Category: Performing
Country: United States

About

Born in Flint, Michigan, Liza Garza is a Mexican-American, Emmy award-nominated vocalist. Liza began her career as a poet and spoken word artist, winning a string of poetry slams after she graduated from high school. While attending the University of Michigan, Liza continued to perform at open mics and competitions.¹ In an interview with Azizah Magazine, Liza said she grew up in a family of musicians. “We’d always gather and sing. I did it through high school, none of it was professional then, out to open mikes.”²

Weaving hip hop beats with Mexican folk song melodies, Liza sings about social inequities and the structural violence in urban jungles. In 2005 she published a collection of poetry entitled “You Never Knew Until I Spoke” and the following year released her debut album, “Bloom Beautiful.” In her poem “My Everything,” Liza writes about the importance of remaining accountable to one’s decisions:

“they said we’d become victim to the streets
as if the concrete could creep up and catch us
in the midst of walking lift up and grab us
cock back and blast us
backhanded slap us
and we believed em
did everything to create some sort of distance
in between em
the souls of our sneaks and the hot pavement beneath
anything just to bring us a lil closer to heaven
as if 18 inches was the next best thing to ascension
in a life full of question”³

Liza has performed on stage with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Amir Sulaiman, Mos Def, and Jill Scott, and was a featured poet on HBO’s ‘Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry.’⁴ In addition to her musical career, Liza recently launched a jewelry line which she says was “inspired by the desire to preserve my cultural heritage and a means to celebrate our unique identity.”⁵

[1] Nadirah Z. Sabir, “Rhyme and Reason,” Azizah, Vol. 6, Issue 1.

[2] ibid.

[3] “Liza Garza—My Everything,” Poetrygrrrl.com.

[4] “My Story,” LizaGarzaSignature.com.

[5] ibid.