Ezinma

Last updated

Ezinma
Ezinma 2021 1.jpg
Ezinma in 2021
Background information
Birth nameMeredith Ezinma Ramsay [1]
Born (1991-01-11) January 11, 1991 (age 33) [2]
Lincoln, Nebraska
Genres hip hop, classical
Occupations
  • Violinist
  • composer
  • model
  • educator
Instrument Violin
Years active2016–present
Labels

Meredith Ezinma Ramsay (born January 11, 1991), [2] known professionally as Ezinma, is an American violinist, model, music educator and film composer from Lincoln, Nebraska. Ramsay gained viral fame in 2017 by performing a violin cover of American rapper Future's hit "Mask Off", and for her performance during Beyoncé's 2018 Coachella performance. In 2020 she debuted as a solo musician under Universal Music Classics.

Contents

Life and career

Early life

Ezinma was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, to a Guyanese father and German-American mother. [3] Her father is a professor of actuarial science, [4] while her mother is a creative non-fiction author and works as an English professor. [5] Ezinma started playing the violin at age three, and continued to play throughout school. [4] By junior high school, she felt alone as she was often the only black classical musician onstage, [6] and did not meet another black string musician until she was 13. [7] As a child, she listened to a wide range of music, including her funk, reggae, jazz, and Caribbean soca due to her father, [7] and Americana through her mother. [8]

Ezinma attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, [9] where she originally studied pre-med, before switching degrees to music. [10] At university, Ezinma formed a string and piano trio, and was mentored by members of the Chiara String Quartet. [11] [12]

In 2012, Ezinma moved from Nebraska to New York to study at Mannes School of Music, the classical division of the New School, [13] [6] which helped her see outside the rules of classical music. [10] Ezinma began releasing music featuring both her violin performance and vocals, and intended to release these songs on an extended play called I Am Ezinma in 2016. [10]

Viral popularity

Ezinma began posting videos of her performing violin covers of songs to social media in 2016. Her first cover was a 15 second clip of Adele's "Hello" posted to Instagram. [4] During this time, Ezinma continued to release original music, such as "Elevate Me" in 2016, [14] and the instrumental "Give It Up" in 2017. [15]

In April 2017, Ezinma uploaded a cover of Future "Mask Off" as a part of a viral challenge featuring instrumental covers of the song. [16] Ezinma's version gained her millions of views across Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, and led to a sudden increase in her popularity. [3] American musician Beyoncé took notice of Ezinma's videos on social media (even before her version of "Mask Off"), [4] and invited her to perform as a part of Beyoncé's 2018 Coachella performance in April 2018. [7] Between 2017 and 2018, Ezinma appeared in modelling campaigns for Adidas, [17] Gap Inc. [18] and Gucci. [19]

Debut

In early 2019, Ramsay signed to Universal Music Classics. [20] She plans to release a classical-fusion album with hip-hop/trap influences in 2020, entitled Key of Black Minor, to be released alongside a documentary of her life. [4] [7] Ramsay has worked as a film composer, scoring the soundtracks to the documentary film The Times of Bill Cunningham (2020), [21] and the Oluniké Adeliyi-starring short film Promise Me (2020). [22] In August, Ezinma released her debut single "Beethoven Pleads the Fifth". [23]

Ezinma partnered with Wide Open School, Re-Create (a program to provide educational content for public elementary schools in New York) and After-School All-Stars to create violin-related educational content for schools and after-school programs in the United States. [6]

Personal life

Ezinma's parents divorced when she was young, and she has two brothers and two sisters. [4] Her mother, Lisa Knopp, is an author of creative non-fiction books, and works as a professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. [24] [5]

She is an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.

