Empowering Expression: A Conversation with Malaysian Artist Zamaera

Zamaera, a household name in Malaysia, sat down for an interview to tell us all about how she had to break boundaries. Zamaera used to call herself a rapper and singer-songwriter but she makes it clear that she is an artist. She has proven herself over the years as a female rapper in a male dominated, conservative country. The artist released her first solo back in 2017 titled “Helly Kelly” and even organized Malaysia’s first all-female music festival. The music festival “Queendom Fest” was well received as it was created to uplift female creatives in the industry. Not only is she into music but Zamaera also has experience as a host, hosting YO! MTV Raps Asia.

Check out the interview with the artist herself, Zamaera below!

Zamaera Interview

Please introduce yourself to the HypnoticAsia readers. 

Hello HypnoticAsia readers!! I’m Zamaera, 29 years old, and an artist from Malaysia. I no longer go by rapper or singer-songwriter and have decided to go by ARTIST because all I want to do is make art. (: 

Congratulations on the release of “Big Fish”! Can you tell us  more about the inspiration behind the track and what it means to you personally? 

Thank you so much! Well “Big Fish” was born out of my a) frustration of reaching my ceiling in this tiny aquarium of mine back home and b) my desire to explore the open waters to see what the great big ocean entails.  When I met Daaliah last year, I told him that I felt like a Big Fish in a small pond because there are so many creative limitations in Malaysia where I come from due to the conservativeness of predominantly Malay-Muslim environment. So I wanted to write about how I felt going through that and  also explore another sound which was UK Garage. It was the perfect timing too because Daaliah had just returned from his Europe tour and he had a really good ear for unique sounds, especially ones that were not prevalent in our local music scene. 

You mentioned feeling like “a big fish in a small pond in Malaysia’s music industry”. How do you think stepping out of your comfort zone will impact your career moving forward? 

Every time I’ve ever done something that challenged my norms, it always turns out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. I believe that is what growth is all about, constantly testing your limits and having the most faith in your journey. In my mind, what I want to achieve such as releasing my sold out full length album, performing in Madison Square Garden, going on a world tour, winning a Grammy even, I see it all so vividly. Now I just have to make it happen!

The collaboration with Daaliah on “Big Fish” seems to have been quite spontaneous, with the song coming together in just 30 minutes. How do you feel this rapid creative process influenced the final outcome of the track? 

Well it was formed spontaneous[ly], if anything I felt that both Daaliah and I  went through so much to even get to that point. To be fair, we had the intention of making a song the day we met in last June but we just ended up chatting and catching up way more than we should’ve spent time working on music. That timing of 30 minutes was only set because he had to leave for a meeting so the fact that there so much clarity on what the song was going to sound like, felt more destined, not to sound cliche.  Ultimately we took about 5 months to smoothen out the kinks and went  back and forth to make it sound like the version it is today. 

Your music draws on a variety of influences, from hip-hop to pop, garage, and soul. How do you balance these diverse elements to create a cohesive sound that represents your artistic vision? 

To be quite frank, I think authenticity superceeds a cohesive sound. The beauty of being an independent artist is the ability and freedom to portray whatever sound that best describes your current self as an artist. That being said, I do believe that sound cohesion is important when it comes to releasing a longer form project such as an EP or LP because they’re like chapters of one great big big story whereas singles are like individual  short stories on its own. 

You’ve been described as a storyteller with lyricism reminiscent of Ms. Lauryn Hill and melodies that evoke the era of Erykah Badu’s ‘Mama’s Gun’. How do you approach crafting your lyrics and melodies to convey your messages effectively?

I feel like with lyrics, you can’t be afraid to break yourself down and your beliefs. In the verse section of big fish I said, 

I had to come to terms that if I wanted to actualize my dreams, I had to get down and dirty and do the hard work, there were no short cuts which I experienced for the first time within these 3 years of being independent  cause I signed to labels since the beginning of my music career and  maybe had certain things much easier when I had someone else calling  the shots. And those last 2 lines, depict how certain physical assets give  you certain benefits but ultimately, if given the opportunity to kiss a** (to the right people) there is someone out there that you need to please to get what you want. 

