:Kizzy Crawford

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Kizzy Crawford

| image = Kizzy Crawford.jpg

| caption = Crawford performing on Ochr 1's Antena programme in 2016

| image_size =

| birth_name =

| alias = Kizzy

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Oxford, England

| death_date =

| origin = Wales

| instrument = Guitar, bass, violin, vocals

| genre = Folk, soul, pop, indie, jazz

| occupation = Musician, singer, songwriter, producer.

| years_active = 2012–present

| label =

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|www.kizzyofficial.com/}}

| current_members =

| past_members =

| alt = Crawford performing on Ochr 1's Antena programme in 2016

}}

Kezia Lily Rose "Kizzy" Crawford-Southgate,{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/886958927 |title=ACHUB FI - SAVE ME |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=February 10, 2025}} sometimes shortened to Kizzy, is a Welsh singer songwriter of Bajan heritage{{Cite web |title=Kizzy |url=http://www.kizzymerielcrawford.com/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Kizzy |language=en-US}} who sings in both English and Welsh, using traditional and modern sources. She began writing songs at the age of thirteen.

Background

Kizzy was born in Oxford, but when her parents divorced in 1999, moved with her mother, sister and grandparents to Aberaeron and later Llandeilo before settling in Merthyr Tydfil, Her mother is from the south-east of England but she spent her childhood holidays with her grandparents in Disserth, Powys and always wanted to raise her children in Wales.

Her father's family is from Barbados.{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-singer-racially-abused-laugharne-7100567|title = Welsh singer racially abused at Laugharne festival|date = 11 May 2014}}

She was educated in Welsh from the age of four and is the eldest of five children. She has a sister, Eädyth, who is also a singer.

At the age of 26 she was diagnosed with autism.{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ltq9 |title= Kizzy Crawford: Autism and Me |website= BBC |access-date= 23 October 2022}}

Career

Crawford won the Arts Connect Original Singer-Songwriter prize in 2012 resulting in work with Amy Wadge including recording her first single Starling and its video with Arts Connect's Sonig - youth music industry initiative.{{cite news|author=Mark Smith |title=Young singer Kizzy Crawford, from Merthyr Tydfil, wins Arts Connect Original Singer-Songwriter prize |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/young-singer-kizzy-crawford-merthyr-2497748 |work=Wales Online |date=24 January 2013}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/en/news/archive/2013/january/talented-songwriter-set-for-stardom-.aspx|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20131211012132/http://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/en/news/archive/2013/january/talented-songwriter-set-for-stardom-.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Talented songwriter 'set for stardom'|archivedate=11 December 2013|access-date=11 December 2013}}

She performed her song "The Starling" live on BBC Radio Wales's Bethan Elfyn Show in August 2013.[https://web.archive.org/web/20230620130106/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01dn7p6] This was then released as her debut single in November 2013 followed by her EP Temporary Zone in December, released by Cardiff record label See Monkey Do Monkey. Together with many radio and TV appearances in Wales during 2013,{{cite web|title=Radio Cymru|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p019pyn6|website=BBC|date=29 May 2013 |accessdate=25 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.s4c.cymru/cy/adloniant/noson-lawen/|title=Noson Lawen | S4C|website=S4c.cymru|accessdate=2 August 2020}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.shermancymru.co.uk/performance/cerdd/free-gig-huwm-cy/ |title=Sesiwn Foyer: Huw M & Kizzy Crawford : Sherman Cymru |access-date=2013-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225041307/http://www.shermancymru.co.uk/performance/cerdd/free-gig-huwm-cy/ |archive-date=2013-12-25 |url-status=dead }} she has also performed live at various venues including FOCUS Wales Festival, the Sŵn festival,{{Cite web |url=http://swnfest.com/artist/kizzy-crawford/ |title=Kizzy Crawford | Sŵn Festival 2013 |access-date=2013-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225074230/http://swnfest.com/artist/kizzy-crawford/ |archive-date=2013-12-25 |url-status=dead }} the Green Man Festival,{{Cite web |url=http://www.greenman.net/rising/2013/kizzy-meriel-crawford |title=Kizzy Meriel Crawford | Green Man Festival |access-date=24 December 2013 |archive-date=25 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225074310/http://www.greenman.net/rising/2013/kizzy-meriel-crawford |url-status=dead }} Caerphilly Castle and Maes B at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.{{Cite web |url=http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/2013/eisteddfod-week/activities/?eventID=679 |title=Activities and Events Programme | the National Eisteddfod of Wales |access-date=2013-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225093854/http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/2013/eisteddfod-week/activities/?eventID=679 |archive-date=2013-12-25 |url-status=dead }}[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01f4j5p Gethin Evans a Kizzy Crawford] (interview), BBC Radio Cymru, 14 August 2013. Retrieved 2015-09-05. Crawford also performed at Festival No 6.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/eg9j3d/acts/a324wh|title=Festival No. 6 - Kizzy Crawford|website=BBC Music Events|accessdate=2 August 2020}}

