IN CONVERSATION WITH IZ DIVINE
Interview by Samo Šajn
Montana-born singer-songwriter Iz Divine returns with her new single, "Wonder," a soulful pop track inspired by the golden age of Motown. Filled with bright guitars, rich harmonies and a sense of timeless romance, the song explores love, hope and rediscovering joy in everyday life. We caught up with Iz to talk about the story behind "Wonder," how her roots have shaped her music and what she has planned for the future.
Your new single, "Wonder," is inspired by the golden age of Motown. What first drew you to that sound, and how did you make it your own?
I grew up listening to a lot of music from that era, and it remains some of my favourite music. To me, it truly was a golden age. I've always loved how timeless the songwriting is. It takes a feeling we all know, like love, and finds a completely new way to express it. Artists like Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder had a legendary impact that is still felt today. The harmonies, organic instrumentation, unforgettable melodies, and the heart and soul captured in three minutes all feel like magic.
With "Wonder," I wanted to bring that nostalgia and heart into modern music through my own energy and voice. I want to make music that stands the test of time, and that era continues to shape the way I hear the soundtrack of my life.
"Wonder" explores the idea of falling in love with someone before you have even met them. What inspired that concept?
"Wonder" was written by actor and singer-songwriter Roseanna Brown, Grammy-nominated guitarist Nick Veinoglou, and me. It was created at a point when I was seeing my life in black, white and grey. I'd become cynical, and it felt like the harshness of the world around me was keeping me from love and any real zest for life.
I thought back to the girl I used to be, the one who believed in love and saw life as something beautiful. She knew that if I was out there wondering about the one, they had to be out there too, wondering where in the world I was, what I was doing and who I might be. I realised I had to choose to romanticise my life again and change the lens through which I saw it, allowing the bright, vivid Technicolor to return to my world. I wanted the song to feel easy, simple and full of wonder, just like falling in love.
The song is also about finding joy in everyday life. What helps you maintain that sense of wonder?
It's about reconnecting with the child within me. I've become much more aware of my inner child and have started allowing that version of me to come out, play, create and enjoy the world around me.
For me, it's about romanticising my life and finding beauty, wonder and joy in every moment, whether that's buying myself flowers, spending more time outside, making more art, or simply appreciating the amazing family, friends and collaborators around me. I'm opening myself up to love in all its forms. Right now, I'm practising the art of having fun, not taking life too seriously, and allowing things to feel easy and flow naturally. I'm letting myself experience the seasons of life as they change and pass. The present is all we have, and I never want to lose this version of myself.
You co-wrote "Wonder" with Roseanna Brown and Nick Veinoglou. What was the creative process like between the three of you?
I was lucky to have incredible collaborators who really elevated my sound. From the start, we agreed not to overthink it. We wanted every lyric and melody to feel effortless. Nick is an amazing guitarist, and he found chords that immediately made the song feel bright and vibrant. Roseanna has such a natural instinct for a hook. There was a real lightness in the room, and I think you can hear that in the finished song.
The track combines bright guitars, rich harmonies and modern pop hooks. How did you develop its sound in the studio?
I wanted it to feel like a Motown girl group or a record by The Temptations, but with a modern pop edge. My biggest reference was Aretha Franklin's "I Say a Little Prayer." Songs from that era have a sweet simplicity and yearning for love that I think are often missing from music today. Some of the most timeless songs ever written are incredibly simple, yet completely addictive.
The production was a real labour of love. Those bright, sunny guitars set the tone, and I stacked all the harmonies myself, so I suppose I became a one-person girl group! My producers, Alex O'Keeffe and Jonathan Brown, who also created the arrangements, knew exactly how to turn it into a love letter to Motown nostalgia. The goal was to make you feel as though you're in a dream, in another era, falling in love.
The video draws inspiration from classic pop love songs and the romance of the Motown era. How did you bring those influences into the visuals?
The video is an ode to the 1960s Motown era, with sparkles, go-go boots and big, beautiful hair. I wanted to perform the song as though I were a singer from that time. In each of my videos, I play a different female archetype. In "Wonder," I play the maiden, who represents curiosity, innocence, openness and new beginnings.
It felt right to lean fully into that feminine, romantic and classic pop energy. I hope people watch it and feel that dreamy nostalgia, as though colour is returning to their world.
"Wonder" shows a softer and more romantic side of you, while "Who Do You Think You Are" feels bold and fearless. How do these two songs reflect where you are as an artist today?
Every song I release represents a chapter in my life and another step towards becoming who I truly am. "Who Do You Think You Are" represents the woman who stopped asking for permission. She's bold, unapologetic and knows her worth, which is something you need in this industry.
"Wonder" represents the other side of me: the dreamer, the romantic and the little girl who still believes in true love. For a long time, I lost touch with her, so bringing her back into my music has been really special. I don't think we're meant to be just one thing. I'm strong and I'm soft, and right now I'm allowing my music to hold both. I hope it gives listeners permission to do the same.
Identity and belonging are recurring themes in your music. How have your upbringing in Montana and your family roots influenced your work?
I'm an American girl from Montana, but my heritage is rooted in Europe and the UK, with German, Sicilian, Irish and Welsh ancestry. I grew up in a very musical family, where music was passed down through generations. Still, growing up in Montana, I often felt out of place, as though I was always searching for somewhere to belong.
Music became my refuge, the one place where I could truly be myself and discover who I was. I think that's why identity and belonging run through everything I write. Bringing my music to Europe now feels like coming full circle and returning to where my family's story began.
Your music has connected with listeners across the US, the UK and Europe. What does it mean to see your songs reaching audiences in so many different places?
It's been wonderful to realise that my music can reach people around the world. My last single, "Who Do You Think You Are," received great airplay across Germany, France and the UK, as well as throughout the US. It was surreal.
Europe and the UK have been incredibly open to me as an American artist. I'm honoured that radio stations and listeners have embraced both my music and my identity. "Wonder" is already receiving a great response from radio and the press, which is so exciting. Next, I'll be spending more time in Europe, performing and building my audience in a meaningful way. I love that my music and my story can connect with someone in a completely different place. That's the magic of music.
With "Wonder" now released, what is next for you, and what can your listeners expect in the months ahead?
My team and I are planning live performances across the UK, Europe and the US for 2027. I'll be debuting "Wonder" and "Who Do You Think You Are" live at Andy's, Anderson .Paak's club in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, alongside a preview of some unreleased music.
Performing live is where I'm looking forward to truly connecting with people. I'm also really excited about the new songs I recorded at Abbey Road Studios earlier this year, which will be released soon. There's so much more to come, and I believe 2027 will be a landmark year for me.
