Issey Cross

Issey Cross is carving her name into the annals of modern music as a British singer-songwriter propelled by an electric energy that aligns perfectly with the high-octane world of Drum & Bass pop. Rising swiftly to fame, her breakthrough came with the 2023 hit “Bittersweet Goodbye.” The song, with its audacious sampling of The Verve, found its way into the UK Top 10, marking a significant milestone in her young career. Perhaps it’s the rasp in her voice or the boldness of her aesthetic that resonates, inviting listeners into her dynamic world.

While “Used to This,” a gold-certified collaboration with Wilkinson, laid the groundwork for her ascent, it was her alliance with top-tier producers such as Luude and Nathan Dawe that truly elevated her sound. She seems at ease navigating the pulse of contemporary club music. Yet, as she prepares for upcoming releases like “Energy” and “Sleepwalking,” there’s a lingering question of how she will continue to redefine her place in an ever-evolving genre.

Her presence on stages like those at Reading & Leeds and Glastonbury doesn’t just draw crowds; it creates an atmosphere electrified by her performances. She’s become synonymous with the kind of energy that is both infectious and alive. Still, one wonders if the meteoric rise she experienced so far has fostered that same rawness she initially brought to her music.

Issey Cross is not merely a product of her collaborations or festival appearances—she is an evolving artist whose journey is worth watching. There’s a sense of urgency in her work, an expression of contemporary youth culture as she continues to shape, and possibly challenge, the boundaries of pop and electronic music, reframing what it means to be a star today.