Bizzy

Elizabeth Chiaramonte is a blossoming pop singer going by the catchy name of Bizzy. She was born in Maryland but has found a home in Nashville, Tennessee, after attending Belmont University in the downtown area.

Her music career is on the rise thanks to her 2022 single “Anybody” which blew up on social media and newer songs like “Spinach in My Teeth” and “Tastes Like Shit” have resonated with listeners following their release. “Don’t Blame the Girls” takes her to new heights creatively by launching a series of short-form videos surrounding the track.

Bizzy is a busy bee. She’s booked on the All I Ever Asked For Was a North American Tour with English singer Rachel Chinouriri. This brought Bizzy to the Windy City, where she met up backstage at Metro Chicago to talk about her life before her set.

JN: (Jerry Nunn) Start off with a bit about your background, Bizzy.

B: (Bizzy) I'm originally from DC. I lived there until I was 18 and then I moved to Nashville for college at Belmont University. I've been there ever since and it’s where I started my music career. I started late in the music business because I was previously focused on sports.

JN: Aren’t you a swimmer?

B: Yes, you did your research!

JN: I did. Belmont University in Nashville is a private Christian college and is conservative…

B: Very much. It's interesting because you have religious people living in the Bible Belt, but then you also have the liberal arts.

JN: Do you identify as straight?

B: Yes, but it’s all a bit fluid.

JN: You have a background in songwriting?

B: Yes, growing up, I would always write. My dad got me my first guitar when I was 12 years old. He was in bands, so I kind of got it from him.

I liked swimming, so that’s all I did until I injured my back when I was 17. I had to rethink what I would do with my life, so music was a natural shift.

JN: What have been your obstacles in becoming a singer?

B: I enjoyed songwriting, but when I went to Belmont, I was terrified to be an artist. I couldn't sing in front of anybody, so I decided to write for other artists. In 2020, I started to write music for myself.

Songwriting gave me structure and helped me figure out what I wanted to do as an artist. Looking back, I would have never been able to do the artist thing without the process of writing for other people because I learned who I wanted to be and how to express myself.

JN: How do you describe yourself as an artist to others now that you are one?

B: I am an artist who makes pop music with a lot of energy and ADHD. That was actually where the name Bizzy came from. My dad gave it to me when I was around two years old. I was running around and he described me as being busy. I couldn't say my name at the time, which is Elizabeth.

JN: Is your latest single “Don't Tell the Girls?”

B: No, the song “Tuesday” just came out.

JN: Well, it’s Tuesday today. How is it going for you?

B: It's been a day and I can’t remember what day it is sometimes. “Tuesday,” the song, is doing well. It's upbeat and fun. It's one of my favorite songs that I have put out and it feels like a new chapter for my music. “Don't Tell the Girls” is the page-turner and everything after that is different.

JN: I can’t tell if the girls in the song are mean girls or not. Are they judging you?

B: It's a satire of that and more about my close friends. We always give each other shit and will call out stupidity. It’s about an ex whom I completely hated and then ended up back with him. I remember driving back from seeing him and I was thinking that I can’t tell them about it. I knew they would give me a hard time.

JN: That sounds relatable. Do you go out to the gay bars in Nashville with your friends?

B: Yes, Play is so much fun!

JN: What is your favorite barbecue restaurant in Nashville?

B: Martin’s Bar-B-Que is my favorite and more vinegar-based. Edley’s Bar-B-Que is more sauce-based and my second choice.

JN: Is this your first time in Chicago?

B: No, this is my third or fourth time. I have played at Subterranean in the past.

JN: Metro is a whole different level.

B: It’s iconic and I’m very excited. This whole tour has been so fun. Chicago is truly a favorite place to play at. The crowds are so into it and there is a lot of energy.

JN: Is the goal to headline a tour?

B: I just want to go as far as I can. This tour finishes in June and then I plan to release more music.

JN: What artist really speaks to you?

B: Julia Michaels is my favorite artist.

JN: I interviewed her on a red carpet once. She’s a very talented songwriter. Do you find the Nashville music scene to be collaborative?

B: Yes and I love that about Nashville. I co-write with my friends and it’s inspiring to bring other people in the room to make music.

JN: Do you think you will stay there or move to New York or California?

B: The dream would be to stay in Nashville and have an apartment in LA, so I can go back and forth. I spend a lot of time in California, like six or seven times a year.

JN: I grew up in Nashville and while it’s NashVegas these days, it still isn’t too crazy.

B: Yes, it feels like a small-town big city.

JN: The bachelorette parties can be bothersome.

B: Yeah, it’s like come have a party, but don’t stay too long. I need my space!

JN: A singer told me once that the ABC Nashville TV series changed the city and suddenly people moved there to be a big star. Do you feel that way?

B: Yes, I think it did. It just blew up after that and I also think TikTok was a part of that, too.

And I think, also, TikTok was a part of it.

JN: Yes, and Taylor Swift. There are tours in Tennessee taking tourists everywhere she lived, walked and breathed!

Where can fans find you on social media?

B: @srryimbizzy.

JN: There's so much you can do with that moniker.

B: Yes, the puns keep on coming. I’ve got merch that says Get Bizzy.

JN: I like the socks!

B: Thank you. They are fun and comfy.

JN: What do you call your fans?

B: I call them Bizzy Babies. The creative part of the music business is what I love to work on. Making music is just half of the job and then I build a whole world around it. This is all a dream come true!