Singer-songwriter Izzy Frances reintroduces us to the wonders of nature. The indie-folk artist is nothing short of sophistication, finding inspiration from the natural world and her own life experiences. A trained neuroscientist, Frances gracefully intersects science with art, and we couldn't be more excited to talk with her about how she does it. Frances discussed the story behind her latest songs, her ode to Earth with Beautiful World, her fascination with the BBC’s Big Cat Diary and her partnership with the Sacred Nature Initiative. To learn more about Izzy Frances, continue reading below.

Where are you based?
I’m currently based between London and West Sussex as I’ve been staying with my family during lockdowns. However, I’m moving to Cambridge in September to start my PhD so I’m really excited about that!

When and how did you learn you wanted to become a musician?
I’ve loved music all my life and been singing since I can remember. At school I also played clarinet and violin (and started learning piano a bit later on) and I was always involved in the choirs and orchestras etc. I think that I secretly dreamt of pursuing a career in music as a teenager but it wasn’t until I was in my late teens that I started performing and realised this was something I could actually pursue. Stage fright and doubts always held me back before then, but one day I was offered an amazing opportunity to play at the 100 club on Oxford Street as a support act for a band who had heard the songs I’d written, and I knew I couldn’t pass this up. It was terrifying but so exhilarating and since then I haven’t looked back.

Who are some of your biggest influences?
Growing up I listened to a mix including a lot of The Corrs, Fleetwood Mac, Queen and Snow Patrol and then as a teenager this just expanded across all genres. I currently listen to a lot of Foxes, Blossoms, Tame Impala, Bastille, Sam Fender, Taylor Swift, Birdy, Florence, Milo Greene… the list is endless but I think the Corrs were one of my biggest early influences. What’s wonderful about listening to a mix though is that it really helps to build your creative freedom as you begin to realise there are no real limits when it comes to songwriting and creating music.

Songwriting is a powerful form of self expression. Where do you find inspiration for your songs?
I feel inspired to write about anything and everything I feel strongly about, and I tend to feel strongly about a huge range of things… I think I’m naturally quite a passionate person and I’ve written songs about things I’ve read in books or seen in films, things that friends or family or I’ve experienced, issues that I’ve read or heard about from around the world or just from being in nature… Again I find there are no boundaries when it comes to sources of inspiration you just need the emotion to drive it.

Could you describe your style of music and how did you find it?
I would say I mostly write in the sphere of folk-indie-pop. I think this is partly because I grew up listening to a lot of this genre but it’s also because folk songs typically tell such beautiful stories and have an emphasis on lyrics that you don’t always find in other genres. That’s not to say you don’t find incredible lyricists and lyrics across other genres but I think folk-pop appeals to me personally because you get that depth of compelling storytelling combined with these catchy tunes and I think that’s just the best combination.

How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist since your first singles, “Safety” and “You’ve Lost the War”?

“You Lost The War” and “Safety” were the first two songs I realised, and because of this I was very nervous and uncertain about releasing them, which meant I looked more to the opinions of others throughout the process instead of just trusting and believing in my thoughts and what I felt aligned with. This is not to say it was a bad thing as I was lucky to work with incredible people who were both kind and talented, but I think now I trust my own writing and creative process a lot more and have more conviction going with my instincts instead of always looking to others for their opinion.

Not only are you a songwriter, but a neuroscientist! What’s a day in your life like?
Haha it’s fun and often busy! I’ve worked in research and was in labs or clinics for the past few years but working from home has offered much more flexibility and time for music which I’ve really loved. A typical day though involves doing my research during the day and then during evenings, weekends and holidays packing in as much music as I can. I think starting a PhD will be a great time though for my music as although I’ll be busy I’ll have more flexibility in my schedule.

Why neuroscience?
I just find it fascinating trying to untangle the mysteries of what makes us, us… There are so many unanswered questions in neuroscience and there is so much to explore, which means it’s a fast paced and really interesting area to work in.

How do you incorporate your background in neuroscience into your artistry?
Working in neuro and mental health research I’ve actually come across research and reading on the impact music can have on our emotional states and on our brains which has made me more aware of wanting to write songs that are meaningful and may uplift, empower or positively motivate the listener somehow. That being said, when writing I think you just have to go with the flow of what you’re feeling and wanting to say as bringing a clinical perspective into writing doesn’t always result in the best songs.

Science is a very demanding field, how do you balance your music with your career?
I used to work in a lab in Oxford four days a week and then did music the remaining three so that I could properly dedicate time to both, alongside gigging in the evenings after work. However, for the last 18 months I worked in research full time, which just really meant working harder and later into the night on my music at times. I love making music though so it rarely feels like ‘hard work’ if I’m spending late nights trying to figure out Logic or finish up some writing / recording.

Your latest single “Stay With Me” is beautiful. Can you tell us a little bit about this song?
Thank you I’m so glad you like it 😊 I actually wrote Stay With Me around three years ago now when I was sitting on my bed with my keyboard just thinking about how there is such a poetic vulnerability to love as every day, every second, you are making the decision to stay with someone, but also asking that of them, which is a rather monumental thing but at the same time it seems so simple.

Jejune loves your song “Beautiful World,” is a melancholic ode to Earth. What inspired you to write this song?
I wrote “Beautiful World” to support the setting up of the Sacred Nature Initiative, aiming to help promote the SNI and also inspire people to reconnect with our planet in the face of the climate crisis.

