We recently connected with Zaïe and have shared our conversation below.
Zaïe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
A big risk I took was actually last year; ironically almost exactly a year ago is when I ‘dropped out’ of my former university. To my friends and family this was huge because I was in my third year and ideally could have just continued until graduation however, what most didn’t know was that I was extremely unhappy. I did not get to pursue most endeavors that I usually like to partake in due to the location of the school and the town being so small. My mental health declined tremendously especially after COVID and I just felt lost and needed some time to get things in order. Deciding to leave school and officially take a break was a major decision for me because it meant I would have to focus on whatever job I had to make ends meet. But it also meant I had to confront my family, as I would be the first to graduate college. I can proudly say now that I do plan on finishing my degree in a different field and that I learned a lot in my time apart from classes. The most important thing I got to do with this risk is perfect my craft. Being a singer is not JUST about the music but who you are as an individual and it’s almost as if I had to loose myself in order to find myself again.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Isaiah but most know me as Zay which is a nickname derived from my childhood. However, recently in 2022 I have adopted a new name, Zaïe, for all my music endeavors. It is of Hawaiian origin meaning “Gift of God”. I started going by this name when I started writing new music; a sound that differentiated itself from my former discography. I am an independent singer/songwriter based in Atlanta, GA and I also Act, Model and Perform. This year marks a new era for me and my brand as I have been quietly working without releasing anything new for over a year now. Since then I have however, helped a large amount of young independent artists find their sounds and get their jumpstart into the world of music. Outside of my own music many individuals come to me for advice or assistance with their own music journeys and it’s honestly making me think I should become a manager or something. I am also most known for my nonprofit online organization named the Staying Positive Online Campaign (SPOC) which I first created when I was only 13. Since then I have been awarded numerous academic achievement awards, amassed over 40,000 streams on all platforms, attended and walked various fashion shows; as well as I will be debuting my new photography company and brand new website coming soon. My upcoming site will feature new music, videos, exclusive access as well as a virtual store. You can either find me on one of my many social media accounts or in the studio working on new music!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I think the most rewarding thing ever is seeing how many people like friends and even family who you know support you and what you put out. As I have said before I don’t have any recent releases just yet but from what I already have out, I received such an immense amount of support from so many people that it was beautiful to witness. Getting to see people really vibe and enjoy your art and walk around with your merch on is just the best feeling in the world for an artist. I think another rewarding thing for me has been helping others. I know I am not the most advanced, equipped or even famous singer but from the work that I have done I have touched the lives of so many who come to me in private seeking assistance. For the past 4 or 5 years now I have been answering DMs and text messages regarding people and their music or them wanting to get started; and just being able to give them advice or share my knowledge is amazing.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Growing up I did not always fit in, but mostly because I didn’t want to. Sometimes we, especially as men, aren’t always allowed or feel welcome to just be uncomfortable. We don’t allow ourselves the freedom and liberation to feel and experience each emotion for what it is. A lot of the time we have to suppress our emotions in order to benefit others. A major lesson I learned was to just learn to be ok with not being ok. Sometimes it’s alright to let yourself feel a certain way even if we perceive it as negative. Like I can honestly say the past year I have never cried, laughed or learned more about myself and my emotional process.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @zaiemusic
- Facebook: @zaiemusic
- Twitter: @zaiemusic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5hHvsKFuqDD-Ur_GPde7Jw
Image Credits
Zaïe