Brooklyn Inspires Operatic Singer IVA’s Pop Sensibilities

IVA is an accomplished, operatic singer-songwriter who tells Brooklyn Roads that “many of my sensibilities come from early experience as a classical singer. I’ve been singing in a more popular style for many years now.”

Guitar In Hand/ photo by Shervin Lainez

As a songwriter, she aims to create music that is “thought-provoking and gives people mega feelings,” that “sometimes may require a certain … musical sensibility,” and yet is “completely accessible.” A great example of this is IVA’s new a five-song EP, Nobody’s Woman, released on September 16. It includes the single, “Run,” which broke big on Spotify with tens of thousands of listeners (and counting), as well as critical acclaim. IVA will be re-releasing Nobody’s Woman in 2023 , that will include live tracks .

Video Monitor Still / image by Camille Natta

The Delaware-born, Swedish-American Brooklynite grew up amid family who “played and listened to music perpetually. My father’s record collection is eclectic, so I heard the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Motown, Mozart, Wagner, Beethoven, even wolves howling.” And neighbors introduced her to “cutting edge classical pieces” by Philip Glass and other such composers.

IVA brings all these influences and more to her new position as one of the first resident artists at Brooklyn Music School (BMS) where, she says, “I am in the company of other teaching artists with inspiring, engaged students. Plus, BMS provides music lessons regardless of ability to pay, which is vital for the musical life of our community.”

At Rockwood Music Hall / photo by Blair Greene

Among the things she finds personally inspiring about living in Brooklyn is being “surrounded by musicians, art, writers” and going to “a lot of shows” to support fellow artists. Also, she tells Brooklyn Roads, “I meet friends in the neighborhood for coffee or a drink once our creative day is over, or before it’s begun, and we bounce ideas off each other. I get inspired by the conversations I overhear.”

Among her favorite Brooklyn music venues is Pete’s Candy Store, where she had her first show this past October. “There was definitely a vibe,” she says. “The room itself is gorgeous with its red walls and lightbulb-wrapped stage, the garden out back is an oasis, and the staff and crowd are solid folks.” IVA will return there on January 8, 2023, and “make a little live music video while at it with artist Erik Ko.”

She also says that Williamsburg’s Marlow & Sons is “one of my fave rooms. I love the DJs [there] … they play the full side of a vinyl.” To artists considering moving to Brooklyn she proclaims, “The creative energy here flows like waves. It’s a place that encourages the artistic voice to make some noise [and where] being unique is celebrated.”