Starting your career as a TV host before transitioning into music, how has your background in television influenced your approach to performing and  connecting with your audience? 

Honestly it has benefited me greatly. Being in front of the camera at such a young age has made me completely unfazed and really extroverted.  I love people and therefore this strong yearning to connect. Hosting also  shares certain elements of what I see in performing which is the the  nature of freestyle. Unlike acting where lines must be meticulously memorized to play a part, hosting provides you with important information  and you bring your flair and twist to it. In performing live, I think it is  important to have both. An undeniable in-depth understanding of your music and the entire set but you’ve also got to make room for spontaneity.  You’ve got to read the room coupled with how you feel to make the next  move. That’s all part and parcel of entertainment. 

8. Could you share some insights into your experience recording your album in Chicago with The Matt Jones Orchestra? How did this collaboration shape your musical journey? 

Oh god, it was completely nerve-wrecking yet somehow calming [and] reassuring because I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. It opened my eyes so much, to the work ethic and minimum standard that is  required to be in this industry and also to get to high levels of  achievement. I remember walking in to someone who was filling-in for me  before my arrival, just to test the levels with the orchestra and he said  “give me a Cminor 7th” and I was completely flabbergasted.

I mean I am minimally classically trained but I’m not pitch perfect so to see that  unravel in front of my very eyes was astounding. I wanted it so badly. To be able to do that. To walk into a room and command such greatness just  with my own presence from being a highly skilled musician. And that’s  affected my musical journey greatly because I have very specific  requirements now when I’m recording in the studio like I don’t want  anyone hanging around who does not pertain the song or I expect the  sessionists I work with to be fully prepared with the material before band  practice. Thank god for my music director, Derek Anthony “Jingles”  Jhingoree who always pushes me to strive from greatness in every detail. 

As an independent artist since 2021, what have been the biggest  challenges and rewards of navigating the music industry on your own terms? 

The biggest challenge I have thus far is building a team of people that I  trust to carry my vision forward with their own expertise. I think after going  through what I did with the label, I am so particular now with who I appoint  my trust to because the work is so sacred to me. It’s my life, in the form of  art and I haven’t been able to come across anyone who I can work with  long-term. I’ve been self-managed for 3 years and it’s actually getting out  of hand haha but I believe the right people are out there somewhere. I just  gotta keep on doing me and I trust the timeline of the universe so much so  I don’t need question when my time will come. It’s coming. 

Organizing Malaysia’s first all-female music festival Queendom Fest,  must have been an incredible undertaking. What motivated you to create this platform, and  what impact do you hope it will have on the local music scene? 

I want the pool of talented Malaysian female artists to get a fair chance of  performing for music festivals and perform their music live for a bigger  audience. There’s no doubt about the amount of women who pursue  creative arts as a full time career now particularly in music, I just feel that  it was not properly represented in the live music festival space since the  majority of the artists are guys. And no hate to the guys whatsoever, I love  my local male artists but it’s an issue that many did not seem to see as an  issue and I felt that needed to change hence Queendom Fest was born. I  hope to create a long-lasting platform that aspiring artists can look  forward to and for the general public to uplift our homegrown female creatives. 

What would you say to an aspiring female artist struggling to make it in the music industry? 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes all you need to do is just send a  DM to an artist you like or industry experts. There are also lots of online  meet ups and courses for instance by Motown Accelerator which I joined  during COVID to learn from major label A&Rs, marketing heads etc. And  also, don’t fear rejection because I feel a lot of artists don’t even make the  first move because we’re busy overthinking the response of the other  person and that can make us idle. When you have an idea, just execute it  right away. Don’t wait. If it makes you happy, just do it!!

Check out Zamaera’s newest single, “Big Fish” out now and watch her music video linked above.

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