From A… to Zara

July 20, 2009

By angonemi

Easily one of the most prolific females in the music scene, as a fresh face to the industry, Zara stepped into the limelight with her debut single “Good Girl, Bad Girl” (shout out to the Naija DJ’s for that exposure), catching the attention of the industry heads at Alapomeji Records in Nigeria (9ice’s [of Gongo Aso fame] label), securing her a record deal.
Even though Zara is currently based in the States, she is making waves in the Nigerian environment, especially with her current singles “Su Mo Bi” and “The Flyest” and her collaborations with internationally based Nigerian artist Iceberg Slim (“Action-Touch My Body”) and Trybe Records’ olaDELe (“Let Loose”)
Her strain of hip hop infuses playful banter clearly seen through her skillfully manipulated Yoruba/ English lyrics, content of her songs, even the way she lays down her tracks. You can tell this is somebody who clearly loves what she does.
We recently got in touch with her and she was kind enough to hook Angonemi.Com up with some insight as to who Zara is.
Enjoy.

WHO…
Zara’s an almost 24 yr old (send me a gift on July 30th!) who is a woman, an African, a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, an artist, and a paralegal who’s still thinking about law school. (in no particular order of preference… lol).
I was brought up by two different families, one Muslim and one Catholic…with a bunch of ethnicities thrown in the mix. I learned that life doesn’t work just one way from when I was little. That has helped me with a lot of the choices I have made in my life and career as a musician. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with two degrees in 2006, and I’ve been working in law offices ever since.

I worked with a good number of people in the past 3 years (yes… it wasn’t till I was about to graduate I realized I had a shred of talent other than dancing and dressing myself and others like a maniac)…I started off working with Keno, OlaDELe, eLDee, and Zaina in Atlanta. Various producers like Tmoney, Kid Konnect, and Majjit in Canada showed interest in what I brought to the table and that paved the stones.

WHAT…
I refuse to be boxed in to any genres… no genre talk. I want to be free to explore as I desire. Over the years I had various label and management offers but I finally chose a family. I am now signed to Alapomeji records, the one that houses the great 9ice, and I am managed by his wife, Mrs. Toni Payne-Akande, who saw the potential and just had to share it with the world. I would love to work with 9ice, of course, the ethnic sounds mixed with my funky would just be great! And then I’d love to get produced by Dj Zeez… he’s got that dancehall sound to his beats that I like, very current instead of that reggaeton-ish type sound. I’d also like to work with the Abaga brothers. That’ll have to be fun… and Dr. Frabz… been waiting to work with him for yearsss!

WHEN…
I’ve always been into music…but as a dancer. I ALWAYZ danced as a child… lol… used to get yelled at for dancing to no music. I guess that’s why I’m big on a variance of flow. My music’s not boring to me as long as I try different flows on textures on beats. I developed an interest in recording music when I first heard myself on a track. I went to the studio with Keno and recorded a random verse I wrote with Yesi’s help (another Nigerian rapper), and I sounded nice! lol.. there awoke the interest. Then DJ Dee money of the naija djs got a hold of my first full recorded track somehow (good girl/bad girl) and put it out there…and then everyone took me seriously so I took myself seriously. Lol… I’m a big dancehall fan, Gwen Stefani, Missy Elliot and Lauryn Hill fan, so I think they influence my sounds a lot. I also like really funky beats… like Timbaland type of stuff. Sazzy from Outta Town Entertainment makes Timbo inspired beats…very funky. I like his stuff.

WHERE…
I currently reside in Baltimore, MD. I work with Kid Konnect, Dognomite and DJ Teffler more often right now, but that might shift or change based on what I do with myself in another couple months. Ideas…come from sounds and experiences… (mine and others)… and sometimes just make up stuff. It’s an artistry, I don’t always have to tell a story or MY story. Just A story…someone will always relate.

Yes, I do intend on relocating to Nigeria. When I do, the general public will be very much aware.

HOW…
How? I write and have something made to suit what I write… or I hear something, and the sounds inspire something in me, and I write. I’m very much for standing out based on my delivery and flow. Nothing fancy… I just…let it out. I have no competition other than myself. I’m not seeking crowns or self-titles. I do what I do, and the people shall appoint me. I’m focused because this is the life I want to live… pressure or no pressure. I’ve always been that attention getter, performer, entertainer, full of energy and willing to share and receive from a participating audience. I’d also love for Nigerian female artists to be more on the map… right now we hear about the males and we’re not equally yoked. I can’t even fathom where I am going with my music and my life, but I intend to surpass all expectations.

WHY…
I do what I do because this is my purpose in life…and I love it.