Premiere: Izzy Bizu Spellbinds with Compelling Acoustic Version of “Tough Pill”

Tough Pill - Izzy Bizu Artwork
With the acoustic version of “Tough Pill,” Izzy Bizu stylishly emphasizes her piercingly affecting penmanship and extraordinary voice.
Stream: “Tough Pill (live)” – Izzy Bizu




You don’t have to smile and take it… speaking up and taking charge feels a whole lot better.

While production can obviously amplify the emotional resonance of any song, truly outstanding music still hits home when it’s stripped down to its bare bones. Such stripped-back performances also allow the vocalist’s talent to shine through unabatedly. Thankfully, with this acoustic version, Bizu’s outstanding talent compels with a fierce intensity.

Tough Pill - Izzy Bizu Artwork
Tough Pill – Izzy Bizu Artwork
You run my heart like a bulldozer
Don’t know who you’re getting
close with on the sofa
Maybe I can’t accept you moving forward
It’s never over
Till it’s over
You don’t really care no,
You don’t really care no
If you did wouldn’t rub it in my face boy
It ain’t fair no
I don’t I don’t share boy
Said I’m moving on but I’m getting real annoyed

Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering the acoustic music video for Izzy Bizu’s latest single “Tough Pill“. Bizu’s exceptional talent was first acknowledged by a wider audience with the release of debut album A Moment of Madness in 2016. Containing her breakthrough single “White Tiger”, the album showcased Bizu’s unrelentingly enthralling jazz-soul-pop stylings.

“Tough Pill” serves as Bizu’s second single release of the year, following the release of “Faded”, a joyously exuberant celebration of the sometimes perplexing confusing nature of modern-day romances. Both of these singles mark a stunning sonic evolution in Bizu’s sound, with the end result proving to be unrelentingly intoxicating. Along with Bizu’s affecting vocal performances, the production employed on both tracks manages to encompass both hard-hitting emotion and amazingly energetic hopeful exuberance dexterously.

Liar liar liar
I saw you beside her
I thought I would be fine
But I’m going out my mind yeh
Move aside yeh
Oh the boys mine

On the other hand, the dazzling combination of the stripped-back production and visually simplistic nature of the video allows the listener to fully focus upon the song’s striking sentiment. Accompanied by impassioned performances from her band members, even though she’s sitting down throughout Bizu provides an engrossing exhibition of her talent and infectiously jubilant performance style. The track sees Bizu chronicle her realisation that even though it can be exceedingly uncomfortable standing your ground feels insurmountably better than suppress your own feelings.

Izzy Bizu © Sophie Jones
Izzy Bizu © Sophie Jones

“When you feel really uneasy about a situation whether it’s love or something offensive someone said and you try to keep your mouth shut about it, it can be a tough pill to swallow,” Izzy Bizu tells Atwood Magazine. “I mean, I don’t think you should always keep quiet about it but sometimes it’s good to pick your battles, you know some people are just not worth your time I guess. What I have realised is that you don’t have to smile and take it and that speaking up and taking charge feels a whole lot better.”

You run my heart like a bulldozer
Don’t know who you’re getting
close with on the sofa

Maybe I can’t accept you moving forward
It’s never over
Till its over
Tough pill to swallow

Obviously inspired by her personal journey, “Tough Pill” is immensely affecting and it’s refreshing to listen to such stirring music that’s not exclusively inspired by woeful heartache. Arguably one of the best aspects of this song is accessibility, which effortlessly allows listeners to attribute their own meanings.

Izzy Bizu has more than proved that her incredible early acclaim wasn’t unwarranted and “Tough Pill” has undoubtedly heightened expectations for new material from this outstandingly talented artist. But for now, you can listen to the acoustic version of “Tough Pill” exclusively at Atwood Magazine!

— —

Stream: “Tough Pill (live)” – Izzy Bizu




— — — —

Tough Pill - Izzy Bizu Artwork

Connect with Izzy Bizu on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Discover new music on Atwood Magazine
? © Sophie Jones

:: Stream Izzy Bizu ::



Written By
More from Luke Pettican
Today’s Song: Rhys Lewis Beautifully Bewitches with “Be Your Man”
Oxford singer-songwriter Rhys Lewis demonstrates the reasons behind his ever-growing popularity with...
Read More