Issey Cross
{{Short description|English singer}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Issey Cross
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Isabella Eliza Victoria Cross
| alias = Issey Cross
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|2000}}
| birth_place = Kent, England
| origin =
| genre = Pop, rock, pop-rock
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2021–present
| label =
| current_member_of = Loud LDN
| past_member_of =
| website =
}}
Isabella Eliza Victoria Cross is an English musician. Her three features, on Wilkinson's "Used to This", Luude's "Oh My" featuring Moby, and Nathan Dawe & Bru-C's "Oh Baby" featuring bshp, charted on the UK Singles Chart at numbers 33, 98 and 35 respectively, and her solo single, "Bittersweet Goodbye", charted at No. 19. She is a member of Loud LDN.
Life and career
=Early life=
Isabella Eliza Victoria Cross{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/919675550 |title=OH BABY (FEAT. BSHP & ISSEY CROSS) |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=10 July 2023}} was born in Kent{{cite web|url=https://notion.online/issey-cross-introduces-us-to-her-eclectic-new-sound/|title=Issey Cross Introduces Us To Her Eclectic New Sound|date=15 January 2021 |publisher=Notion Magazine|accessdate=3 April 2023}} to two hairdressers, and started making music after being gifted a guitar for her thirteenth birthday. As a teenager, she would perform gigs in local pubs around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells under the name Issey C;{{cite web|url=https://cenemagazine.co.uk/features/2021/6/4/issey-cross-interview|title=Issey Cross - Cross Examination|date=29 October 2021 |publisher='cene Magazine|accessdate=23 April 2023}} her first gig was in the pub opposite her father's salon. She told 'cene Magazine in June 2021 that she was under eighteen at the time, that both her and her father would lie about her age so that pubs would allow her to perform, and that she would wear "loads of make-up so that it made [her] look older". After her GCSEs, she moved to Tottenham on her own{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2021/01/15/new-noise-issey-cross/|title=Issey Cross debuts heartbreak anthem "Who"|date=15 January 2021 |publisher=Wonderland Magazine|accessdate=23 April 2023}} to attend music college; in her first year, she took a music performance course, and in her second, she transferred to a music production course.
=Solo releases=
Her debut single, "Who", was released on 15 January 2021,{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/4U9HuQrWtFxmLwOSKthmBR|title=Who - song and lyrics by Issey Cross|publisher=Spotify|accessdate=23 April 2023}} and was written after the song's co-writer and producer told Cross about the experience of being cheated on. A second single, "Boys Make Promises", was released on 26 February 2021,{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/38B8LpbHD5uoUTEWog740d|title=Boys Make Promises - song and lyrics by Issey Cross|publisher=Spotify|accessdate=23 April 2023}} and was written about men who make her promises and then disappear.{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/issey-cross-returns-with-potent-pop-weapon-boys-make-promises/|title=Issey Cross Returns With Potent Pop Weapon 'Boys Make Promises'|date=26 February 2021 |publisher=Clash Music|accessdate=23 April 2023}} Both tracks appeared on her extended play Mirrors Don't Lie, which was released on 26 March 2021, which had been delayed by COVID-19; she told Popsugar in March 2021 that she "wrote most of [its] songs nearly two years ago".{{cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainment/issey-cross-mirrors-dont-lie-ep-interview-48237033|title=Issey Cross's First EP, Mirrors Don't Lie, Has Been 2 Years in the Making|date=26 March 2021 |publisher=Popsugar|accessdate=23 April 2023}}
On 2 April 2021, she released Hot 'N Cold, a cover version of the Katy Perry song. On 24 June 2021, she released "M40 (Love Me Now)", an ode to the extended periods of time she spent driving on the M40 motorway owing to her being in a long-distance relationship.{{cite web|url=https://alfitude.com/2021/06/29/issey-cross-m40-love-me-now/|title=Issey Cross – M40 (Love Me Now)|date=29 June 2021 |publisher=Alfitude.com|accessdate=23 April 2023}} On 13 August 2021, she released "Tired Of Everybody", a song about post-lockdown social anxiety.{{cite web|url=https://www.bestinnewmusic.com/2021/08/issey-cross-tired-of-everybody.html|title=Issey Cross - Tired Of Everybody|date=13 August 2021 |publisher=Best In New Music|accessdate=23 April 2023}}
