Overview
Rezz, born Isabelle Rezazadeh, is an influential Canadian EDM artist known for her unique midtempo sound, rapid rise in the industry, and strong work ethic.
Early Life and Background
- Born in Ukraine to an Iranian father and Ukrainian mother, later moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
- Worked as a waitress at Hard Rock Cafe and frequently attended underground raves in Toronto as a teenager.
- Began DJing and learning music production at age 16, mainly through YouTube tutorials.
Career Beginnings
- Performed at high school dances, Toronto clubs, bars, and underground events to gain experience.
- After finishing high school and turning 18, spent her savings to attend Day of the Dead festival in Los Angeles.
- Inspired by seeing Deadmau5 perform live, she decided to pursue music professionally.
Breakthrough and Musical Style
- Noted for intense dedication, often isolating herself for long hours to focus on production.
- Early tracks were techno at 126 BPM but evolved into her signature dark, hypnotic midtempo style.
- Gained attention on SoundCloud, leading to her song "Insurrection" being released on Nest.
- Discovered by Deadmau5, who signed her to Mau5trap, releasing two EPs in 2015: "The Silence is Deafening" and "Something Wrong Here".
Achievements and Recognition
- EP "Something Wrong Here" reached 19th on Billboard’s Top Charts.
- Released debut studio album "Mass Manipulation" in 2017, which won Electronic Album of the Year.
- Became highly sought after for major festival performances, including EDC, Coachella, and Tomorrowland.
- Fans refer to her as "Space Mom" and themselves as the "Cult of Rezz" or "Rezzian".
Recent Work and Impact
- Founded her own label, HypnoVizion, to support emerging artists in the underrepresented midtempo genre.
- Recognized as one of the most successful female LGBTQ DJs of the past decade, achieving significant career milestones before age 30.