For as long as he can remember, music and Rastafari have been part of Izi Ion‘s life. It was not until the late 1980s however, that he recorded his first song and in the next decade became a committed disciple of Rastafari.
Izi Ion was born Vollin Garth Headley in the Flour Hill district, a small, family-friendly community in St. James, Jamaica. It was there that he learned the importance of farming and self-sustainment; something he actively partakes in to this day. He considers farming an essential part of life and explains it like this: “my leisure time, I’m in the farm tilling the soil, planting food and making herbal medicine. Building up the structure and living a healthy lifestyle.” In addition to agriculture, Izi is also a fashion designer who specializes in indigenous clothing and jewelry.
His musical career started in 1989 under the name Chiney Eye, a moniker he was called because of the shape of his eyes. His initial songs were Talk & Run and Accident.
By the mid-1990s, there was a cultural shift in Jamaican dancehall with the Rastafarian influence returning to the forefront; this is thanks to artists like Garnet Silk, Tony Rebel and Everton Blender. It was during that time that Vollin Garth Headley aka Chiney Eye evolved into Iziniga. His songs took on a distinct Afrocentric flavor, which stood out when they were played on the radio. Because he was raised on the nourishing music of reggae legends Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and Culture, he somehow managed to create music that had a similar impact on the listener.
As a live act, Izi Ion toured The Netherlands and Belgium in the mid-nineties and has performed at major events such as Reggae Sumfest and Rebel Salute.
He kicked off 2021 with the release of So Many Sounds, a song produced by Kenneth Thompson for the KENERGi Music Label. It is his first song for the emerging music imprint, which is based in Florida (U.S.A). Like most of his previous releases, So Many Sounds is driven by his spiritual beliefs and is filled with relevant and timely Rastafarian teachings.
When asked what he would like people to take away from his music, Izi Ion said the following: “My main mission is to endorse the message of Rastafari. That is what I live for.”
