter.[10]
In 2016, Rezz announced her firstextended play(EP)The Silence is Deafening,which was released on the music label Mau5trap on 22 January 2016. Her second EPSomething Wrong Herewas released on Mau5trap on 7 October 2016; it charted in the United States, peaking at number 19 on theBillboard Dance Charts.[18]
2017–2018:Mass ManipulationandCertain Kind of Magic
editIn 2017, Mau5trap announced Rezz's debutstudio albumMass Manipulation.On 7 July 2017, amusic videofor "Relax" was released on Mau5trap'sYouTubechannel to promote the album's release.Mass Manipulationwas released ondigital downloadstores on 4 August 2017,[19]and as avinyl LPon 6 October 2017.[20]In 2018,Mass Manipulationwas named the best Electronic Album of the Year at theJuno Awards.[21]
On 1 June 2018, Rezz announced her second studio albumCertain Kind of Magic.[22][23]"Witching Hour",its lead single, was released on 4 June,[24]and the second single "Hex",which was made in collaboration with1788-L,was released later that month.[25]The album was released on 3 August through Mau5trap.[26]
2019–2021:Beyond the SensesandSpiral
editOn 14 May 2019, Rezz announced on Twitter her EPBeyond the Senseswas set for release on 24 July.[27][28]She released the single "Dark Age" the following day.[29][30]On 12 June, she released a collaboration titled "Falling" with the American bandUnderoath.[31][32]It was accompanied by a music video that was released the same day,[33][34]and an online VR listening party throughWaveVRwithVR Arcadesacross North America and alsoOtherworldin London taking part in physical events supporting the listening party.[35]
Rezz is profiled in the 2020 documentary filmUnderplayed,[36]and performed a DJ set following the film's Canadian premiere at the2020 Toronto International Film Festival.[37]
In 2021, Rezz collaborated withdeadmau5to release a single named "Hypnocurrency" through Mau5trap.[38]On 24 April, she performed a set atPorter Robinson's virtual music festival Secret Sky.[39]On 21 May, Rezz released "Taste of You", a collaboration withDove Cameron.[40]Rezz releasedSpiral,her third album, on 19 November.[41]
2022–present: HypnoVizion Records,It's Not a Phase,andCan You See Me?
editIn 2022, Rezz launched a label called HypnoVizion Records.[42]The label's first release was a Halloween-themed mix and album entitledNightmare on Rezz Street 2.[43]On 21 April 2023, an EP entitledIt's Not a Phase(styled in all caps) and described by the artist as "goth-punk" was announced[44]and was released on 20 July.[45]
On 13 October, Rezz and deadmau5 released "Infraliminal", a rework of deadmau5's 2012 song "Superliminal", as their debut single as REZZMAU5.[46]An alternate version titled "Infraliminal (Isabelle's Version)" was released alongside the original. Speaking about the track and collaboration with deadmau5, Rezz cited "Superliminal" as her favourite deadmau5 track, stating: "That's one of the key songs that stunned me and I immediately had to learn to produce music. I put my own lil [sic] spin on it, while Joel also did his own lil [sic] spin ".[47]In January 2024, Rezz withSubtronicsandHollyreleased collaborative singles titled "Black Ice" and "Dysphoria", respectively.[48][49]She also announced her fourth albumCan You See Me?,which was released on 14 March.[50]
Musical style and influences
editRezz is anelectronic musicproducer and DJ; her sound has been described as "midtempo bass" and a modern styling of "new beat".[1]In 2015,MTVcalled her the "new queen of the dark techno scene", writing she had been "making electronic and techy beats for two years" at that point.[3]EDM.com's Niko Sani wrote Rezz's "deliciously ominous, often alien-sounding bass music" helped gain her popularity within the electronic music scene in around 2016.[51]Other music writers have referred to Rezz's music as sounding "dark",[52]as well as "menacing", "mechanical", "haunting and industrial".[53]Spotify's outletFor the Recordprofiled Rezz, calling her "one of the most highly regarded producers ofdowntemposoundscapes ", and saying she" strikes a firm balance between minimal original tech compositions and the all-heavy bass ".[52]
Rezz has described her music as "eerie, grungy, dungeon sounds".[54]She has stated while growing up, she listened exclusively to bands,[55]particularly punk and rock bands.[52]My Chemical Romance,Bring Me the Horizon,andUnderoathhave been cited as such bands she listened to in her youth.[56]She citedSilversteinas one band that she frequently listened to that had an influence on her EPIt's Not A Phase.[55]Deadmau5is an early inspiration for Rezz.[52]She has also mentionedZeds DeadandMetricas fellow Canadian artists who have influenced her.[52]Rezz is known for the signature LED spiraling "hypno glasses" she wears during live performances.[57]
Personal life
editOn 15 August 2023, Rezz announced her engagement to fellow musician and frequent collaborator Sydney Fisher, who is known by her stage name fknsyd.[58]The couple held their wedding in September 2024.[59]
Discography
editStudio albums
- Mass Manipulation(2017)
- Certain Kind of Magic(2018)
- Spiral(2021)
- Can You See Me?(2024)
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Juno Awards | Electronic Album of the Year | Mass Manipulation | Won | [21] |
| 2019 | Juno Awards | Electronic Album of the Year | Certain Kind of Magic | Nominated | [60] |
| 2020 | Juno Awards | Electronic Album of the Year | Beyond the Senses | Won | [61] |
| 2021 | Juno Awards | Dance Recording of the Year | "Someone Else" | Nominated | [62] |
| 2022 | Juno Awards | Dance Recording of the Year | "Hypnocurrency" | Nominated | [63] |
| 2023 | Juno Awards | Dance Recording of the Year | Spiral | Nominated | [64] |
| Electronic Album of the Year | Nightmare on Rezz Street 2 | Nominated | [64] |
References
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- ^Thompson, Ian (29 June 2018)."[LISTEN] REZZ x 1788-L - H E X - EDMTunes.com".EDMTunes.Retrieved13 January2019.
- ^abc"Rezz Is The New Queen Of The Dark Techno Scene".MTV News.Archived fromthe originalon 6 November 2015.Retrieved8 August2017.
- ^ab"Meet the 20-Year-Old Producer from Niagara Falls Dubbed the" Female Gesaffelstein "".Thump[broken anchor].5 June 2015.Retrieved8 August2017.
- ^Powell, Karlie (28 March 2019)."Celebrate Rezz's Birthday with The 10 Best Rezz Memes".Your EDM.Retrieved5 February2024.
- ^Tantum, Bruce (4 January 2017)."Dark Star: REZZ Is Moving On Up".DJ Times.Retrieved8 August2017.
- ^Rezz [@sunglasssister] (20 July 2021)."I was literally born in Ukraine that's so fucked up lmfao my passport says Kharkov, Ukraine. shout out to my parents that came from nothing and brought us to Canada"(Tweet).Retrieved6 February2024– viaTwitter.
- ^Leonard, Alex (13 February 2017)."Rezz explains her Canadian influences in electronic music [Interview + Show Review]".Earmilk.Retrieved16 September2017.
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