Name: IZCO

Where He’s From: East London

When He Started: “2011 is when I really started making music myself on GarageBand and Logic Pro, when I was finishing primary school.”

Genre: “Soul, jazz and reggae-influenced club music.”

File Next To: p-rallel, Wilfy D, Saiming

Sounds Like: “Just having fun under the umbrella of UK dance genres, with heavy reggae, soul and jazz influences. London and beyond! I try not to box myself in so that I can continue to enjoy music in whatever new inspo comes my way.”

First Music That Inspired Him: “‘Gunman (No Run Things)’ by Yao—my bloodline! This track and its dub made me believe I could make music. It’s so tuff, but with a positive message.”

IZCO is a producer’s producer: a keen student of the greats from every era, especially those standalone pioneers with sound palettes entirely distinct from their contemporaries. Think names like J Dilla with his jazzy Detroit idiosyncrasies, jungle genius M-Beat, and drill architect Carns Hill. Reggae is never far from the conversation either, with figures like King Tubby and Mad Professor sitting just as high on his list, alongside UK electronic frontiersman Steve Spacek, jazz pianist Patrice Rushen, and the great Roy Ayers.

In fact, all of those names paint a pretty accurate picture of where IZCO sits as an artist and producer: tapped into the underground and clearly tuned into an experimental way of thinking, but equally focused on making music that connects with the listener in the way only a big hook or a deep groove can. That instinct to move between the underground and the mainstream, he tells TRENCH, has been there since day one. “I think it was when I sampled a section of The Commodores’ ‘Sail On’,” he says. “Really nice sample, that. I touched it again just a few months ago for the nostalgia. Or at least that’s one of the first I can remember—I also did an edit of ‘Super Sharp Shooter’ around the same time. I ain’t changed one bit.”

A lot of that was instilled in him almost from birth via his parents’ collection of reggae records. “Lots of King Tubby and Lee Scratch Perry,” he continues. “We would also listen to hip-hop; some standouts being Dead Prez and OutKast. Of course, a lot of Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers and all of that. And whatever was on TV on the music channel. But yeah, the dub-reggae was definitely the standout sound I remember from my childhood, hearing all the sirens, lazers and delays flying above the bass.”

For a while, IZCO was synonymous with the overlap between grime and garage, working regularly with MCs like Capo Lee and Reek0 (who just featured on IZCO’s new single, “Japan Greatly”, alongside S.I.). At the same time, he was producing bigger records like PinkPantheress’ “Passion” (alongside Jkarri, another producer he names as a favourite), and collaborating with Katy B, Greentea Peng, and lifelong hero—the late, great reggae icon Bob Andy. His proudest achievement, however, is what he’s built on a grassroots level. “The growth of Brighter Days Family has been amazing; it’s helped create something bigger than myself, and it always means more to share the memories and moments with others. Some wholesome shit… Six years in.” “My goals are mostly life-based,” he adds. “I’m just mad grateful for everything music has given me. I want to see my friends win big, keep growing my catalogue, and travel the world.”

This summer, IZCO has his sights set on his debut solo album, Powerscroft, due for release on May 1 via Brownswood Recordings. “Japan Greatly” and previous cut “Strike A Pose” (featuring Camille Munn) are the first two excerpts to emerge, and they suggest a project that really demonstrates just how formidable IZCO’s arsenal is. Reggae, jazz, jungle, broken beat, grime, garage, soul, dub and club sounds from around the world are all in play. This might just be IZCO in his purest form.