Zia

Zia

Ten seconds into the chorus of her single ‘Sunshine’ and you'll be nodding your head. With an infectious vocal style and sublime hook, the dance / electronica artist known as Zia seems poised to vault straight up the charts.

Mooloolah Valley, Australia resident Zia’s love of music runs deep. It shows in her unswerving movement towards her dream of dance / electronica stardom and in her award-winning work that has compelled the critics to rave: ‘The compelling combination of Zia's gorgeous vocals with evocative rap verses are effectively visualized in pen and ink form in this spellbinding new video.’ Unlike many of her contemporary artists, however, Zia has an edge. Her music combines a flawless delivery with evocative rhythmic elements. Coupled with original lyrics and a memorable hook, her new single ‘Sunshine' (Feat. MC Anon) is attracting fans across the globe. Recently, reporter Blake Wright caught up with this intriguing artist to find out more about her musical inspiration and plans for the future.

BLAKE: When did you first get that feeling that your music career was gaining momentum?
ZIA: I first had that good feeling the music was picking up momentum when Sunshine hit as the #1 streamed song on the Australian and New Zealand commercial radio PLAY MPE charts, placing above Madonna and Mumford and Sons etc. in it’s first week of release.

BLAKE: Your song ’Sunshine' is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
ZIA: My initial reaction was excitement then relief because I had put a lot of love and care into the vision of both the song and the music video.

BLAKE: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
ZIA: Underground was inspired by the experience of discovering the places in town that are different to the mainstream clubs that play the mainstream songs. It’s about the clubs and underground parties that play songs that are considered non-commercial and not typical of what you would hear mainstream radio playing. To me these are the very cool places, underground hubs, where, for example, art exhibits are displayed, live music acts are featured alongside club music, and where perhaps burlesque performers are featured, and people are dressed and styled creatively with flair – a space of sheer creativity. There were some great underground parties happening at the time of Underground’s release. Underground is that place where you discover yourself perhaps having journeyed through various tunnels, turns and twists in life, to then find yourself in a space that you feel comfortable, with the element of surprise and intrigue. It’s as much of an inner journey as it is an outward expression. To me the Underground is also about the discovery of one’s inner journey and soul. On the flip side Underground is also a complete and utter party song!

BLAKE: It is often said that great art arises from difficult experience. Is there something in your life experience thus far that you would describe as the ‘catalyst’ or ‘fuel’ for your desire to create music?
ZIA: Certain life experiences can be extremely difficult, such as the loss of a loved one, or presentation of an illness, and stresses that arise in life, and the degree of difficulty we experience fluctuates over time. I have been affected and influenced musically by all of these experiences and they reflect in my various songs as do the good feelings too - of loving someone, loving life and feeling happy and grateful for experiencing love and life on the planet in this form.There is a burning desire to express myself musically in various formats: either playing intimate live acoustic shows which I love, or playing funky bass with mates in various line ups, or improvising with a DJ – I love playing bass in DJ sets! Songwriting is my greatest passion and I find that I mostly write during the months of winter, and spend the alternate seasons fine-tuning the melodies and arrangements. I have written over 200 songs and musical pieces in various genres. I write what comes to me, and what flows through me. I honour the ‘muse’ and what I consider divine inspirationto. I write about things that come to my imagination, or things friends may have experienced too. My fuel and catalyst to write music is based mostly on my actual experience.

BLAKE: How would you characterize yourself as an artist/musician? (Ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving, complicated…)
ZIA: I think I am an individual who likes to deeply contemplate life and all its aspects and experiences. I also think it’s important to understand that everyone’s journey is so unique and different. I generally enjoy being quite a recluse to focus on songwriting, which I find is a good contrast to the live performances which I really love."

BLAKE: What has your experience been like working with the other people on your team?
ZIA: Amazing! I love my team and highly value long term working relationships and love deep discussions of music. I love to be fully involved in each process and every step along the way if possible. It’s also great to be able to trust my team and know that they are doing their best and are able to enjoy the process too. This is how quality work is achieved. I choose to work with others who also have their own projects happening that are amazing in their own right. I consider myself more of a visionary who likes to pull together the right people for a job. I play guitar, bass, and program synths and write etc, but if I feel for example that a certain keyboard player will be able to put the magic into the song I have written and give it a stellar performance and add their energy to the track for the betterment of the track I will always employ someone to do just that, and I like to credit all. I love sharing the music, and I am very thankful to all whom I have worked with and continue to work with. My productions are often the energy of a collective of people. Love my team! All collaborations and credits can be viewed at www.zia.com.au/thankyou

BLAKE: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
ZIA: My great grandmother played violin in the silent movies as third violinist and my grandmother also used to play piano. When I was young, I was heavily involved in musicals and had lead roles in 4 musicals during high school and we toured these music theatre productions regionally. I also studied classical piano for 3 years, and enjoyed guitar lessons, and joined a youth choir . Later I majored in vocals at Southern Cross University. After developing vocal nodules I was presented with a choice to either have an operation and not speak for a month, or to not speak for 3 months and undergo speech therapy for a year. The latter was my decision and I essentially learnt how to breathe properly, speak again, and eventually sing again. During this time of recovery I studied a split major of bass guitar and composition. I then chose to complete Honours majoring in Composition.

