By Sam Merricks
This Michigan born star has made quite the mark on the music industry as of 2019 where she has blown up on the music charts and has come bringing positive vibes and the message of self-love and worth along with her.
Melissa Jefferson (better known as Lizzo) has made more than a stamp on the music industry with her infectiously upbeat songs and lyrics that remind us of who we are and to love the body we have been blessed with.
Despite her biggest hit to date ‘Truth Hurts’ being released back in 2017, it is only now getting mainstream attention along with her 2019 album ‘Cuz I Love You’. Why has it taken this long for her to be noticed?
Lizzo’s Background
Born in Michigan and raised in Houston, Lizzo grew up listening to gospel music, taking flute lessons and later studying classical flute performance, Lizzo performed with groups including Lizzo & the Larva Ink and musical group the Chalice before going solo and making her own music in 2013 which lead into her debut album ‘Lizzobangers’ in 2014.
Soon after, Lizzo worked on Prince’s 2014 album ‘Plectrumelectrum’ and became a feature artists for Clean Bandit and Bastille on their own respective albums before creating her 2nd album in 2015 with ‘Big Grrrl, Small World.’
Star on the Rise
In 2016, Lizzo worked on her first major-label release where she would hone in on her gospel voice training in an EP called Coconut Oil which would feature songs like ‘Scuse Me’ and the Lizzo’s first big hit ‘Good as Hell’ which was also featured in Barbershop: The Next Cut and later used as a lip sync song for RuPaul’s Drag Race in Season 10 in which Lizzo was a celebrity guest judge in the episode.
Good things happen to those who wait
2017 saw the release of ‘Truth Hurts’ a song which at the time of release didn’t achieve much success however when Lizzo released ‘Juice’ this pulled her into the mainstream picture when she performed the song on Ellen to high acclaim and became Lizzo’s first UK Top 40 hit peaking at 38 in the charts. Soon after, she would go on to perform at Award shows such as the BET Awards; MTV VMA Awards and MTV Movie Awards.
With Lizzo’s positivity and empowering messages growing ever popular in the US, it was only a matter of time that her music hit across the pond and into the UK where Lizzo performed at Glastonbury to thunderous fans who were loving every moment of Lizzo on stage as well as being interviewed on the Jonathan Ross Show.
What’s next in store for Lizzo?
With Lizzo leading her voice skills in the animated film ‘UglyDolls’ and featuring in the recently released ‘Hustlers’ alongside Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B and Constance Wu. Lizzo is on an unstoppable run in 2019. Lizzo is surely only going onwards and upwards from here and with praise given by Rihanna, we can only hope to see the two collaborate soon.
Be sure to check out the trailer for Hustlers which is currently in cinemas now.
