Content warning: sexual assault. If you have experienced sexual assault and need support, visit the survivorstrust.org or call the survivors trust helpline: 0808 500 2222.
Brighton’s Izzie Derry‘s latest release ‘If They Knew What You Did’ marks a powerful moment in her career. The singer-songwriter combines powerful vocals with moving and relatable recounts of the female experience, providing intricate storytelling that inspires her listeners.
Written and produced by Derry, ‘If They Knew What You Did’ is a beautifully constructed single that discusses themes of trauma, heartbreak, and sexual assault. On the record, Derry openly describes the fear and shame that sexual assault survivors experience when telling their family.
Regarding the release, Izzie said:
“This is the easiest song I’ve ever written and the hardest I’ve ever released. I’m so sorry to any women who relate to it, but I hope it helps you know that it’s not your shame to carry – it’s theirs.”
The track has a gothic tone, with heavy guitar riffs and bold vocals. The bridge is flawlessly executed, with sharp lyrics and emotive vulnerability that make for a standout piece. Derry sings,
“You used my body for your own amusement”
brutally addressing the impact that sexual assault imposes on women and holding the perpetrator accountable.
Derry is no stranger to the music scene. Over the trajectory of her career, she has played Glastonbury, opened for Olly Murs and collaborated with Grammy award winning producers. The alt-rock singer derives from a musical family, prompted by the legacy of her grandfather, who was a jazz pianist during the second World War. Her mother, who played piano and father, a guitarist, kept this creativity alive and influenced her musicality, with Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan soundtracking her childhood.
The song’s honest lyrics and confessional tone resemble that of 90s icon Alanis Morrissette, who is renowned for her poetic lyricism and unapologetic edge that changed the music landscape for women. It’s crucial that Derry’s track comes at an empowering time, as its release follows International Women’s Day.
Derry deserves all the praise for this emotive and original piece. The musician is breaking boundaries, and ‘If They Knew What You Did’ possesses a sense of honesty and self-assurance that encompasses the essence of female alt-rock, making for a moving and memorable single.
‘If They Knew What You Did’ is out now on all major streaming platforms.
Find Izzie Derry on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or visit IzzieDerry.com.