Emerging Artist, Zjál, Debuts “Home” Single

Lebanese-Australian singer-songwriter, Zjál, found a way to express herself and escape through r&b music in her debut EP “Home”. She naturally gravitated to the arts growing up saying, “Creating is my drug, words are my remedy.”

The first single off the EP, “Home”  is a sultry yet up-tempo track showcasing the rising songstress melodic and smooth vocals.

She describes it as, “a love song, about longing to be back in my lover’s arms after having to travel and be apart to follow my dreams, when the world gets too loud all I long for is being with the man I love. Nothing means anything without love.”

It represents her safety net and the place where she goes to in order to connect with her spirit. Apart from connecting with her own spirit, music is also a means through which she can connect with others.

She continues:

“This EP has been a rebirth for me. Through the process of creating it, I’ve awoken to trust and faith—it feels like a rebirth. This music has helped me take walls down in order to make truthful music. Only when you’re vulnerable can you connect with people, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

Zjál’s purpose is to “elevate vibrations and contribute to a higher state of consciousness.”

Zjál’s message to her fans is to always stay unique to who you were were born to be, or in her words:

“Rebel against programmed consciousness. Remain authentically yourself.”

Bombshell: Growing up, you said you were always creative and looked to that as an escape, when did you decide to take your creative talents and build a career with them?

Z: My creative expression was always something I felt innately as a kid. Growing up in a rural town in the south of Australia, I don’t know where I found the courage to decide music would be my future. I was always singing and dancing as an outlet and I started writing my own lyrics when I reached high school. I was always inspired by things that triggered some kind of emotion within me. After joining the school band and receiving positive reactions from people after I would perform, it occurred to me that I could actually make a career out of music. There have been ups and downs along the way and I’ve had many times of nearly giving up. A lot of the people who I started out with have chosen different paths, but I could never seem to imagine myself doing anything else. I’m lucky enough to have a supportive family who have continued to encourage me to follow my heart and my dreams.

Bombshell: What are the most discouraging parts of breaking into the music industry?

Z: I’ve always felt as though there were two sides to the industry. One side takes time to build with integrity and value while the other side is usually short lived, inauthentic and extremely exploitative. I’m not here to say which side is right or wrong, but I do have my choice on where I’d like to remain. I can only speak from what I’ve experienced or seen with my own eyes, but there can be a lot of traps and shady characters. A lot of self serving disigenious people. False promises and a lot of sweet talking. As a women, if you are not almost superhuman in your bravery and have an intensely powerful sense of self worth, it’s easy to get lost in the superficial side of things. As long as you are true to yourself and not afraid to walk away from situations which feel unhealthy to you then there is a great chance of success. Strengthening your own gut feelings or intuition will always serve as a positive in any experience you encounter in the music industry.

Bombshell: How do you remain true to yourself while making music?

Z: I feel as though remaining true to myself is the only way I am able to make music in the first place. The last thing we need in this word is more facades. The honor of being part of a career with so much potential for influence and inspiration comes only from displaying truth and authenticity. It’s the only thing which keeps me focused and driven to succeed. I feel like I have X-Ray vision for B.S. these days. I think it’s because on this journey and in my personal life, I have encountered and survived some not so healthy situations. I think by seeing everything I don’t want to be, gave me the strength to continue to be who I am. Learning to love myself the way I am is a continuous process, but the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and for my music.

Bombshell: You referred to making “Home” as a moment of rebirth, can you comment a little bit about that?

Z: It seems as though everything I’ve been through in my life personally and creatively has shaped me and led me to this moment. All of life’s learning and transitions such as love and heartbreak, loss and gain and life lessons have all molded me into who I am today. Ive been writing and recording for years under my birth name Yasmine Amari, but recently went through rebranding myself as ‘Zjál’, which is an Arabic word meaning the ancient Lebanese art of Poetry slam. During this change, I’ve had to rebuild from scratch, so this EP is the first effort of many to come as a part of my new image. It’s like my victory celebration after so many internal changes and creative shifts as a person and as an artist. When I say ‘Rebirth’ I mean a true fresh start. New energy, new people, a new environment. A massive jump from the small town girl I used to be into this business-minded, driven, unapologetic artist. It is a complete new beginning and sets the bar for whatever else I build on top of it.

Bombshell: What do you want listeners to takeaway from the single “Home”?

Z: I hope people connect with the song in some way and it resonates with them.
I wrote this song at a time where I was forced to leave someone I love, in order to chase my dreams. It was one of the hardest things to go through. I’ve poured my truth and vulnerability into it, so if it reaches even one person on a deeper level, then I’m grateful and feel my struggle wasn’t for nothing. Art is about infusing in life’s highs and lows in the hopes of sharing, connecting and helping others. Just knowing this song will be appreciated by anyone is a blessing in itself.

Bombshell: Where do you see yourself in your career in 10 years?

Z: Still learning and building on all things creative! Music, film and of course writing. I know I will still be creating in some shape or form. I’d love to be releasing music forever! I want my music to have built a platform for me to serve greater causes. I’d also like to be in a position where I am able to give back to my community in some way. Creating charities on topics I’d like to advocate such as child protection, supporting and defending women and people who are victims of oppression are all very important to me.

Bombshell: Who are your biggest influences?

Z: My biggest influences are my family and my loved ones. Musically, I take a little bit of magic from everywhere, everyone and everything in my life. I still do look up to so many great artists and people who have achieved great things. Lauryn Hill, Janet Jackson, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole are just a few of my favorites. As much as I have respect for those artists, the strongest people I know are my family. I am of middle eastern decent and have grown up knowing that earlier generations of my family sacrificed everything to start a life in Australia which has given me the opportunity to become who I am today. I’m able to express myself freely and openly because of them. I am inspired by the fact they left everything they had and everyone they loved to help pave the way and provide the gifts I have today.

Bombshell: Are there any artists you dream of collaborating with?

Z: Honestly, a lot of the artists I’ve dreamt of collaborating with aren’t with us anymore. Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Lisa Left Eye Lopez, Aaliyah…