George Ezra
Biography
George Ezra Barnett, born on June 7, 1993, in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his deep, soulful voice. His parents were both teachers. In 2011, Ezra moved to Bristol to study songwriting at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute. His musical influences include American folk and blues artists such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie.
Career Beginnings and "Wanted on Voyage"
Ezra's career gained traction in 2013 when he performed on the BBC Introducing Stage at the Glastonbury Festival. He released two EPs, "Did You Hear the Rain?" (2013) and "Cassy O'" (2014), before his breakthrough hit single, "Budapest." The song achieved international success, reaching number one in several countries. His debut studio album, "Wanted on Voyage," was released in June 2014 and became the UK's third best-selling album of the year. It earned him four Brit Award nominations in 2015: Best British Album, Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Single, and British Breakthrough Artist.
"Staying at Tamara's" and "Gold Rush Kid"
Ezra's second album, "Staying at Tamara's," was released in March 2018 and also reached number one in the UK. The album featured the hit singles "Paradise" and "Shotgun," with the latter becoming his first number-one single in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. In 2019, he won the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist. He followed this success with his third consecutive number-one album in the UK, "Gold Rush Kid," released in June 2022.
Other Ventures
In addition to his music, George Ezra launched a podcast in 2018 called "George Ezra & Friends." The podcast features conversations with other successful musicians such as Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and Elton John. In 2022, a documentary titled "End to End" was released, which follows Ezra on a 1,200-mile walk across the UK.