Discography

Extended plays

TitleDetails
Classical Bae

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name
TitleYearAlbum
"Beethoven Pleads the Fifth" [26] 2020Classical Bae
"Vivaldi Springs Forth" [27]
"Drummer Bae" [28] Non-album single
"Ode to Hustle" [29] 2021Classical Bae

Guest appearances

TitleYearOther artistsAlbum
"String Quartet No. 1" [30] 2015Ayumi Okada, Karen Dekker, Rose Hashimoto, James WaldoHere, Where the Land Ends and the Sea Begins
"Piano Trio No. 1" [30] Ayumi Okada, James Waldo, Alyona Aksyonova
"Black Panther" [31] 2018 Kendrick Lamar Black Panther: The Album
"All the Stars" [31] Kendrick Lamar, SZA
"Dazed & Confused [Acoustic Version]" [32] Ruel Non-album single
"Poison Intro" [33] Swizz Beatz, Áine Zion Poison
"Lift Every Voice and Sing" [34] 2019 Beyoncé Homecoming: The Live Album
"Déjà Vu" [35] Beyoncé, Jay-Z
"Don't Hurt Yourself" [36] Beyoncé
"Heaven's Gate" [37] Jae the DreamerEqual & Opposite
"When We're Awake" [38] Sam O.B., DenitiaNon-album single

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solange Knowles</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1986)

Solange Piaget Knowles is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Knowles expressed an interest in music from an early age and had temporary stints as a backup dancer for Destiny's Child, which featured her older sister Beyoncé among its members, before signing with her father's label, Music World Entertainment. At 16, Knowles released her first studio album Solo Star (2002). She also appeared in the films Johnson Family Vacation (2004), and Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne-Sophie Mutter</span> German violinist (born 1963)

Anne-Sophie Mutter is a German violinist. Born and raised in Rheinfelden, Baden-Württemberg, Mutter started playing the violin at age five and continued studies in Germany and Switzerland. She was supported early in her career by Herbert von Karajan and made her orchestral debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1977. Since Mutter gained prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, she has recorded over 50 albums, mostly with the Deutsche Grammophon label, and performed as a soloist with leading orchestras worldwide and as a recitalist. Her primary instrument is the Lord Dunn–Raven Stradivarius violin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilary Hahn</span> American violinist (born 1979)

Hilary Hahn is an American violinist. A three-time Grammy Award winner, she has played as a soloist with orchestras and conductors, and as a recitalist. Several composers have written works for her, including concerti by Edgar Meyer and Jennifer Higdon, partitas by Antón García Abril, two serenades for violin and orchestra by Einojuhani Rautavaara, and a violin and piano sonata by Lera Auerbach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miri Ben-Ari</span> Israeli female violinist

Miri Ben-Ari is an Israeli–American violinist, singer, record producer, and humanitarian. She is known as "the hip-hop violinist".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regina Carter</span> American jazz violinist

Regina Carter is an American jazz violinist. She is the cousin of jazz saxophonist James Carter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Solomon</span> English musician

Sophie Solomon is a British violinist, songwriter and composer who fuses many different musical influences into her music. She was artistic director of the Jewish Music Institute, SOAS from 2012 to 2015 and is now Chief Marketing Officer at high-growth music technology start-up ROLI.

<i>BDay</i> 2006 studio album by Beyoncé

B'Day is the second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on August 31, 2006, by Columbia Records, Music World Entertainment and Sony Urban Music. Originally set to be released in 2004, B'Day was planned as a follow-up to Beyoncé's solo debut Dangerously in Love (2003). However, it was delayed to accommodate the recording of Destiny's Child's final studio album Destiny Fulfilled (2004) and Beyoncé's starring role in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. While on vacation after filming Dreamgirls, Beyoncé began contacting various producers and rented Sony Music Studios, completing the album within two weeks. Most of the lyrical content of the album was inspired by Beyoncé's role in the film, with its musical style ranging from 1970s–1980s funk influences and balladry to urban contemporary elements such as hip hop, pop, and R&B. Live instrumentation was employed in recording most of the tracks as part of Beyoncé's vision of creating a record using live instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alisa Weilerstein</span> American cellist (born 1982)

Alisa Weilerstein is an American classical cellist. She was named a 2011 MacArthur Fellow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Barton Pine</span> American violinist (born 1974)

Rachel Barton Pine is an American violinist. She debuted with the Chicago Symphony at age 10, and was the first American and youngest ever gold medal winner of the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition. The Washington Post wrote that she "displays a power and confidence that puts her in the top echelon."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Akiko Meyers</span> American violinist (born 1970)

Anne Akiko Meyers is an American violinist. She has been called “the Wonder Woman of commissioning” by The Strad.