In 2014, she signed to publishing company BDi Music.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bdimusic.com/|title=BDi Music Ltd|website=Bdimusic.com|accessdate=2 August 2020}}

Crawford appeared on the BBC Wales Six Nations Championship 2014 promotions singing "Calon Lân",{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qmc3z |title=BBC - Nations Wales, Kizzy |access-date=22 December 2019 |archive-date=2 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402192143/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qmc3z |url-status=dead }} and in April 2014 was named as one of twelve BBC Horizons acts for 2014–15.{{cite news|title=Horizons: Welsh emerging artists chosen for project|work=BBC News|date=25 April 2014|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-27157802|accessdate=4 July 2014}}

She performed her single "Golden Brown", and also "Calon Lân", live on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live programme on 20 September 2014.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04hm8js |title=BBC Radio 4 - Saturday Live, Abergavenny Food Festival |access-date=22 December 2019 |archive-date=7 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807085357/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04hm8js |url-status=dead }} Later that year she performed at Glastonbury on the BBC Introducing stage[https://web.archive.org/web/20230620135237/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p021vwl3/p021vwjs] and has since performed at several other festivals including WOMEX{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1xvLV8vfWGVwm6F641sVRdl/kizzy-crawford |title=BBC Radio - Horizons - Kizzy Crawford |access-date=22 December 2019 |archive-date=19 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119040438/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1xvLV8vfWGVwm6F641sVRdl/kizzy-crawford |url-status=dead }} Blissfields, Hay Festival and Cheltenham Jazz Festival.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz/whats-on/2015/kizzy-crawford/ |title=Kizzy Crawford |access-date=26 July 2016 |archive-date=18 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818114521/http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz/whats-on/2015/kizzy-crawford/ |url-status=dead }}

In 2015, she released the single "Shout Out / Yr Alwad", a co-write with Owen Powell; the track was selected as the soundtrack to the Visit Wales 2015 National TV & Online Campaign.{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitwales.com/explore/personalities/new-advert-kizzy |title=Song & Lyrics on Visit Wales 2015 TV Advert by Kizzy Crawford |access-date=26 July 2016 |archive-date=7 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807173406/http://www.visitwales.com/explore/personalities/new-advert-kizzy |url-status=dead }}

Crawford performed at the Euro 16 Welsh team homecoming gig at Cardiff City Stadium alongside the Manic Street Preachers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-wales-36744386/concert-for-wales-football-team-s-return-from-euro-2016|title=Welsh Homecoming - concert|work=BBC News|accessdate=2 August 2020}}

In 2016, several of her compositions were selected as part of the WJEC A Level Music Syllabus. Later Crawford was invited to perform and discuss that live on Woman's Hour for BBC Radio 4.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07tqpt8 |title=BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Kizzy Crawford, Online harassment, Young women not going to university |access-date=13 February 2019 |archive-date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214062039/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07tqpt8 |url-status=dead }}

Later in 2016, Crawford collaborated with jazz pianist and composer Gwilym Simcock on Birdsong - Can Yr Adar, based on the Welsh rainforest in Carngafallt. They co-wrote new music and performed and toured it live with Sinfonia Cymru across Wales, ending in a performance at London Jazz Festival. In 2018, the Birdsong-Can Yr Adar CD was released via Basho Records to coincide with a second UK tour. The recording was listed as a Top 100 2018 album by jazz journalist Ted Gioia.{{Cite web|url=http://tedgioia.com/bestalbumsof2018.html|title=The 100 Best Recordings of 2018|website=Tedgioia.com|accessdate=2 August 2020}}

In 2017, she performed with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and at Cambridge Folk Festival.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/live/CambridgeFF2017.php/|title=FATEA - Home|website=Fatea-records.co.uk|accessdate=2 August 2020}} She played a supporting role as PC Emma Jones in the award-winning BBC drama Keeping Faith.{{cite web|title=BBC: Keeping Faith|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09wd0lr|accessdate=25 January 2020}}

In 2018, Crawford signed to Freestyle Records, and released the album The Way I Dream in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://freestylerecords.kudosrecords.co.uk/release/fsrkizdig001/kizzy-crawford-progression|title=Kizzy Crawford - Progression|website=Freestylerecords.kudosrecords.co.uk|accessdate=2 August 2020}}

In November 2021, Crawford released her first self-recorded/produced/mixed and debut Welsh Album Rhydd with Sain Records.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Politics

In September 2019, Crawford sang Calon Lân with her sister Eädyth at a YesCymru rally in Merthyr Tydfil expressing her support for Welsh independence.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49619554|title=Sport and arts figures join independence rally|date=2019-09-07|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2019-09-11|language=en-GB}}