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SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO & MICHIGAN MUSIC SHOWCASE PODCAST<\/em><\/p>\n Support our coverage of Izzy Reign\u2019s<\/a> songs might best be described as \u201cdark pop\u201d and \u201cmetalcore,\u201d but she insists they share a lot of similarities with the music of rapper Missy Elliott.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my biggest influences, weirdly enough, is Missy Elliott, which is nowhere near the genre that would typically place what I\u2019m in,\u201d the Grand Rapids artist offers.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if you really put the guards down of what separates genres \u2026 it\u2019s really not that different. It\u2019s the same feeling, the same vibe as what Missy Elliott used to give back in the 2000s. It\u2019s grimy, heavy bass. If you really take a step back, it\u2019s very much so similar to dark metalcore.\u201d<\/p>\n That vibe recently has put Izzy Reign on the map as an emerging star of the scene. <\/p>\n Not only have the moody yet infectious tracks on her 2025, self-titled debut album already racked up more than 2.6 million listens on Spotify, but last weekend she won the month-long WGRD Heavyweights competition held at The Intersection in Grand Rapids. <\/p>\n In addition to the $2,500 grand prize, Izzy Reign landed a performance slot during Grand Rapids\u2019 Upheaval Festival taking place July 17-18 at Belknap Park, where she\u2019ll join international metal stars such as Gojira, Poppy, Bilmuri, Jinjer, Papa Roach and others.<\/p>\n \u201cMy brain\u2019s still not even registering (this),\u201d she conceded. \u201cA lot of people don\u2019t know the behind-the-scenes of how hard I\u2019ve been working at everything \u2026 and how much of myself I put into this. But to see finally this step forward that I\u2019ve been trying so hard to get is something I can\u2019t even begin to describe how grateful I am.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like this was a huge stepping stone. And to be surrounded by such incredible artists that I\u2019ve myself seen so many times is just a dream. So, I am so stoked.\u201d<\/p>\n Winning Heavyweights Set: Izzy Reign on stage at The Intersection last weekend. (Photo\/Eric Stoike)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Growing up on the east side of the state and attending Taylor\u2019s Truman High School, Izzy Reign (Kristin Matzkows) moved to Grand Rapids more than six years ago, and has been releasing music since 2020, including several Halloween-themed tracks. <\/p>\n \u201cI have been deemed the Halloween queen at least six years or so now,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve been putting out a Halloween cover every single year. At first, it was for fun, but now it\u2019s kind of just a whole demand. People expect it and \u2026 I\u2019m excited to do it.\u201d (Scroll down to watch the video for her cover of The Doors\u2019 \u201cPeople are Strange,\u201d released for Halloween 2025.)<\/p>\n As for the dark-themed, self-titled studio album \u2013 created with help from writers and producers Nick Matzkows and Jon Eberhard \u2013 the singer and multi-instrumentalist describes it as a \u201cpre-therapy\u201d project that features songs with titles such as \u201cPandora\u2019s Box\u201d and \u201cInto Oblivion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of it is kind of on the darker side, but I wanted to be very genuine and very real. I think honesty is the best way to connect with people and make them feel heard and seen,\u201d she said. \u201cMy goal is to be able to connect with people on a very real level.\u201d<\/p>\n Starting on piano and eventually picking up drums and guitar, Izzy Reign also cites My Chemical Romance, K\/DA, Poppy and Muse as influences after absorbing \u201990s techno, hip hop and R&B.<\/p>\n For live performances, the singer has been hiring guitarists and drummers to accompany her on stage. And with new performance offers starting to flood her inbox thanks to the Heavyweights win and upcoming Upheaval appearance, Izzy Reign anticipates a milestone year ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing on the festival is actually giving me a lot of opportunities of people reaching out for touring,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m already getting different offers for tours, which is super exciting \u2013 nothing set in stone, but playing shows and touring is definitely a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Her next gig? Playing Ratfest at Mercury Music Lounge in Lakewood, Ohio, outside Cleveland.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s edition of the Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase<\/strong> featured two tracks from Izzy Reign\u2019s debut album \u2013 \u201cBroken by Design\u201d and \u201cBird of Prey.\u201d The radio show also aired new music by Rivereye (Max Lockwood), Dave & Kristi, Hand of Giants, Lisa Sung, The Rebel Eves, Mike Ward<\/strong> and Beachglass<\/strong>, as well as our retro, classic Michigan track of the week: \u201cPhotograph\u201d by The Verve Pipe.<\/p>\n Listen to the interview and full radio show podcast below. The Michigan Music Showcase <\/strong>airs at 11 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays on WYCE (88.1 FM) and online at wyce.org<\/a>, and on Interlochen Public Radio<\/a> at 7 p.m. Saturdays. Check out previous show podcasts online here<\/a>.<\/p>\n VIDEO: Izzy Reign, \u201cPeople are Strange\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
West Michigan’s music scene<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n