PREMIERE: Zoka the Author + LEMZI - KNOW ANYONE?! (Single) + 10 Questions
Keeping the momentum going following the release of his double single last month, emerging artist Zoka the Author drops his new heater “KNOW ANYONE?!” alongside fellow artist Lemzi..
Exuding confidence and capturing the attention of listeners from the start, his rhythmic flow and lyrical prowess is evident against the bouncy production, as he speaks on overcoming the setbacks of 2020 to go on to have a positive 2021.
Making his presence known on the scene since 2017 and garnering the support of taste-makers and radio alike, Zoka the Author's fusion of Hip Hop and poetry sets him aside from his peers. With career highlights including selling out his first headline show at O2 Academy Islington and creating a rap album for his dissertation, which went on to receive a First Class Honours, his penmanship knows no bounds.
Zoka sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
Music has played a massive role in my life as long as I can remember. As a baby I used to sit and listen to classical music for hours, imagining the epic stories I felt the music depicting. I’ve always admired the power of art to transport us to different worlds, and that’s what I fell in love with initially. I wanted to be an author growing up because of that – I wanted to make my own reality. However, as I grew up, bringing the written word to life through music became increasingly attractive to me. I think music has a way of staying with you throughout your life that books/poems can’t quite emulate; you might not remember particular passages from the books you read as a teenager, but you can recite every lyric of your favourite song. Essentially, I realised I didn’t want people to just live and grow in my worlds, I wanted my worlds to live and grow with them – I wanted to make an impact. But, as a teenager, I repressed these desires due to lack of confidence in myself (I really wish I hadn’t; those extra years of practice would have come in pretty handy right now). It wasn’t until I had started uni (after significant work on myself) and experimented with writing a poem to a beat that everything clicked into place. Since that moment, I can’t imagine myself doing anything but music.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
Too many to name. I try and take inspiration from as wide a pool as possible. I feel like the more there is in my creative melting pot, the more unique my end product will be. That said, if I had to narrow it down, I’d cite artists who seem to do the same. In the UK, artists like Kojey Radical, Che Lingo and Little Simz have created the legacy on which I want to build. On a global scale, artists like Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean have showed me just how far a poetic approach to making music can go. It goes without saying it would be a dream come true to work with any of those artists, but despite that there is a ridiculous amount of talent that inspires me every day right here right now in this underground scene. Artists like Ckbreeze, John Alone, Xadi, Tee Peters, Ayeisha Raquel, Bina, (I could go on, there’s a lot more than that) inspire me on a daily basis, and I’m gassed I get to call them my peers. I feel like I’ve got the next generation of this country’s sound in my pocket right now, which is a madness.
3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing the music during the coronavirus pandemic?
Performance was a massive part of not only my career strategy, but what kept me going as an artist. It’s one thing to put music out into a faceless internet and see your numbers go up, but to physically see the effect of that music on the lives behind those numbers – that’s an invaluable experience. To have that taken from me, particularly at a time when I was beginning to gain momentum as a performer, was devastating. However, it got to a point where I was like “I can keep crying about this and let it stop me, or I can find a way to move forward.” Kanye went through a whole car crash and recorded music pretty much straight afterwards, so how could my excuse for stopping be “I had to stay at home for a bit?” So, I found a way round it. I had to learn to use tools like the internet better, and find that sense of connection I was missing through there, but I got through it. And that’s pretty much what KNOW ANYONE?! Is about; it’s a celebration of the fact that despite it all, we’ve moved forward.
