If you follow music and pay attention to the performers on stage, you’ve probably noticed a movement happening in that community. Regardless of the genre you have in your headphones, stars are taking shape. Beyond aesthetics and marketing, they’ll confirm that it helps them become better entertainers and lets them relieve the stress that comes from spending too much time on the road or in the studio.
Izzy Clark Chokecherry confirms that fitness has been a professional asset for him, but it has served an even greater purpose for him personally.
“Overall, fitness has helped me develop a healthy, symbiotic relationship with my body, and for that I am so grateful!”
Izzy Clark’s California Roots and Punk Music Influences
Clark grew up in Ventura, California, an avid skater and surfer town. Her sister Kathryn was into both surfing and music, which was an inspiration for Izzy.
“I always grew up going to his surf contests, and also there’s an amazing surfing scene in California, especially in Southern California.”
When Clark was 15 years old, he started experimenting with music. Admittedly, she was doing it, but she was enjoying the process. The punk and DIY music scene was something he found joy in.
Clark later moved to San Francisco and joined various groups as he mastered his craft. It was when he met E. Scarlett Levinson met in Hing, her musical fate changed. They decided to partner up and form their own band, and thus, Chokecherry was born.
As of 2022, Chokecherry is moving in the industry and is now part of Fearless Records. After creating an online buzz with Glass Jaw and later Messy Star, their debut album, Ripe Fruit Rots and Falls, was released in November 2025. Clark said the release served as a life-changing moment for both him and Levinson. It took time to adjust to such a moment, but since then they have become more comfortable.
“I feel like I’ve been feeling for the last year,” he said. “Now I’ve come to terms with this reality.”
How fitness helped Izzy Clark regain control of her life
Before 2025, Clark was so focused on music that he didn’t think about his health. That all changed when he became his grandmother’s caretaker while also dealing with his wife’s breakup. With so much going on in his life that was out of his control, as well as trying to maintain and grow his music career, Clarke didn’t know what he could do. Luckily, her sister Kathryn was providing exercise videos for the workout, and Izzy did them right next to her.
“It became a kind of ritual for us as we took care of my grandmother and spent time with her,” she said. We only throw one Pilates video at home or ab workout. And I got used to it very quickly.”
Spending time with her sister and pushing herself to practice served as the fuel Clark needed to regain control of her body and mind.
“Fitness really helped me connect with my own agency.”
Clark may have been thinking only about the next cue and the next drill at the moment, but found that the drill did more than serve as a distraction. He found himself more capable, walked differently, and even became more confident in defending himself if the situation warranted it.
“I think having confidence in yourself in situations like this affects what you can do for your community.”
An added benefit that came with the training was that he was more capable when surfing.
“Now that I actually have upper body strength, I can actually go out and enjoy the waves instead of completely struggling,” Clark said with a smile.
Balancing a commitment to your art and yourself
Aside from the physical benefits that have come with her personal fitness success, Clark is now more confident and ready to grow her career alongside Levinson. Chokecherry isn’t on tour yet, but they have big plans for 2026 and beyond.
An example of Izzy Clark in a walking workout
Clarke makes fitness impossible now, including when she’s on the road. He uses hotel gyms whenever he can’t go to a regular gym, but that doesn’t stop him from spending more time working out. This model workout can serve any fitness enthusiast well.
- Hammer Curls – 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions
- Dumbbell Curls – 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions
- Shoulder press – 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions
- Scats – 3 sets of 6-8 repetitions
- Split squats – 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions (per leg)
- Press the foot – 3 sets of 12-16 repetitions
- Return of the foot – 3 sets of 10-12 repetitions (per leg)
- Boards and Sideboards – 1 set of 1 minute each (each side for side plank)
- Crunches, heel taps or bicycle spins – 1 set of 1 minute*
“Whatever I feel like that day.”
Regular cardio is also a huge asset to his performance and overall health. She doesn’t limit herself to one method and understands that variety makes her better on stage and in everyday life.
“I love taking Pilates classes and hot yoga. Hot yoga is active for me on recovery days. When I started fitness in early 2025, I also relied on taking 10,000 steps a day and running 1-3 miles frequently throughout the week. The constant weight loss and chronic heart attack helped me.”
You can learn more about Chokecherry by going their website.
