Today, Universal Music Canada and Deutsche Grammophon proudly announce the signing of singer, songwriter, and pianist Elysia Biro. Blending her classical training in piano and voice with her love of jazz instrumentation and pop songwriting, Biro has crafted a timeless signature sound with her recognizable timbre.
Elysia Biro’s skilled musicality and multi-faceted artistry shines on her debut single “Just Wait A Minute”, released today via Universal Music Canada and Deutsche Grammophon. Her warm, airy vocal tones and soul-stirring lyrics float over jazz-inspired live-off-the-floor brush drums, upright and electric bass, tenor and alto saxophone, organ, Wurlitzer piano, acoustic guitar, and flute. Effortlessly fusing technique with an enticing aura of creative flow, Biro’s music has an unyielding magnetism that lingers like a charged current in the air.
With a Master’s degree in Music, a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies for piano and voice, and a diploma in classical piano from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, 25-year-old Elysia Biro creates sonic sanctuaries all her own. Citing jazz and folk luminaries such as Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Norah Jones, and Joni Mitchell among her greatest influences, Biro honours both tradition and the possibilities that unfurl when exploring new forms. Much like her contemporaries Laufey, Olivia Dean, and Lizzie McAlpine, Biro’s music resonates with younger audiences yearning for expressive artistry in the form of jazz-and-classical-inspired pop music. Biro’s introspective songwriting, distinct soulful vocals, and skilled musicianship represent a timeless alliance not only of genres, but generations.
“I have been on an incredible creative journey,” said Elysia Biro. “I am so thrilled to be working with such lovely teams of talented, passionate people at Universal Music Canada and Deutsche Grammophon. It has been such a fulfilling and validating experience creating music that brings together so many of the sounds and influences that have shaped me. This music means so much to me and I’m beyond excited to be releasing it!”
“Elysia is one of the most exciting artists I’ve heard, and I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with her music,” said Julie Adam, President & CEO, Universal Music Canada. “She is gifted – a talented songwriter with an incredible voice and outstanding musicianship. We are thrilled to partner with Dr. Clemens Trautmann and the wonderful Deutsche Grammophon team to share Elysia’s artistry with the world.”
“Elysia Biro is an extraordinary talent, and we are proud to be part of her promising artistic journey,” said Dr Clemens Trautmann, President Deutsche Grammophon and New Business Strategy Global Classics. “Discovered by my esteemed colleague Marc Fritsch, Elysia is already capturing international audiences with her unique voice, authenticity, and artistic depth coming from a jazz background. Beyond the towering classical legacy of the Yellow Label, our creative teams at Deutsche Grammophon have fostered the outstanding careers of Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Agnes Obel and Gregory Porter in partnership with our iconic jazz sister labels. We are hugely excited for our close collaboration with Universal Music Canada. Together, we are laying the groundwork for what we believe will be a powerful and far-reaching career.”
Raised in the wilds of Vancouver Island and classically trained in piano, 25-year-old Elysia Biro (pronounced Eh-lee-sha Bee-row) is a technically gifted singer, songwriter, and pianist. At 13, inspired by the genre’s improvisational free form, she taught herself how to play jazz by ear and began writing her own music. After graduating high school at 16, Biro earned her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies for piano and voice before moving to England to complete her Master’s of Music degree at the University of York.
Crafting her unique sound from an expansive fusion of genres, Elysia Biro’s songwriting blends modern pop form and classical technique with jazz sensibilities. An expressive and introspective songwriter, her warm, soulful vocals reflect her journey through self-discovery, love, and introspection, painting a compelling portrait of life as she knows it right now, blossoming between seasons. Biro has quickly amassed a dedicated audience on social media through her captivating vocals and virtuosic transcriptions of jazz solos. Now based in Los Angeles where she writes, records and produces, Elysia Biro continues to combine worlds, creating sonic sanctuaries all her own.