4. How would you describe your sound?
“Poetry. But make it catchy. And put some sauce on it.” Beyond that, it’s kind of difficult to define. I want to straddle genres, I don’t want to be boxed in, and I want to keep surprising people. Even with my discography so far, each release is quite distinct from the last and, the way things are going, by the end of the year that will be even more true. I guess the consistent line tying it all together is that it feels organic, alive, and authentic (or at least it does to me). I won’t ask more of myself than that.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
It’s a tie between 2. My headline gig at the O2 Academy Islington was the first time I felt like a star. Hearing 100+ people chanting my name from outside the dressing room, and realising that I had to go out there and be the guy they were calling for, was one of the scariest moments of my life. But then I went out there, literally faced the music, and delivered an experience that felt intimate, unique and honestly quite magical. I really was Zoka The Author, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more alive. However, Kojey Radical listening to my debut EP, Reflections, and recognising not only the strength of my pen but the uniqueness of the project – that was the first time I truly felt like an artist. To create a project of artistic merit that genuinely adds to the culture, even just a little, is all I’ve ever wanted to do. Achieving that, and having it validated by my biggest inspiration in this country… My confidence in my path has been almost unshakeable since.
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
Trust in the process. As long as you are doing everything you should be doing with consistency and dedication, you will get where you need to go. Patience is key in this game, and what manifests itself in others as inimitable talent is usually years of experience and mistakes. When it feels like it’s going nowhere, don’t give up. Chances are that the confirmation that you are on the right path is not far ahead of your biggest moments of doubt. Keep going.
7. Are there any artists on your radar at the moment that we should check out?
I partially answered this in a previous question, but I’ll say it again. I HAVE THE NEXT GENERATION OF THIS COUNTRY’S SOUND AS CONTACTS IN MY PHONE. Ckbreeze is literally creating A COMPLETELY NEW GENRE. Deep how mad that is. John Alone can do everything there is to do in this music game, and does so with such effortlessness it’s scary. Xadi crafts melodies and sounds that cut straight into my soul, and stay there endlessly. Ayeisha Raquel will spin all your faves vocally, as well as outwrite them, and she hasn’t even released a solo song yet. Tee Peters finds some of the best and most unorthodox pockets in the game. Every Bina song is a masterclass in how the voice is an instrument, and she hasn’t missed once. DNZO makes tunes so catchy it doesn’t even matter he hasn’t dropped music for 2 years, cos they still feel fresh. Emiko, KeepVibesNear and Sam Dotia have incredibly raw and beautiful voices but all in very different and unique styles. SpaceTu got the bars of penman but the sound of a poet. Vacatixn makes 90s nostalgia feel fresh. Viceroy Lindsay, Wave Noir and Rj London will easily outbar your faves without trying. Kway, Kente Kwame and Kwoli Black taught me how much you could do as a rapper with voice and style. Puellae made me feel like I was having sex in space the other week, and I didn’t even know music could make me feel like that. And this list doesn’t even include the artists who have unreleased tunes that I know are gonna shake the scene. AND I’ve definitely missed some.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
I’m going through a phase of listening to podcasts more, so nothing is on incredibly heavy rotation right now. Less recently however I was very into The Worst Generation by Che Lingo and Wish Me Luck by Scribz Riley. Also relistened to Flower Boy by Tyler the Creator quite a lot and discovered so much more was in there than I realised.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
Spend time with the people who are important me. I valued it a lot before this panoramic, but it goes without saying how precious our time spent connecting with people is now. On a completely opposite note, I recently purchased a PS5 after years of craving a PS4 and it is the best expense I have ever made. That thing brings me a surprising amount of joy. I’ve also rediscovered reading, which brings me a relaxation and occasional peace that I’d forgotten about. Finally, I try to train at least once a week. Like John Reilly in the movie Stepbrothers, I do karate in the garage. But also boxing sometimes. My dad has trained me since I can remember (for what, I don’t know. That guy is a ninja for no reason) and it’s now pretty much ingrained in my lifestyle. It’s a weekly reminder that I can overcome a lot of discomfort and unpleasantness when I put my mind to it, which is good for my drive, and also remaining alive over the last year.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio
To be honest, I don’t really need anything physical. It’s more about comfortability for me. I need to be in an environment of complete ego death, where I feel at ease enough to try weird things, get stuff wrong, suggest ideas and have ideas suggested to me. The song is the most important thing; all the other bullshit needs to get left at the door.