Could you talk a bit about the creative process?
As soon as the decision to write a climate / nature-based song was made I gathered some reference tracks and got in the studio with Helen Boulding and Jonas Persson to start getting the track together. We wanted to create something uplifting that highlighted the climate issue and inspired people to take positive action instead of trying to negatively push people into action through fear. This really helped direct where we went with the song as we wanted to create the soaring and uplifting choruses that you hear, paired with more earthy and slightly more gritty verses that lyrically bring attention to the issues around us. It was just so wonderful to write and record as we all felt so passionately about the message that we were trying to convey that the song basically wrote and recorded itself.

The song is a product of a collaboration between you and photographers and BBC’s Big Cat Diary hosts Jonathan and Angela Scott. Could you talk about their project, Sacred Nature Initiative, and your role in it?
Over the last few years Jonathan and Angie, award winning wildlife photographers and documentary makers, began to set up the Sacred Nature Initiative (SNI). The SNI seeks to Inspire, Educate and Conserve, through multimedia exhibitions and lectures, and partnerships with educational and conservation institutions, in order to save our planet. I met Johnny and Angie a few years ago (having been a huge fan of them since I was around 10 years old) and immediately fell in love with them. They have this incredible energy and connection with the natural world and have a way of evoking compassion for the natural world in your most strict opposition. As soon as they started putting together plans for the SNI I was desperate to be involved and as a big part of this was through multimedia exhibitions the idea soon came into play to have a musical component to this as well.

You grew up loving Big Cat Diary. How did this documentary impact your views on environmental issues?
I think for me one of the biggest take aways of watching Big Cat Diary was the energy and connection animals and nature have for and with each other, which inspires a new level of understanding and compassion for other species. You also gained insights into the dire consequences for so many species due to human beings, poaching and the climate crisis, which again helped to motivate people to learn how they could help and start to right some of our wrongs.

Climate change has emerged as one of the most urgent crises affecting the global community. What do you believe are some top-of-the-list issues that should be addressed when discussing, and potentially combatting, climate change?
I think habitat conservation and restoration is critical as well as the need to cut out single use plastic entirely (and ban its production). We urgently need our governments to instill changes such as these and I think we need further investment in renewable energy sources as well as more research around this. At a personal level there is also much we can do; however, the problems are vast and trying to navigate the wealth of information and opinions out there in order to identify what you can change in your own life can be challenging. I would really recommend looking at Giki Zero as it is a clear and helpful resource in finding ways to live in a more environmentally friendly manner and you can pick the level of change or commitment you want to make so it’s suitable and feasible for you. That being said we all need to be prepared to move outside of our comfort zone in order to save the planet. We also shouldn’t forget that by making changes ourselves, such as by researching and changing the businesses and brands we support to those who are most environmentally and ethically sustainable, and through campaigning, we can put pressure on governments and businesses to change and prioritize the climate crisis.

How is SNI encouraging people towards environmental activism?
The SNI captures both the beauty and wonders of the natural world, along with its destruction, through poignant photographs and documentaries. This not only helps to raise awareness of the environmental issues we face, such as habitat and species loss, but also educates us on how we can help to restore and conserve the natural world. I think one of the most powerful aims of the SNI is reconnecting people with the natural world and all the beauty, hope, support and love it offers us. Nature has birthed us, it literally provides the oxygen we need to breathe; nature provides medicines and shelter, quenches our thirst, sparks creativity and freedom… the list is endless, and I think by capturing the vast array of positivity that nature has to offer the SNI helps motivate people towards environmental activism. They’re also partnering with other organizations to find the best ways to not only educate people but then direct them towards current effective conservation strategies and institutions that people can then support and become involved in.

In your words, what is ‘positive action’ against climate change? Why is it so important to approach the crisis with hope?
Positive action is action against climate change driven by the knowledge and connection listed above, such as all the strength, support and nurture that nature offers. I think when we only look at the climate crisis through a ‘doom and gloom’ lens, it can become a fight that seems hopeless and futile, and this runs the risk of making people give up as it all seems pointless. Also it’s just horrible to feel that way. If we can inspire hope regarding the climate crisis I think more people will feel motivated to actually take action and further they will enjoy their involvement, which will help people to not only stay motivated in the long term and keep learning and making changes, but also this will help to inspire others to also get involved.

Why do you think it’s so important for artists to use their platform to advocate for the environment?
I think anyone who has a voice that is heard, a platform where people look to you and listen, no matter how big or small, has a responsibility to advocate for those who don’t. This goes beyond the environment, but in regards to the natural world she cannot speak for herself in a way that everyone understands or is ready to hear, so I think we owe it to the world around us to help people to listen and learn, and to keep doing these things ourselves.

How are you staying positive during these crazy times?
I keep really really busy! It’s pretty easy to with work and music but I also just love learning and experiencing new things so during lockdown I’ve read a lot of amazing books (I would absolutely recommend The Overstory by Richard Powers) and gone for a lot of walks (like most people), and then I’ve also done things like online dance classes and baking courses. I also spend as much time as I can outside as I think some fresh air and (hopefully) sunshine never fails to improve how you’re feeling.

What’s your motto in life?
Kachou Fuugetsu —a Japanese proverb which essentially means ‘through nature we learn ourselves’.

To keep up with Izzy Frances, follow her on the platforms listed below.
www.izzyfrances.co.uk
Instagram: izzy.frances.music
Facebook: isobelfrancesmusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/51UIFSF91btn4ffvk6d58x
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/isobel_frances

Springtime With Izzy Frances