Zhazira
... is a musical virtuoso who composes, vocalizes and produces her own sonic artistry. She originated from Kazakhstan and embarked on a quest to the US at 21 to pursue her dreams. Her music embodies her odyssey from a post-soviet realm to a modern society, amalgamating Indie Pop/Electro Pop with Russian Rock nuances.
“Mirror on the Wall” is derived from a fantasy book series, where the protagonist can traverse different worlds with her exceptional powers. The song is about emancipation. The music is austere and gloomy, with a bass line and eerie synths that conjure a dreamy and mysterious ambiance. Definitely a great debut from an extraordinary artist.
Who is the person behind the artist/musician/producer Zhazira?
At the age of 5-6 years old, when I could form a continues coherent thought, I became obsessed with the meaning of life. I wanted to know what happens after we die and why we are here in the first place. I was asking these questions every adult I came across but nobody could give me a definite answer. My mom got me Bible for kids, which at first made me ecstatic.
I thought that finally all my questions would be answered. However, my excitement simmered down pretty fast, as I found all the stories a bit strange. The ideas and philosophies of this book didn’t resonate with me at all. I felt like my God is something entirely different. So throughout all my life, I was always in a process of studying various religions, spiritual traditions and philosophies. I think this search is the most consistent thing in my life and it’s definitely reflected in my art.
How did your passion for music begin and what are the main influences behind your musical style and identity?
I have always loved singing and have written various poems for myself. I sang on stage in front of a huge audience, for the first time in my life, when I was 13 years old. There was some technical difficulties and I had to perform along with the track I’d never heard before, instead of live piano, as it was intended. As a result, it was a really terrible performance and I was convinced that I’m just not good enough. So I hadn’t pursued music ever since. Until I started teaching meditation and yoga classes that focuses on breathing techniques and chanting mantras (from 2015 to 2018). I volunteered at rehabilitation center for people with addictions and, also, worked with elderly people. This experience changed me completely. It gave me confidence I lacked before. I witnessed that I can create a special space and direct energy in any room, with just my voice. It opened up something in me.
I experienced a flow of inspiration and started writing songs.I was born in Kazakhstan at the end of USSR era. So I grew up listening to Russian music. Mostly, I was into Russian Rock artists like Viktor Tsoi, Nautilus Pompilius and Zemfira. Later on, I was introduced to Queen, Scorpions and was under a serious spell of a German pop-singer Sandra.
What was the inspiration behind “Mirror on the Wall” and what’s the story?
“Mirror on the Wall” is inspired by fantasy book series where the protagonist discovers superpowers and is able to travel to other worlds. This song is about liberation. It’s about a childish belief in my own invulnerability and power. I become free from the human laws and their’s silly notions about love. I’m off to the real world, away from the distorted reflection that is called mundane reality.
In your view, what is the most difficult aspect of creating a song?
For me, it’s a technical part of the song. Becoming a producer was the last stage in my journey of creating songs. I’ve loved writing poems and singing as long as I remember myself. This part comes naturally to me.
However, putting together an arrangement, where all instruments work together harmoniously, auditioning sounds and etc. was a challenge for me at first. I found that it required the use of a different part of my brain that I wasn’t accustomed to. Producing to me is, basically, finding creative solutions to math problems. And I love that!
What are some of the challenges that you face as a musician in the current music industry?
The main challenge is to let people know my music exists. To me, promotion is the least attractive thing about being an independent artist. Pitching to curators, figuring out ads, trying to be trendy for social media and etc. is painful but necessary. It’s an art in and of itself. And every art requires time, energy and dedication, which is hard to come by in the oversaturated environment.
How do you use social media to connect with your fans and to grow your audience?
I detest social media. Being a very private person, the idea of sharing my personal life with the public seems so unnatural to me. Five years ago, I got fed up with forcing myself to create engaging posts on social media and deleted all my accounts.
And never felt better. It was a nice, long vacation.Now, however, it’s time to be back. Hopefully I will find a way to make it fun. It can’t be all bad. Connecting with my audience seems to be a rewarding thing. I plan to revive my Youtube channel, create new Instagram account and even experiment with Tiktok.
What are your goals for the future?
I plan to continue creating music, experimenting with a new sound and growing my audience. My dream is also to write my own fantasy book series and produce it as a musical TV series.
