George Ezra
His trademark is his deep, bluesy voice: George Ezra is considered a young talent on the singer-songwriter scene. Many of his songs are inspired by travel, and his albums capture the spirit of the adventurous Airbnb generation. With a mixture of summer-fresh folk-pop and soul, the artist knows how to pick up his fans and take them away again and again - anyone who has attended a George Ezra show will be happy to come back.
Relaxed to success
"Just George" - the successful singer still imagines himself as down-to-earth even after several number 1 albums. He simply sees himself as a musician who wants to entertain people with his songs. Anyone who attends his concerts sees a young man on stage who could just as easily be sitting in a university seminar or on the bus next door. It's not that unlikely either, because despite the huge number of albums and tickets sold, George Ezra's success hasn't gone to his head.
The singer was born on November 7, 1993, around the age of 20 kilometers north of London in tranquil Hertford. At the age of 13, the son of an art teacher and a headmistress, he appeared as a singer in a cover band. However, he has no ambitions to get a record deal – he makes music because he enjoys it. It is precisely this serenity that his songs still exude today.
In 2011, George Ezra moved to Bristol and enrolled in songwriting at the British and Irish Modern Music (BIMM) Institute. However, since he prefers to be on stage in front of an audience than to sit in class, he abandons his studies after a year. The only reminder of his student days is a scar on his forehead: Ramones drummer Marky Ramone gives a lecture that George is so keen on that he visits with a laceration on his head instead of going to the hospital.
From the first song to the big break
George's career is picking up speed. At the age of 18 he uploaded his song "Angry Hill" to BBC Music Introducing, a platform for young musicians. The song will be performed by BBC Bristol. The result: the first big appearance of 2013 on the stage of "BBC Music Introducing" at the Glastonbury Festival. With only five songs completed, George Ezra got a record deal with Columbia Records. The result is his first EP "Did You Hear The Rain?", which also features his first big hit "Budapest".
The first album "Wanted On Voyage ' reached number 1 in the UK charts. It became the third highest-grossing album of 2014 after Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith. The latter took George Ezra on tour as the opening act in 2015, and in the same year the singer-songwriter received four Brit Award nominations. His success surprises even him. Instead of going straight to the fast lane towards burnout after the first tour, George Ezra takes a break and does what he loves at least as much as music: travelling.
George Ezra finds inspiration when he travels
George travels to Barcelona and stays there for several weeks in an Airbnb apartment. He writes songs that he released on his second album, Staying At Tamara's, in 2018. Two of the songs are storming the European charts and delighting live audiences in particular: the pulsating "Shotgun" and "Paradise", a song that feels like butterflies in your stomach and which he dedicated to his then-girlfriend Florrie Arnold. The album peaked at number 1 in the UK charts.
Musically, George Ezra, named Best British Solo Artist at the 2019 Brit Awards, remains committed to blues and folk. At the same time, his music is always fresh and danceable, making him a must-see among current singer-songwriter live acts. Where will the journey take you next? You can stay curious. The inspiration for the next feel-good song will certainly not be long in coming from George Ezra.