=Collaborations=
On 19 November 2021, she featured on Wilkinson's Used to This, which charted at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. On 6 April 2022, she released "Downers" with Jalle. The pair wrote the song in lockdown over Zoom, with it discussing their insecurities and what they would change about themselves.{{cite web|url=https://www.totalntertainment.com/music/jalle-and-issey-cross-release-new-single-downers/|title=Jalle and Issey Cross release new single "Downers"|date=7 April 2022 |publisher=TotalNtertainment|accessdate=23 April 2023}} On 12 January 2023, she and Luude released Oh My, which charted at number 98 on the UK Singles Chart. On 3 February 2023, she and bshp featured on Nathan Dawe and Bru-C's "Oh Baby", which charted at #35 on the UK Singles Chart, and on 24 March 2023, she, Hybrid Minds, and Fred V released "Breathe Out". On 30 June 2023, she released "Bittersweet Goodbye",{{Citation |title=Bittersweet Goodbye - Single by Issey Cross on Apple Music |date=30 June 2023 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/bittersweet-goodbye-single/1691562161 |access-date=27 February 2024 |language=en-US}} which was produced by Luude, and samples his remix of "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve.{{cite web|url=https://www.recordoftheday.com/record-of-the-day/2023-06-30/bittersweet-goodbye2023|title=Bittersweet Goodbye|publisher=Recordoftheday.com|accessdate=8 July 2023}} The track was intended as a Luude release, but scheduling conflicts meant he could not release it, so Cross took it for herself.{{Cite web |title=Issey Cross talks solo breakthrough and sampling The Verve on Bittersweet Goodbye |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/issey-cross-talks-solo-breakthrough-and-sampling-the-verve-on-bittersweet-goodbye/ |access-date=18 August 2023 |website=Official Charts Company}} The song was promoted with a music video, filmed at a Homebass rave,{{Cite web |last=Music |title=Issey Cross {{!}} 5 Minutes With |url=https://noctismag.com/music/issey-cross-5-minutes-with/ |access-date=14 August 2023 |website=noctismag.com |language=en}} and charted at No. 19 on the UK Singles Chart.
On 23 February 2024, Cross released "Sleepwalking", a single with British rapper Songer, and produced by Shapes & Sudley.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=26 February 2024 |title=Issey Cross Grabs Songer For New Single 'Sleepwalking' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/issey-cross-grabs-songer-for-new-single-sleepwalking/ |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=Clash Magazine |language=en-GB}}
Artistry
Her main inspirations are Lorde and Taylor Swift. She is a member of Loud LDN, a collective of female musicians based in London and its suburbs, alongside Piri, Venbee, Charlotte Plank, and Willow Kayne.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0dmtpvy|title=BBC Music Introducing Kent, Live session: In Waves, LOUD LDN spotlight mix|publisher=BBC Music|accessdate=3 April 2023}}
Discography
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Mirrors Don't Lie
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles as a featured artist, with selected chart positions, certifications, and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Certifications ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Downers" (Jalle featuring Issey Cross){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/downers-feat-issey-cross-single/1613764636|title=Downers (feat. Issey Cross) - Single by Jalle|website=Apple Music|accessdate=19 July 2023}} | 2022 | — | | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Oh Baby" (Nathan Dawe and Bru-C featuring bshp and Issey Cross){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/oh-baby-feat-bshp-issey-cross-single/1666238452|title=Oh Baby (feat. bshp & Issey Cross) - Single by Nathan Dawe, Bru-C|website=Apple Music|accessdate=19 July 2023}} | 2023 | 35 | | If Heaven Had a Phone Line |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
References
{{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cross, Issey}}
Category:21st-century English women singers