Zinni the Queen is a Canadian independent artist representing Gen Z. Inspired by songwriters like Etta James, Lauryn Hill, Corrine Bailey, and Ne-Yo and vocal arrangements as heard in the music of Beyoncé, Chance the Rapper, Nao, and Ariana Grande, Zinni the Queen express herself through the music. Not just a singer-songwriter, she engineered, produced, and mastered her debut album, "4 A Season" (coming Spring 2023). Her work is a collection of experiences expressed through poetry, put to music. Album themes include reflective self-discovery through formative romantic experiences. During the season of joy and cheer, "What Happened To My Sunshine?" is a different kind of winter song. In it, the artist reminisces on good times, admits to her loneliness, and ultimately lands on hope.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Zinni the Queen. What made you want to become a musician?
Hey Kamil! What a wonderful first question to kick off this interview. I heard this quote somewhere, I’m not sure who said it: “If there’s anything else you can do instead of writing, do that.” I was born a creative, and no matter how hard I’ve tried to escape it or do something else, it keeps coming back. My life is incomplete if I’m not creating. I’m so grateful to live in a society where I can make art and share it with the world.
In terms of becoming a musician, I’m inspired by behind-the-scenes videos on music video sets and interviews. Through them, I realized how similar I am to the people I admire who do this professionally. I heard somewhere that Michael Jackson used to record himself on a voice recorder and layer his own vocals so he could take it to the studio and recreate it professionally. That’s literally what I used to do when I was home alone: sing on my family’s computer Photo Booth and layer my vocals so I could harmonize with myself. Things like that made me realize, I don’t have to “become” a musician; I already am one.
I also think there’s something to be said about the early 2000s and the shows on TV at that time. The main characters were fashion designers, musicians, dancers, or drama nerds. It was cool to be a creative, and it still is.
Who helped you most in your musical journey?
God gave me the talent and the opportunity to explore it, so He is number one. My family is really supportive and they honestly show up for me a lot more than I give them credit for. I also have the coolest friends in the world, who not only tolerate my long voice notes on music and the creative process, but also challenge me with their own thoughts. As tempting as it is to say, “me”, and leave it there, there are a lot more factors that play into my musical journey. I probably should thank my piano teachers, guitar teacher, and voice instructors. But of course, I have to give myself credit: I do put in the time, and I had to see it for myself first. I’m the first in my family to do what I do how I do it, and I don’t know anyone in my community who prioritizes art the way I am choosing to.
Your latest release is 'What Happened to My Sunshine?'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
The setting of the story is this: I grew up in the prairies of Canada, and I wrote this song in December. It was really cold. When I was a freshman in high school, I had this friend who was an incredible storyteller. Every day in math class, during the most random moments, he would turn around in his seat and tell his male best friend & I whatever story was on his heart that day. He had great comedic timing and would pause for our reactions—it was my favourite part of the day. Then one day, he stopped. That entire week, he was quiet. I didn’t want to over-step and ask if he was okay, so I left it alone. But I noticed he just wasn’t himself, but a toned-down, quiet, shadow of who he was before. I’m not the most articulate speaker, but I make up for it in writing. So I get home from school, “Honeymoon Avenue” by Ariana Grande on repeat, and write my own version. I wondered what happened to the person who used to brighten my day, and if there was any way I could help him get back to being himself again. I added the bridge 3 years later, but I haven’t changed the original melody or lyrics since first writing—not bad for a 13-year-old girl.
What social issues are you most passionate about?
There’s so much going on in the world, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. And there’s a lot of passionate people who’s passion is misdirected or they’re just not sure how to use it. It’s more important to be compassionate than it is to be passionate. Because passion is about you and how you feel, while compassion is about the other person. Compassion means looking another human being in the eye, treating people with dignity and respect, hearing their stories, and (if the person you’re speaking to asks for your support in a specific way) helping out when you are able.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest musical trends?
You tell me! How do you keep up with everything? It’s impossible, unless you study algorithms & data or something.
Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
There’s always a hidden meaning. My debut album is out on March 2nd, 2023. If you can get your hands on a physical copy & read through the booklet, you may notice some clues… I saw Taylor Swift hide clues in her lyrics and I’ve been obsessed with doing the same thing. The easiest way to understand the context of my music is probably to listen to the samples. I really should make playlists for each song with all the samples and reference tracks. That way, the ones who are curious can find it and fill in the gaps.
What’s an average day like for you?
I like to keep my personal life private, but I have a lot to say about my creative process. Ideally, I would work on some form of art every day of the week. Art makes me feel human.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans.
One of the things I’m most looking forward to in my career is hearing the stories of people who listen to my music. When did you first discover me? What lyrics stand out to you? How do you make sense of this line? When you sing along to the song, which part do you sing loudest? Is there a memory attached to this song? As soon as possible, I want to connect with people on that human-to-human level and just talk art, just like I do with my friends. For now, the easiest way to connect with me is through social media. I’m on everything (@zinnithequeen), but it’s easiest to find me on the bird app (twitter).
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Do your homework. For real. There are life-skills that come from doing your homework: stay curious, learn with the intention to understand, apply it, see something through to completion, and cite your sources. Also, don’t be so hard on yourself. Learn to be a fan of your own work first, and there will be people out there who it resonates with.
What are your plans for the future?
Touring, being in music videos, creating visual albums and short films, learning more about production, and collaboration with other creatives. Oh, and staying anonymous.