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Amsterdam-based rapper, singer-songwriter and producer Zanillya has been creating since she was walking: “When I create, I let go of any expectations, goals, boundaries and really connect with an inner truth”, she says.
From her recent release: ‘We Are Free’ to writing for other artists, Zanillya talks to shesaid.so about how she finds therapy in creativity and the inner strength of women.
shesaid.so: Tell us more about your artist journey and how your sound has developed to where it is today.
I’ve been creating for as far as I can remember as I was raised in a musical, creative household. I have always been in love with mixing up genres as I was raised on so many various styles of music. It came naturally to me to switch from one genre to the next. I started really taking my career seriously when my dad passed. At that time, I met Humphrey Dennis, my now long-time partner in music and in life.
In 2015 I signed my first publishing deal and started to do more collaborations with international producers like Branko (Buraka Som Sistema), Riva Starr, and Leo Justi, among others. The one with Leo landed us a dope sync with the UEFA for their first women's football campaign. This was the start of a lot of dope syncs as well as some ghostwriting/production for other artists and DJs. This is really where I got to develop my voice and craft the sound that you hear today.
Over the years, Humphrey Dennis and I have always created with no set rules. This is how we feel we have come closer to the sound that we envision, which is our own blend of Hip-hop, Dancehall, and RnB but all with a Caribbean touch. We don’t shy away from any genre except metal! And this year, we got more releases coming that will reveal a side of me the world hasn’t heard yet.
shesaid.so: Your debut EP ‘Choose Life’ came out nearly a year ago today. Has your perspective or ambitions changed at all since that moment?
‘Choose life' was a very personal project that I had to make for myself. After my dad passed, a lot of old traumas came bubbling to the surface, and I had to let it out. I was in therapy while making the record, and my only way of understanding myself is through creating. In hindsight, I think it was good to make this record then before moving into the music space I always dreamt of being in. The goal is to still make great music with sensitive subjects and a message but with a more genre-bending pop sound.
shesaid.so: Are there any particular songs you’ve released that you feel a special attachment to?
“Alive” is the last single off my EP “Choose Life ‘and has a very special place in my heart. It speaks on my journey through depression and the suicidal thoughts I suffered from my whole life. We shot the video in Aruba and it was such a healing experience to make the video on the island where my dad was born, which has become my safe space.
“We Are Free” as this song has such a strong message, and I am all about that. Women are the backbone and the heart of this society, and they need to get a lot more credit and respect in the world. I aim to be part of this change in any way that I can. I feel proud that I made a song that can start more conversations regarding women’s rights as we have a long way to go for women to receive equal pay, equal rights, and exclusive control of one’s own body.
shesaid.so: ‘We Are Free’ is an important statement about women’s response to adversity and injustice. How did you process your emotions to write that song and create something powerful?
When I create, I let go of any expectations, goals, boundaries and really connect with an inner truth. Most of my songs I created first for myself but ‘We Are Free’ was different as I felt I needed to speak on the inequality I saw women facing on the daily. I wanted to create something to uplift girls and women everywhere. Remind them of their strength, grit and ability to persevere in any situation. Women have an incredible inner strength that I think men consciously or unconsciously fear. Not all men but a great deal of them do and therefore try to control us. By remembering this we can take back our power and stand in our beauty and truth.
shesaid.so: Do you feel constantly inspired, or do you have certain practices you use to inspire yourself?
To be honest, I’m blessed to have inspiration and creativity overflowing, maybe sometimes to my own detriment. I am a workaholic, and I love what I do so much that I sacrifice other parts of my life to get my ideas out. I try to even that out with my rituals, which have become my medicine. These include working out, journaling and meditating. It’s these practices and rituals that allow me to stay mentally healthy, inspired and loyal to my creativity.
shesaidso: As well as music, what else inspires and energises you?
I think what energizes me on a deep level is my desire to make my life matter. I come from parents who are first generation immigrants. My dad left Aruba with nothing and came to Europe on a boat when he was just 15 years old. He managed to achieve his dreams and give us a better financial life. I feel deeply inspired by that and feel the obligation to do better.
Growing up, I didn’t have an easy childhood and was naturally drawn to books and personal development. I have a deep love for learning as that has been my way to empower myself to overcome the challenges I was facing. The need to empower inspires me so much that it trickles down into everything I create. I believe that we can achieve anything when we put our mind to it, and that knowing gives me purpose to create something that can uplift others.
Lastly, a huge part of my energy comes from my workout regime. It's also a huge part of my inspiration as it helps me heal. The body keeps score, and all of us carry our past and traumas stored in us. By working out, I get in touch with myself and get to heal parts of myself as well as building the mental strength I need to grow into my potential. To me, working out is a huge metaphor for life. You can’t fake building muscle; no one can do it for you, it requires focus, hard work and patience, and I believe life is the same. When I can win in the gym, I know I can win in life!
Zanillya
shesaid.so: shesaid.so is a community guided by intersectionality. In your opinion, how could the music industry do better in terms of inclusivity?
I believe we need more women in power. Also, the industry needs to stop focusing so much on numbers and more on artist development. I think execs need to trust that good music will always prevail and look for artists who have something to say and not only for artists who do well on TikTok.
shesaid.so: Has community played a role in your evolution as a creative?
Definitely. All I have managed to achieve has come from my community. Be it the first programmers that gave me a stage, to all the producers who I’ve worked with in Amsterdam when I started out, to my movement coach who has been with me for years, all the way up to the amazing team, choreographers and dancers that worked with me on my debut video. I am so grateful to have met people who believed in me enough to give me their time and energy, for free at times. Without them, I couldn’t have grown and developed myself. Also, my latest single ‘We Are free’ is released on ‘Curators’ a community-fueled label.
I am always working so, to be honest I have less of a social community as I haven't invested in one that much. This makes me feel alone at times in my journey and struggles. I deal with mental health issues and do believe that having a social community where you can share and feel safe plays an important role in life. This is something I am working on and know that it takes time and investing.
shesaid.so: And finally, could you share three bullet-point top tips for artists just starting out? What would you have loved to hear?
Take care of your mental health: When we’re young, we tend to run behind every opportunity in fear of missing out, but this can make you burn out. You need to prioritize your self-care and your health and trust that what is for you will come to you at the right time. This mindset will help you be confident in the face of adversity and rejection. Which, in the long run, will benefit your trajectory as an artist as you will be able to differentiate what is for you and what isn’t.
Focus on developing your craft: If you don’t know how, ask, collaborate, research, take classes but never give up because you think you can’t be better. No matter your come up, background or age. Becoming great at something takes time, but when you invest and focus on your skills, it will help you have a long-lasting satisfying career.
Stay patient as life is a journey and not a race: This industry is complex, and we humans are complex. Get to know yourself in and out instead of only chasing a dream. When you truly know what you need and love, you will make better decisions. We tend to think we know exactly how our career is supposed to unfold, but sometimes there is another path for you that you’re not seeing because you have blinders on. So remain open and enjoy the ride.
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