K Zie's musical masterplan

by ASJAD NAZIR

NEW KID ON BLOCK REACHES FOR THE SKY WITH DEBUT SINGLE

TALENTED newcomer K Zie announced himself with his acclaimed debut single This Could Be Love at the end of last month.

The 21-year-old singer/songwriter from south London is quickly gaining a reputation as someone to look out for. He is releasing a deep house mix of his new song and already making big plans for the future, which includes working in diverse genres.

Eastern Eye caught up with the rising star to talk about music, his new song, inspirations, future hopes and more...

What first connected you to music?

I have always had a strong passion for music since a young age. I remember taking drum lessons around the age of eight, so that would be the first direct con­tact with music.

I would always sing my favourite songs, but what inspired to me get into singing and songwriting was seeing the likes of Raghav and Jay Sean break into the music scene. This motivated me to believe I could do the same thing. So from 13, I started to write lyrics and properly sing. I also self taught my­self how to beatbox by watching videos on YouTube.

What led you towards your debut song?

My debut single is called This Could Be Love. A per­sonal experience led me to writing it. In terms of what led this to being my first single, it was some­thing encouraged by my management NLP, who loved the vibe and felt it would be an extremely strong debut as it catered for every market. Thanks to the whole team involved from the start and those who are about to join the exciting journey with us!

What inspired the song?

This Could Be Love was inspired by something I was personally experiencing in 2017. When I got into the studio, I told the producer a song concept I had in mind. He stopped me at that moment and said: ‘Who is the girl?’ as he could see how passionately I was speaking about the topic. The producer then played me some chords which just sat perfectly with the melodies and lyrics I had in mind. I also felt this is a topic many would relate to, both guys and girls.

What do you mean?

Many find it difficult to express themselves and solve certain issues, so I feel a lot of people will be able to connect with this song as I am sure many have come across cultural factors being a hurdle on their relationship. I person­ally think this should not be a problem in the 21st century.

However, instead of it being more a slow song, I wanted to convey emotions I was feeling in a more-upbeat vibe because regardless of whether the relationship lasts or not, some of the best moments we experience in life have been spent with that person.

What was the biggest challenge in creating this song?

The biggest challenge was making sure I got across the message I wanted to portray, but still at the same time keeping the record feeling fresh and commercial.

Who is your music aimed at?

I just want to put out really good music that every­one can enjoy and connect with. I would love young and upcoming British Asians to be inspired by the music I am putting out. I want to give them the motivation to make this style of music that can sit well in the Asian and mainstream market.

Have you made a masterplan for the future?

(Laughs) I don’t know about it being a masterplan but, yes, absolutely my management team and my­self have put an amazing strategy in place for the future that we are working towards.

We are making sure we execute everything. This consists of working on new material and following up with singles as good as This Could Be Love, or even better. So I’m working with producers and writers in our camp to develop my skills even further.

So what is next?

Over the next few months, my man­agement team will be establishing my brand even further. On a per­sonal note, I am also hoping to de­velop my production skills and learn more about that side.

Who would you love to work with?

Chris Brown. I feel as an artist he is complete. He has a great vocal range and tone, can rap and is an amazing dancer. He has the whole package and it would be a dream to collaborate with him.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I would love to be in a position where I have had successful hits and even a UK number one. I would also like to have a major record deal alongside my name and my own merchandise line.

More importantly, I would want to have matured as an artist, worked with various writers and pro­ducers around the world, written songs for other artists, and remain as humble and grateful as ever.

What music dominates your own playlist?

A variety of music ranging from mainstream songs to Bollywood ones. So at the moment I have artists such as Chris Brown, Jason Derulo, Drake, Not3s, Mabel, Justin Timberlake, Jay Sean, but also Bolly­wood songs from the film Judwaa 2 and artists such as Neha Kakkar and Guru Randhawa.

Who is your all-time music hero?

I have to say Michael Jackson. I grew up listening to his songs and was fascinated by how he could dance and sing at such amazing levels. I was intrigued by how easily he could control his voice. He made the art of music and performing seem effortless.

What inspires you?

I believe my family and friends have been my main inspiration. They have always fully supported and motivated me to never give up on the dream of be­ing a highly-successful international artist. In addi­tion to this, just hearing great songs really motivates me to get in the studio and write in that calibre.

Why do you love music?

Music is everything! It portrays so many different moods and emo­tions. When you’re feeling a certain way, you can listen to that style of song to reflect that. So if you are feeling good, you can put on an up­beat song. If you are feeling down, you can listen to a song which lifts your mood. Music allows you as a person to connect with all walks of life.

What about as an artist?

As an artist, it is the exact same procedure. If you are going through a difficult phase, music allows you to convey emotions you are feeling through a song in a creative way.

So music allows me to showcase what I am feel­ing at a certain point in my life, which gives me sat­isfaction and more importantly allows other people to connect to my music.

Why should we pick up This Could Be Love?

My latest single is something very fresh, current, upbeat and unique. It is a song that will appeal to all music lovers of different genres and ages. It is something just so catchy and will make you have the song on repeat and fall in love with K Zie.

• This Could Be Love by K Zie is out now