Introducing The Carefree Zola Courtney
Zola Courtney is an emerging artist that will fill the room with happy, carefree vibes. At 20-years old, the rising songstress made her debut with her single Nothing to Lose. A track about self-love, Courtney is establishing a happy place for music lovers everywhere. Citing Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse as influences, she is steadily creating her own lane within the indie-pop genre.
We got a chance to chat with Zola Courtney about everything from her debut single, what she hopes to achieve as an artist, and more. Check it out below…
Your debut single Nothing to Lose is such an airy and chill track, what was the creative process like for the record?
I managed to get in a studio with a really great producer and topliner called D’Mile and Daniel Wilson, whilst I was in LA. Musically we really hit it off. I had a rough idea of what I wanted to write about, It was my last day in L.A and I knew I wanted to finish with an upbeat, self-motivating song as I’d struggled quite a bit with my self confidence whilst being in America. We managed to write Nothing To Lose that last afternoon.
The video for the track beautifully represents the carefree vibes of summer, what inspired the visual?
We really wanted to capture my personality, whilst also making the video as organic and homemade as we could. Theo Batterham shot and edited the video for me over the space of a week and a half and we had a lot of fun doing it and I think that really transpires in the video. We wanted to visit places that were sentimental to me, such as South London and South-End. I’ve spent the past 4 years living in South London and a lot of my childhood in South-End as that’s where my Dad grew up so it was really special filming there.
When did you realize that you wanted to pursue music?
I always wanted to work in the music industry if possible. I was studying music at The Brit school, but then applied to do music management at university as I didn’t really think I had a chance at becoming an artist. I hadn’t really written that many songs, but that all changed when some interest was shown from my current managers. They put me in for some sessions and I started writing and realised then that this was what I really wanted to do.
Is there a specific album or genre of music that will always put you in your happy place?
Motown always puts me in my happy place. The same goes for Reggae and Soul music.
Who are the top five artist that have had a lasting impact on you?
Oh that’s really hard. I’d have to say…Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Lianne La Havas.
Will you be releasing any more singles this year?
I have an E.P coming out later this year with a couple of songs from it, dropping before hand. The next song is coming out in about a month so keep your eyes peeled for it.
Is there a goal or dream you want to achieve as an artist?
I’d like to be able to continue to write music and have people listen to it, and be respected amongst artists I admire. There’s a couple of producers and artists I would love to work with but I definitely have to establish myself a bit more before I can do that!
Make sure to check out Zola Courtney new single Air In B Major below!
