shazza invites YOU to a Pity Party

Singaporean singer-songwriter Shareefa Aminah, known to the music world as shazza, is entering the professional music scene with a big bang – through the release of her latest song Pity Party, accompanied by a full-fledged music video.

A completely independent project, the video was fully conceptualized and co-directed by shazza herself. It was all hands on deck as family and friends helped to actualize her vision.

A Catchy Tune About Human Emotion, and Throwing Yourself a Pity Party

Pity Party is shazza’s launchpad to the local music industry, marking her first move as a serious artist coming into her own. A pop number about feeling frustrated with the daily grind and rat race of life, Pity Party aims to drive home the fact that it is okay not to be okay.

In these trying times, everyone’s just trying to get from one day to the next – this song serves as a reminder that there’s nothing wrong with taking a bit of time to be sad and to validate your emotions as a living, breathing, ever-evolving human being. It hopes to bring across the message that sometimes indulging in a pity party is exactly what you need to let yourself feel what you need to feel, before moving on and moving forward.

Produced, mixed, and mastered by Adele Lim of Homeground Studios, this is also shazza’s first professionally developed release. Pity Party has been officially released, today, February 18th, 2022, and is available to listeners on all major streaming platforms. 

The Story Behind The Music Video

Seeking to create more than just pretty visuals, shazza’s aim with this video was to tell a story about the validity of human emotion, and the importance of surrounding yourself with light in times of darkness. The music video playfully depicts a frustrating rat-race routine, which contrasts with bright, happy colors and party-inspired scenes complete with cake, balloons, and the presence of loved ones.

From the moment the Pity Party demo was completed, shazza knew that she wanted her closest friends to star alongside her in the music video. The cast seen in the video is a happy mix of the artist’s most beloved companions – a symbolic nod to the vitality of having people you can turn to in times of difficulty, and who will gladly attend your own pity parties.

Check out the music video below.

Breaking Boundaries As A Hijabi Artist

The hijabi songstress has her heart set on breaking boundaries and defying expectations. Growing up, shazza hardly saw anyone who looked like her making music the way she dreamed of doing.

“In my experience, seeing someone who looks like you and holds the same values as you being recognized on the level I aspire towards… it makes a difference – it helps people believe that their dreams aren’t out of reach,” says the Indian-Muslim artist.   

She aims to be the change, bringing more representation to the table with her music and presence in the industry. shazza strives to prove that mainstream music and creativity in Singapore can transcend cultures and borders, breaking the norm. 

About shazza

Born in 2001 and raised in sunny Singapore, shazza grew up surrounded by music at home, with the odd combination of Norah Jones and the Black Eyed Peas becoming the soundtrack to her childhood. In school, she was a member of the choir and never missed a chance to sing on stage, taking part in talent shows and concerts whenever they came around. 

In 2020, she put out her first single, August, a vulnerable and melancholic lullaby about her growing pains. That same year, she also won Radio Heatwave x Spinnup’s ‘The Xtract’ with her performance of her second single, It Takes Two, a groovy pop number about fading love and letting go.

Inspired by the likes of ABBA, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and Harry Styles, shazza makes full use of the freedom that music offers, seeking to keep exploring with sounds and aiming towards a discography that speaks to just about anyone.