Ani Kavafian is a classical violinist and professor at the Yale School of Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm a Hustla (song)</span> 2005 single by Cassidy

"I'm a Hustla" is a song by American rapper Cassidy released in the United States on February 28, 2005, as the lead single from his second studio album I'm a Hustla (2005). The song, which was produced by American musician Swizz Beatz, contains a sample from "Dirt off Your Shoulder" as performed by American rapper Jay-Z. The song reached number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Violin</span> American hip hop group

Black Violin is an American hip hop duo from Fort Lauderdale, Florida comprising two classically trained string instrumentalists, Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste, who go by the stage names Kev Marcus and Wil B. Kev Marcus plays the violin, and Wil B. plays the viola.

Son Sue-Kyung, better known by her stage name Sue Son, is a South Korean classical and crossover violinist, raised in the United Kingdom and based in Seoul. She studied at London's Royal College of Music and debuted in South Korea with her album I Am in August 2012 on Universal Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsey Stirling</span> American musician (born 1986)

Lindsey Stirling is an American violinist, songwriter and dancer. She presents choreographed violin performances, in live and music videos found on her official YouTube channel, which she created in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Before I Let Go</span> 1981 single by Maze

"Before I Let Go" is a song performed by American R&B band Maze, issued as the second single from the band's fifth album and first live album Live in New Orleans. Although Live in New Orleans is a live album, "Before I Let Go" appears on the album as a studio recording. Written and produced by lead singer Frankie Beverly, the song peaked at #13 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1981. The song has been noted for its enduring popularity in Black American culture as a staple of gatherings and parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raaginder</span> Musical artist

Raaginder Singh Momi better known by his stage name raaginder is a Union City, California based violinist, music producer and songwriter of Punjabi descent. His professional music career began in 2011 when he released his first mixtape Take One... on December 11, 2011, following up with his debut studio album Beach Chair on October 29, 2014 and later his first EP, escape released December 28, 2017.

<i>Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé</i> 2019 concert film by Beyoncé

Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé is a 2019 documentary concert film about American singer Beyoncé's performance at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commonly referred to as "Beychella". She wrote, executive-produced, and directed the film. It was released on April 17, 2019 by Netflix, alongside an accompanying live album. The film is an "intimate, in-depth look" at the performance, revealing "the emotional road from creative concept to a cultural movement".

<i>Homecoming: The Live Album</i> 2019 live album by Beyoncé

Homecoming: The Live Album is the fifth live album by American singer Beyoncé, recorded from her two headlining Coachella performances in April 2018. It was released on April 17, 2019. The album accompanied a concert film documenting the performance, Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, which premiered the same day on the streaming platform Netflix. The album was also released on vinyl, on December 4, 2020.

<i>The Lion King: The Gift</i> 2019 soundtrack album by Beyoncé and various artists

The Lion King: The Gift is a soundtrack album created by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé from Disney's 2019 photorealistic computer-generated imagery remake of The Lion King and for Black Is King (2020). It was released on July 19, 2019, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The album was also produced by Beyoncé and features artists such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Tekno, Yemi Alade, Busiswa, Moonchild Sanelly, and Salatiel, as well as appearances from Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter, Childish Gambino, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Tierra Whack, 070 Shake, and Jessie Reyez, among others.

