Model : K.ZIA
Creative Direction : SARAH-EVE LEDUC at FLANELLE
Artistic direction & Production : PATRICE BRYLLA & K.ZIA
Photography : PATRICE BRYLLA
Stylist : BODI SAMBA
Mua : MARILIA ROHR
Hair : K.ZIA & MARILIA ROHR
What first inspired your love for music?
Music has always been a part of my life and identity. Growing up in an artistic household I don’t know life without it and it seems like the passion I have for it was always within me. My mom always tells me this story of her singing me a bedtime lullaby when I was a small child and me shushing her and saying “No mommy I sing! “ – I was too young to remember that..but i guess that’s how far it goes :)
Your music fuses many different genres. Where do those influences come from?
It’s a combination of the places I’ve been, the people I’ve had the chance of meeting and the music and shows I’ve seen. Travelling a lot and having artists as parents you get a lot of input, and as my music is a translation of myself… :)
Have you ever felt out of the spotlight, growing up with your mother being Zap Mama ?
Who said I wasn’t in the spotlight ? :) I’ve never felt any type of shade, she’s always taken me with her in all the spotlights and I hope to be able to do the same.
What made you move to Berlin, and what does the city give you creatively?
Berlin is a hub of creatives. I like to see it as the city where all the little ugly ducklings fled to become beautiful swans.. All in our own way. It’s a place where I was able to express myself and really be free, and learn about differences and UNLEARN a lot of the things society makes us believe are natural or the norm. I was drawn to this place, and I really don’t know how. I came a few times because of erasmus reunions that were happening here and always felt like something was waiting for me. So when finishing my master studies I had to find a place to do an internship and decide to move to Berlin; I never left.
What approach did you take when creating ‘Genesis’? What can people expect from it?
It’s the beginning. My first big body of work. The introduction of my expression as an artist. Some parts of me were still not really out there, and by introducing my alter ego ZIA that sings in french I feel like the full picture I have grown to become can be expressed. My previous releases were like a preamble to the book. Now we’ve actually started reading the story… :) What can be expected, a multitude of genres and energies,, cause that’s what’s in my mind really. Everyone will have at least 1 song they can connect with :)
Can you tell me about ZIA, versus K.ZIA?
Speaking of the devil.. Haha Well like I said, ZIA Represents a part of me that hasn’t been expressing herself through music yet. You know how when you speak different languages you can sound different ? Your voice may change, the type of words you use… I grew up in private school as a kid, in British or American schools with a certain mentality and type of people. Then for my teenage years I moved to France and went to public schools where the type of people and mentality was a whole different vibe. You can feel this, when I speak french, I’m way more street, a lot more unapologetic. Also I have more yang/masculine energy to my spirit. When I speak english I am more calm, I have more of Ying to me, I feel a mother spirit. The music differs as well. Even though it does not limit itself to this, ZIA is more pop, afrobeat oriented. Whereas K.ZIA is more r&b/soul oriented. In the style too K.ZIA is more earthy, ethnical, majestic. ZIA is more sexy, street, and urban.
Your videos are amazing. Why do you think a video is important to tell a story
of music?
Thank you ! I must say I put a lot of energy into that part of my artistry. I don’t see myself as Just a singer. I really want to create a universe and an experience around the values I stand for and the energy I want to bring out into the world and visual art is a great way to communicate things that sound cannot, or at least it’s a great way to convey more to it, to accompany it.
Other than that, I love storytelling and cinema. It’s something I’m really looking forward to implement even more in the future. I want to make short films and cinematographic music videos with parts with no music and just a story being told. I love to act as well and am very hyped about developing that side of my artistry.
Another thing I love is Fashion. Being an independent artist limits me sometimes in the creation of my universes because of budget limitations but I want to explore fashion and cinema. Visual arts are strong communicative tools and tickets to journeys in any world imaginable.
Bringing that and music together is a killer piece of art to me. I am indeed very involved in the visual representation of my universe and am so excited to bring more and more artists on the journey whether they be graphic designer, fashion designer, sound designers, directors, photographers … you name it !
Were there people you idealized when you first started your career and gained inspiration from?
My mother, without a doubt. Then There were artists that inspired me for sure, but I wasn’t really the idolizing type. To name a few : Lauryn Hill, Badu, MJ, Beyonce, Grace Jones, Alicia Keys, P!nk.
What do you hope people feel when they listen to your music?
Comfort and curiosity.
