Laura Izibor

Laura Izibor's story isn't the typical neo-soul narrative. Born in Dublin -- a city not exactly known for its old-school R&B scene -- to an Irish mother and a Nigerian father, Izibor grew up in a family that wasn't particularly musical and that didn't have money for albums. In fact, she didn't even really get into music until she was 13. Once she did, however, the floodgates opened: Izibor dug into classic soul singers like Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, and Marvin Gaye -- the artists who would inspire her own retro sound. At 15, she won a national talent contest. By 17, she was already at work on her debut. Recording that album, Let the Truth Be Told, took four years, but by the time it came out in England in 2009, Izibor had opened for James Brown, John Legend, Estelle and the Roots.