References

  1. ↑ "SEZINMA - Trademark Details". Justia. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Ramsay, Meredith Ezinma. "It's my birthday bitches... #capricorn". Facebook. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Bernucca, Carolyn (September 5, 2019). "Hip-Hop Violinist Ezinma is Much More Than a Viral Sensation". Complex. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bates, Ericka (October 25, 2017). "Who is Ezinma? #ClassicalBae". Pynk Magazine. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Lisa Knopp". University of Nebraska–Lincoln . Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 Hill, Selena (May 30, 2020). "Hip-op Violinist Ezinma Is Giving Children of Color Access to Classical Music". Black Enterprise. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Schreil, Cristina (June 4, 2018). "Ezinma mixes hip-hop and classical music to send a bold message about blackness". Hello Giggles. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ezinma". The Mugic Rag. April 15, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ "WNCC hosts Piano Trio from UNL". Star-Herald. January 12, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 Gompers, Sjimon (2015). "WEEK IN POP: ANDY CLOCKWISE, EZINMA, RABBIT RABBIT". Impose Magazine. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  11. ↑ Guzman, Maricia (January 25, 2011). "Ambitious trio thrives in musical rapport, spreads fine arts across Midwest". The Daily Nebraskan . Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Ezinma Trio are Arriaga Finalists" (PDF). Hixson–Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  13. ↑ "EZINMA". Dyme Jays. October 27, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  14. ↑ White, Erin (July 1, 2016). "VIDEO PREMIERE: CLASSICALLY TRAINED VIOLINIST EZINMA FORGES ECLECTIC NICHE BLENDING HIP-HOP AND CLASSICAL IN "ELEVATE ME"". Afropunk. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  15. ↑ Shouneyia, Alexa (March 21, 2017). "Ezinma Finds Herself in 'Give It Up' Visual: Exclusive Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  16. ↑ Jones, Jaleesa M. (April 6, 2017). "The Mask Off Challenge will have you looping Future all day". USA Today. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  17. ↑ "#WeAreMore: Classic Meets Modern with @iamezinma and The adidas Tubular Shadow". Finish Line, Inc. December 8, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  18. ↑ Howland, Daphne (August 20, 2018). "Gap taps activists, artists for inclusive ad campaign". Retail Dive. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  19. ↑ "The Expressionists". Who What Wear. 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  20. ↑ "VIOLINIST EZINMA SIGNS TO UNIVERSAL MUSIC CLASSICS IN THE U.S." Top40 Charts. February 1, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  21. ↑ Sanchez, Lauren (February 18, 2020). "Fashion's Finest Dressed for Bill at The Times of Bill Cunningham Special Screening in New York". Vogue. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Production Credits". Prommise Me Film. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  23. ↑ Wolgamott, L. Kent (July 19, 2020). "From Lincoln to Beychella, 'Classical Bae' set to release debut single". Lincoln Journal Star . Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  24. ↑ "From Lincoln to Beychella, 'Classical Bae' Set to Release Debut Single". Ezinma. July 19, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Classical Bae - EP". iTunes. May 14, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  26. ↑ Pincus, Nan (August 31, 2020). ""Beethoven Pleads The Fifth" Won't Stay Silent". Part-Time Audiophile. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  27. ↑ Heflin, Anna (October 16, 2020). "Ezinma Releases New Single "Vivaldi Springs Forth"". Classical Post. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  28. ↑ Alvarado, M. J. (December 3, 2020). "Get Into the HoliSlay Spirit With Ezinma's Hip-Hop Infused Instant Classic "Drummer Bae"". Dirty Cult. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  29. ↑ Rich, Coco (March 12, 2021). "INTERVIEW: EZINMA PUSHES CLASSICAL FORWARD RECALLING ITS FIERY ORIGINS". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  30. 1 2 "Here, Where the Land Ends and the Sea Begins". Abundant Silence. 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  31. 1 2 "Various Artists – Black Panther: The Album [Booklet]". Genius . Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Dazed & Confused (feat. Ezinma) [Acoustic Version] - Single". iTunes. 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  33. ↑ POISON (booklet). Swizz Beatz. Epic. 2018. 19075872242.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ↑ "Lift Every Voice and Sing (Homecoming Live)". Genius. 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Déjà Vu (Homecoming Live)". Genius. 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Don't Hurt Yourself (Homecoming Live)". Genius. 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Equal & Opposite". iTunes. 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  38. ↑ "When We're Awake". Bandcamp. 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.