BLAKE: What do you find most rewarding about being an artist? What do you find most challenging?
ZIA: I love songwriting the most, and recording something that’s been freshly written, listening back to it and thinking ‘wow where on earth did that come from?’ The most challenging I find is marketing myself, and feeling concerned as to how I am coming across. Or thinking that I have to try and fit into some formula that suits the industry, and then thinking ‘well this is me, I want to just express myself however I want and can, and also to express how fun and spontaneous life can be’. Due to finances, there are times when I have been unable to complete and pursue the releases of new music and videos in the timing that I’d originally wanted, so I have had to adjust along the way.

BLAKE: Who are your role models in music?
ZIA: I like a lot of David Bowie’s music, his individuality, and his profound creative contribution to the world with his unique and evolving songwriting and music videos. I really appreciate celebrities that are active in using their voice to help promote the conservation of the environment and issues that are important in saving our earth. For production I am very inspired by Nile Rogers with his work with INXS “Original Sin”, Sister Sledge “We Are Family”, David Bowie “China Girl” and “Let’s Dance” and Chic’s “Le Freak”, Daft Punk “Get Lucky” and “Lose Your Self To Dance” and so many more of his productions.

BLAKE: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
ZIA: My most memorable performance was a Sunday afternoon playing the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay as bassist performing Motown and soul funk tunes with USA Soul Diva Lisa Hunt (Sting, Macy Gray, Ronan Keating, James Brown, Tina Arena…) The crowd was at 2000+ capacity and bodies spilled out across the road and towards the beach and through the park. I had the experience, or perception that I somehow rose above my own body and watched myself playing amazing funk music with my band mates, which included drums, keys, saxophone, vocals, and percussion, and watched the crowd dancing their faces off, ecstatic and blissful! It was the most heartwarming, fun, wild, and mind- blowing gig. Of the hundreds of gigs I played in that band all gigs were special and amazing in some unique way! There was a performance at a Brisbane Summer Street Party where I was on the bill with Sneaky Sound System and Leo Sayer and others, playing bass and singing my original dance tunes, with dancers and guitarist Chris Palmer, and that was awesome fun too with a beautiful crowd. There is always a unique atmosphere at each and every venue that makes for a memorable performance!

BLAKE: What advice would you give to young, aspiring artists out there who are unsure and need guidance?
ZIA: Find people you resonate with, and that you have synergy with musically, and play with these people, and learn from each other. Study hard then let go of all the knowledge, and just have fun when you perform. Be sensible. Experience as much as you can in a live context. Find friends and people that want to be part of sharing your music and vision. Make the choice to love your job!

BLAKE: What's next for you as an artist? Is there a new single in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it?
ZIA: I am promoting Sunshine as a radio edit single currently and there are new audiences and radio stations around the world hearing it for the first time, and playing it, which is amazing. Some stations In Europe and the USA, are also playlisting the Swedish House remix of Sunshine by Beaten Bass. Soon I will be promoting the next remix of Sunshine by H3dRush aka Mr Mig who is a multi-platinum Grammy nominated producer-DJ (Remixer) from the USA with over 44 #1 Billboard Credits. H3dRush has worked with some amazing artists including Iggy Azalea, Pink, Scissor Sisters, Missy Elliot, Katy Perry, Sam Smith, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Pitbull, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Adele, Madonna and many more. I’m really happy that he liked Sunshine and instantly heard it’s potential as a hit and wanted to remix it. There is a cool ‘home style’ music video to accompany the remix. It is simpleGoPro footage that was taken on a spontaneous boat holiday we had in the beautiful area called The Basin, nestled in Sydney’s famous northern beach areas. I had missed my flight home to Brisbane after winning at the Australian Independent Music Video Awards, and a mutual friend said ‘ok sweet come and meet us at the boat and come sailing for a couple of days’, and so we had a ball and it was an opportunity to take some cool and unique footage to share for a music video! I also recently conducted a remix contest for Sunshine. Some wonderful remixes have come in from The Netherlands, Tel Aviv, Morocco, Indonesia, and more, and I am looking forward to promoting the Remixers themselves, and their unique interpretations of Sunshine.

BLAKE: That is quite exciting, congratulations! Thank you for taking the time to let me get to know you a little better. Good luck with your new single release!

http://www.zia.com.au