By Joane Amay | Photography Ssense
SZA is on the verge of superstardom. The songtress, née Solana Rowe, is the only female artist on Top Dawg Entertainment, the powerhouse indie label behind hip-hop wunderkind Kendrick Lamar, and with a blend of airy funk, ethereal loops and dreamy R&B melodies, SZA’s music—EPs See.SZA.Run and S—has scored buzz aplenty. It’s no surprise that her current offering, Z, debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard R&B/ Hip-Hop chart.
POP IT
Raised by orthodox Muslim parents in affluent Maplewood, N.J., the 23-year-old singer-songwriter wore a hijab (a veil covering the head and chest) for part of her life and says “I wasn’t allowed to listen to the radio or watch TV.” It wasn’t until she received a CD with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, LFO and Macy Gray at a classmate’s bat mitzvah that she discovered popular music. Her older half-sister then introduced her to the Wu- Tang Clan, Cash Money and Lil Jon. She was hooked immediately.
SCHOOL DAZE
Originally SZA wanted to work in marketing and advertising, but flunking out of college her freshman year redirected her path. “It hasn’t been easy. I’ve worked random jobs from bartending at a strip club to working at Nike. But I gained a lot of life experience that has prepared me.”
HILL ST. SHOES
SZA wants to follow in the footsteps of a young Lauryn Hill. “She is actually from my hometown,” says the rising star. “I loved what Lauryn represented at the time. She was from the suburbs and sassy but in a way that wasn’t abrasive. She spoke the truth and connected with her audiences while remaining true to herself.”