Student Q+A: Kizzie Puzzar

Kizzie Puzzar is a Manx singer-songwriter and amateur events promoter. Kizzie is the 2021/22 recipient of the Isle of Man Arts Council Award and is currently studying for a BA (Hons) in the Music Business and Event Management at the BIMM Institute (British and Irish Modern Music) in Brighton.

Q. What have you been working on in your studies so far?

My first semester covered four modules: Booking and Promotion, Music Business, Artist Management and Creative Industries. Alongside my studies, the university has been working with the students on their career goals, networking and experience. 

Q. What kinds of challenges have you faced since studying as a student living in the UK and how have you overcome them?

Moving to the UK from the Isle of Man was a big hurdle, simply getting used to the amount of people and buildings was strange. I don't live in halls so there was essentially no easing in to living independently miles away from home, and I had to make sure I had everything in my house I needed, I needed to learn all the best routes to get into town and between the various lecture rooms across the city. Logistics like, where do I pay my taxes now? How much should bills cost in this area? Luckily the university anticipate this and answered all the questions I had, as well as helping each student sign up to Doctor's practice which I was very thankful for! Amongst all of this I was quite down as I wasn't able to make time for writing music, and was only able to release one music video throughout the semester, having only one band practice too. Thankfully, after spending the first semester adjusting, I'm going into my second semester completely adjusted, everything sorted and ready to have fun too.

Q. What has been a particular highlight of the last semester?

A highlight from my first semester would probably be winning a guitar amp in a raffle at one of the BIMM social networking events, or getting a job in the events team at a 5 star hotel that regularly work with celebrities like Fat Boy Slim!

Q. How has the Isle of Man Arts Council Student Award helped you?

The Isle of Man Arts Council Award has helped me pay my rent and cover the mass amount of bus travel I've got to do to get to and from my classes, I haven't had to worry about working to survive and I'm very relieved to have that weight off my shoulders.

Q. What’s next for you?

This coming semester I'm studying the following modules: Events and Tours, Event Safety, Marketing & PR and Further Creative Industries. I'm planning to start the producing of my already written album (equipment covered by the Arts Council too!) and further writing and practising with my new band. Myself and my fellow tenants have found a new house to move into during our second year that's much closer to town so it will be easier to organise gigs an play open mics, which I'm hoping to get started on this semester alongside releasing more videos on my channel again! I'm also starting a British Sign Language course through BIMM :)

Q. Where can we stay up to date?

My Instagram, @kizziepuzzarsings, is my main source of content, however most of my Manx following comes from my Facebook page Kizzie Puzzar, and my music can be found on my YouTube channel Kizzie Puzzar too.