By Toronto’s very own up-and-coming singer/songwriter Liza (pronounced "Lee-za") has become part of that distinguished group. Being featured on Michelle Obama’s “Higher Ground” Official Spotify playlist is only one of the many highlights on the singer’s resume. Following up on her beautiful single, “Morning Glory”, Liza has recently dropped “ROLLA” from her second upcoming EP project, Done Is Done. It’s a chill and bumpin’ track that explores the perilous question we’ve all had to ask ourselves at some point in our dating journey–"are we rolling together or not?”
Like many considering the jump into the musical landscape, the Toronto-born Ethiopian-Canadian singer straddles the line between her day job and passion. Nurse by day and a singer by night, the Ryerson graduate continued pursuing her music while in school. She’s been musically inclined since the age of 11 and also started playing the piano. Her love for music has evolved since then, and her sound and craft have taken her through an R&B and Neo-soul portal. The influence and combination of Ethiopian sounds (Aster Aweke, Teddy Afro) alongside Western music (Brandy, Sade) are what propels Liza to sing and create musically.Growing up, she would immerse herself in her culture for months at a time, inhaling every aspect of her motherland. It’s safe to say, every bit of exposure has paid off immensely. Liza’s debut EP February 29 was released in 2017 to positive critiques internationally. Her vocals – warm. And her style, laid back, well-tuned and melodic.
Liza has already graced stages at Manifesto, SXSW, NXNE and Canadian Music Week, opened for hip hop royalty (Lauryn Hill) and has recently flexed her vocals on Daniel Caesar’s latest project Case Study 01. Her sounds have also been featured on television via "Twenties" on BET and the popular comedy, "Blackish." Her socials boast numbers high in the hundreds of thousands and her streams have racked up tens of thousands of plays, and counting. That’s a sound starter resume for someone pursuing their passion.
Now with the release of the video for “ROLLA”, Liza gives us a glimpse of what she’s all about. In a sultry black dress, she croons from her mic alongside her two-stepping male background singers. The video is an ode to past songstresses in glam doing their thing on stage, meshed with a modern-day flash to Liza hanging with her love interest. It’s a simple, straightforward, yet sensuous visual that leaves us looking forward to hearing what Done and Done will have to offer. With 2 soon-to-be EPs under her belt, the next question on deck is when can we expect a full-length album? Only time will tell. We’ll just have to keep our ears peeled.
Look out for Liza's upcoming project Done and Done with a release sometime in the Spring.
