We were lucky to catch up with Anita Wilson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Anita thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Music and writing have always been a major part of my life. Ever since childhood, my parents would have the music playing. We listened to a lot of Christian hip hop when I was young. The lyricism, the melodic structures, and the emotional appeal always resonated with me. As I got older, I began to incorporate my own life into those same structures. I think the most important piece to remember when composing any story, book, or song is to remember that simplicity and intricacy can live amongst one another. The levels, the shifts in pace, rate, and those unpredictable rhyme schemes keep a listener engaged. Take the listener on a journey. A song is like a roller coaster. Build anticipation as you begin the song, prepare the listener for the drop. Allow the twists and turns to swerve and let the rate speed and slow at unpredictable moments. The most essential skill to me when composing any type of production is remembering that uniqueness is not a flaw. Perfection is not a necessity and art is not confined by one ideology or system. Obstacles I’ve faced have been gatekeepers in an industry meant for growth, striving to keep music within a limited perception and ideology. Just because something has been proven to work, doesn’t mean it’s the only way to approach something. There are multiple ways to express a sentiment or idea and we cannot be confined by one way of doing so.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I’m a closeted creative. I’ve always been very observant of my surroundings and the people within my world. I’ve learned a lot from a variety of cultures, ideologies, and people. Life is so interactive if you allow it to be. I began writing songs at such a young age and once thrust into the workforce I had to combine my innate sense of artistry into a world that offered a completely different expectation. Balancing the beauty and distinctiveness of art into a systematic world has been challenging, but I find it to be very rewarding when done correctly. I want my music to be relatable, unifying, and accessible to any and all. I tend to dip and dabble in different genres, combine melodic notes with the nuances of hip hop and sometimes even sing a hymn when I’m in the mood. I think I’m proud of the fact that I have been able to create solid, sustainable music on my own without the worry of how it will be perceived in an ever changing industry. Independence has always been very important to me. I want creatives, free thinkers, entrepreneurs, and writers to remember their value. Just because no one validates or recognizes talent, doesn’t mean that it is non existent. Our value is not measured by the perception of man, but rather, by the perception within our hearts and minds. ZanyiaMusic is my lifelong journey of self expression. Something we need a bit more of. Reputation and monetary stability often force artists to silence themselves to keep their fans. I simply say and do whatever my emotions lead me to say and do. Whether or not people agree or disagree is never the intention. The intention is to unify demographics, create those conversations that can potentially spark change and innovation, while also maintaining a sense of dignity, respect and devotion to the craft. Art is a complex thing to create. But it is so rewarding to do so.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think the mainstream media has played a major role in promoting who they deem as “fit” for stardom. I think society has grown so attached to these models that we often ignore anything that may challenge this structure. I encourage society to seek out independent media, explore those films that don’t necessarily have the highest budget and share a piece of media from a family member or friend. A celebrity already has accolades, why not take that time and energy and invest it into someone who needs it more.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to remind myself that no one cares. As dark and strange as that may seem, it’s true. People only support what they are force fed. And for my own sanity and creative freedom I’ve had to take a step back many times to avoid becoming the attention starved artist constantly trying to get into someone’s pockets. At the end of the day, I care about my music and my longevity. I can’t force people to see my value. Nor do I want to. That need for recognition only robs a creative of the internal power that stems from creating thought provoking, memorable art. Once I stopped creating for others and began creating for myself I was fine.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zanyiamusic?igsh=dWhsemhncTlma2N5&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18xG7rGbsZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanyia-music-593195200?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
• Twitter: https://x.com/musiczanyia?s=11&t=fXBZNb9FUeSdqxj6ZhXXrQ
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@zanyiamusic?si=PwCLmRtNGGH-uFbU
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/7J4D8PwQmtlQrLfTlJ