About Leyla Izzatova
About
Leyla Izzatova (Leys Izzy) discovered her voice at three years old, when her grandmother overheard her singing back a melody from television. By six, she was performing on the stages of the Baku Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theatre. That early start grew into a career spanning jazz, pop, and academic vocal training — from a national Eurovision selection round to Səs Azərbaycan, and from the Baku Jazz Festival to the Heydar Aliyev Center.
A Voice Discovered at Three
Leyla Izzatova's path into music began almost by accident, when her grandmother overheard three-year-old Leyla singing back a melody she'd picked up from television — a moment that convinced her mother to eventually enroll her in music school. Even before that, Leyla was already performing: at kindergarten, she was consistently cast in leading roles and given musical parts at every celebration.
First Stages: Şərq Ulduzları and TUTU
In 2003, at age six, Leyla joined the children's ensemble Şərq Ulduzları, making her stage debut at the Baku Opera and Ballet Theatre, followed by a performance at the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theatre. After the ensemble disbanded, nine-year-old Leyla began studying voice with composer Lala Umid, training alongside a small group of other girls who together formed a new ensemble, TUTU. The group recorded a children's song album for the animated series Quşcugazın Hekayələri, broadcast on Lider TV — a production shaped in part by acclaimed set designer Huraman Akperova.
Formal Training: Music School and Dance
Leyla continued her musical education at Rashid Behbudov Music School No. 2. In parallel, from age six she trained in dance — first in hip-hop at Andrey Babich's "Spider" show-ballet studio, then in competitive ballroom dancing under Elmira and Mikail Mukhtarov at the Sirdaş dance school, and later under Tatiana Chernova at Shane. Over a ten-year span, she placed as a winner and prize-holder at numerous local and national ballroom dance championships.
School Years
Leyla spent nine years at Classical Gymnasium No. 160 before completing her secondary education at School No. 8, named after A.S. Loginov.
Eurovision, Böyük Səhnə, and University
At sixteen, Leyla entered the Eurovision 2013 national selection, placing third in public voting during the second week of the qualifying round. In 2014, she auditioned for the television talent show Böyük Səhnə. That same year, she enrolled at Baku State University's Faculty of Philology (Russian Language and Literature), while continuing academic vocal training under various instructors.
"Жара" Festival, Azad Shabanov, and a First Solo Release
In 2017, Leyla performed as a backing vocalist at the "Жара" music festival, sharing the stage with Russian artists Alla Pugacheva and Laima Vaikule. That same year marked the beginning of her artistic collaboration with Azad Shabanov's ensemble, performing as both featured vocalist and backing singer — a partnership that continues today. 2017 also brought her first solo release: a cover of Yuxu's "Xəzərin Sahilində," recorded together with her future husband, two-time Red Bull Thre3style DJ champion Nazim Mehdiyev.
Jazzeri Bands, the Baku Jazz Festival, and "I Am Jazzman!"
In 2018, Leyla performed at the Jazzeri Bands jazz concert at the Heydar Aliyev Palace. That same year, she competed in the "I Am Jazzman!" international competition, part of the Baku Jazz Festival — earning her first competitive win, with a perfect score of 50 points. 2018 also brought a backing vocal credit on Emin Agalarov's track "Azerbaijan."
Television and Collaborations: 2019–2020
In 2019, Leyla performed at the Heydar Aliyev Center for a celebration event tied to the UEFA Europa League. In 2020, she became one of the featured vocalists on Fatehin Divanı, broadcast on İctimai TV, and recorded backing vocals for a mini-project of songs by Sevda Alekperzade.
Səs Uşaqlar and The Voice of Azerbaijan
From 2020 to 2021, Leyla performed as a backing vocalist for the children's talent show Səs Uşaqlar. In 2021, she competed on its adult counterpart, The Voice of Azerbaijan (Səs Azərbaycan), turning all four coaches' chairs during the Blind Auditions and choosing Tünzalə Ağayeva as her mentor. After the Battle Round, she continued her journey on the show under the mentorship of Murad Arif, a chapter that allowed her to showcase her versatility on national television through performances spanning a wide range of styles, including Rock Opera and Latin Soul.
The Voice Aftermath and Eurovision 2023
Following her run on The Voice of Azerbaijan, Leyla remained closely connected to the show's community, performing at the show's finale events at Baku Crystal Hall and continuing her collaboration with her mentor, Murad Arif. In 2022, she performed live over multiple days at the Formula 1 Baku City Circuit during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and appeared on Mədəniyyət TV for a Novruz holiday special. In 2023, she returned to national competition as one of the five finalists in Azerbaijan's Eurovision selection.
Recent Years: Stages and Collaborations
Since then, Leyla's collaborations have spanned classical, corporate, and ceremonial stages alike. She has performed as a backing vocalist for Röya, Abbas Bağırov, and Elçin Cafarov, while continuing to perform live with Azad Shabanov's ensemble. In December 2024, she performed in a symphonic concert at the Heydar Aliyev Palace with Scorrendo Events under the baton of conductor Mustafa Mehmandarov, followed by another symphonic performance at Opera Studiyası under conductor Javad Tağızadə in early 2025. She marked Victory Day 2025 with a commemorative performance at the Azerbaijan State Musical Theatre (AzMA Theatre) and, in 2026, appeared at both Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Azerbaijan and the Chenille Fashion School Graduation Fashion Show at FOMO Baku.