MellaDi’s January Artist: SZA (@sza)
There's nothing more refreshing to me than hearing new, and unfamiliar talent and wondering, Is this the next big thing? These were my thoughts the first time I heard Solana Rowe, better known as SZA. SZA was born November 8, 1990 in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Maplewood, New Jersey when she was 10. Her Muslim upbringing along with Wu Tang Clan member RZA influenced her stage name; the "S" is for sovereign, "Z" for zig-zag, and "A" for Allah. She briefly attended college for marine biology, but dropped out and took odd jobs to make money. Interesting enough, SZA says she never aspired to be a musician, she just wanted to make art. With that being said, SZA began recording music in May 2012 and self-released her first EP See.SZA.Run that following October. In April 2013 she released her second EP There's nothing more refreshing to me than hearing new, and unfamiliar talent and wondering, Is this the next big thing? These were my thoughts the first time I heard Solana Rowe, better known as SZA. SZA 10. Her Muslim upbringing along with Wu Tang Clan member RZA influenced her stage name; the "S" is for sovereign, "Z" for zig-zag, and "A" for Allah. She briefly attended college for marine biology, but dropped out and took odd jobs to make money. Interesting enough, SZA says she never aspired to be a musician, she just wanted to make art. With that being said, SZA began recording music in May 2012 and self-released her first EP See.SZA.Run that following October. In April 2013 she released her second EP S which received a lot of positive feedback from music critics. On July 14, 2014 it was announced that SZA had been signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and she performed in a four show tour with Swedish group Little Dragon. SZA continued creating music of her own in addition to collaborating with fellow label mates and released her third EP Z in April 2014. The EP debuted at number 39 on the US Billboard 200 and number 9 on the US Hip-Hop/R&B chart. SZA lists many musicians as influences on her music, and the range in genres could be a direct reflection of her unique sound. From the music passed down by her father to modern sounds shared by her sister, SZA has a very diversified music background including Billie Holiday, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Macy Gray, and Common. SZA is currently working on her first debut album A and an international tour. With a career taking off as quickly as hers, I think we can expect great things from this soulful songstress.
