Written by Marilù Ciabattoni
Discovered via Musosoup
“Movie Script” pretty much draws from what A-Zal knows best: movies. It is not a coincidence that he used to compose music for films like the Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel, to mention one.
“Movie Script” was also his boarding pass into iHeartMedia's Mediabase Top 40 Charts, one of his most remarkable achievements as a musician. So far, at least.
Between declaring his admiration for artists like Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa (“I feel it’s a matter of time before we will collaborate on a project,” he states confidently) and executing his next move in the music industry, A-Zal took the time to answer a few questions for Lost in the Manor.
Introduce yourself: Who is A-Zal? How and when was the project born?
I’m a pop singer from New York. I moved to the USA to get my music out to the West and leave a mark in Hollywood and on the global platform as a pop singer. After working on more than 20 film projects as a film and soundtrack composer, I decided to go out as an artist to tell my story to the world. When I finished working on the soundtracks for Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel in 2022, I asked myself one question: if I can write music for all these amazing Marvel characters, when am I going to start writing music for myself? That’s when I decided to come up with an album. I took that thought quite seriously and am currently working on two records which will be released in the next two years and my fans will have plenty of new releases they can listen to.
How has your music changed in the past few years?
The biggest change has been transitioning from film music to my personal album. In the past few years, I have been writing for film characters. In Ms. Marvel, I worked on soundtracks filmed by Kamala Khan, who played the role of Ms. Marvel. Similarly, in Loki, I wrote soundtracks which were filmed on Tom Hiddleston. I loved writing music for these amazing characters and super-talented actors, but in my album, I am writing all the songs which are based on me, and only me. I want my fans to know about me through my songs. This was quite a major shift. Although the songwriting process remains the same, the narrative is much clearer as I am the character here.
Who inspired your music? Who are your biggest influences?
In 2014, I came to the USA and knocked at the doors of Hans Zimmer’s studio Remote Control Productions in Santa Monica, LA. I really admired his film scoring and was seeking an opportunity to assist him. But, life turned the other way and I ended up getting some big projects with CBS, MCU and Netflix which gave me the traction that my career needed. The biggest musical influence in my life has to be Ed Sheeran. It is because of his song “Perfect” that I got inspired to write my own music. What inspires me the most about Ed Sheeran's songs is the simplicity and honesty in his songwriting and lyrics. They directly pierce my heart and I feel there is no adulteration or ornamentation in crafting the lyrics to impress the audience. They are insanely raw and true. It inspires me to be a true musician and not fake anything about me in any way to get new fans or impress my existing fans.
Could you introduce your favourite singles you've released so far?
I have released several cover songs in the past covering my favourite singers such as Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine. My favourite single has to be my debut single “Movie Script” as this is the first time I was putting out my own music to the world. It has been loved by the audience more than I ever thought. The song hit the USA Mediabase TOP40 Activator Charts in its second week and was ranked at #62 in its third week. That’s a big breakout for me to be competing with artists from major record labels while being an independent artist.
How did you develop this style? Will you experiment with other genres in the future?
I didn’t really develop this style as such. This is something that came naturally to me and I felt this is my sound. I have played with metal bands in the past and done a ton of film scoring which has subjected me to a variety of genres. I can literally create music in any genre of music. I have done world music, opera, symphonic orchestration, quartets, rock, jazz, electronic and the list goes on. However, now I am coming up with my sound, which is commercial pop and would blend with singer-songwriter and dance-pop. A good way to describe my genre is an amalgamation of Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa.
Let's talk about "Movie Script:" What inspired it and how did it come to life?
When I started making my album, I knew I wanted to use my own life experiences to create ough my music. The first song had to be about something I really believe in, which is living life like it's a movie – not sticking to a strict schedule or just working to build a resume. Life should be exciting and unpredictable, like a thrilling movie.
This project marked not only my first time as a pop singer but also my first attempt at directing. Making the music video was the most exciting and challenging part. Even though I talked to many directors and looked at their ideas, none of them could fully capture what I had in mind for the video.
Who produces your tracks? How do you choose which producers to work with? Do you have some dream producers you'd like to work with?
I have a great team of musicians and producers. The way I work, once I have parts from all the musicians and producers, I import it all in one master session and design it myself. At times, I have multiple producers working on one song and tend to take interesting elements from each producer. “Movie Script” is solely produced by me.
Is music your main occupation at the moment? If not, how are you conciliating your day job with your music career?
Yes, absolutely. My day starts with music and ends with music.
Have you ever been on tour? If not, would you like to embark on one? If yes, tell us about it.
I have played several gigs with my band in the past, but have never been on tour as a pop singer. I will be announcing tour dates when my first record is out.
Who's your dream feature?
My dream is to collaborate with Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa. These are the two artists I love the most. Ed Sheeran’s angelic voice and Dua Lipa’s impactful tone are what I love the most about them and I feel it’s a matter of time before we will collaborate on a project.
Where do you see yourself in one year as a musician?
I don’t really set specific goals and targets. I just know that my end goal is to hold ten Grammy Awards and play in a packed Metlife Stadium which is not too far from where I live. If that comes in one year or five or more, I can’t say. But, that’s what I am here for.
Discovered via https://app.musosoup.com #sustainablecurator