Congolese singer Zaena is one of the fabulously talented artists from the Central African region, the petite vocalist’s love for music transcends just the recording studio, for her music is a lifestyle. The Los Angeles based star was born in DR Congo and spent the early part of her childhood in Houston, Texas.
Zaena sings in English, Swahili, Lingala, Nyaja, Shona, and some French and this marks her unique selling point as an artist. The multi-lingual lady released her debut Pop-Afro Pop album “Break the Surface” in 2012 and followed that up, towards the end of 2014, with the 6-track Ep, “You Don’t Know”. Her hit song “Ur Love”, has received over 1 million views on Youtube.
African music is currently popping (as the cool kids would say) all over the world and Zaena has that twisted little edge that creates a bit of mystery about her craft compared to other female artists. This is widely encapsulated in her song ‘Gimme All Your Love’. She adds a layer of complexity to it. Right from singing in church as an 8 year old, Zaena always feels alive when she holds the mic.
Her earliest musical influence was ‘Michael Jackson’, who she calls the best. Her kind of music is Afropop and her various influences come to play on her songs. “To me music is therapy, is the language of healing” , she says. She has played around with diverse sounds including electronic pop with a bit of African vibe.
Zaena is proud of the strides in African music today and the fact that lots of female artists are breaking through in the African music industry.
Her latest projects are the songs “Kotika Ngaite” Prd by Giggz, she explains “it’s congolese vibe mixed with pop, something you can dance to but with a sexy zouk vibe. Diva” Prd by Giggz is an dance pop – afro pop music, when you listen to it, all it makes you feel like is dancing.
“Music called, music chose me, I am music and feel music and I pretty much live music”, she declares emphatically as she sees herself becoming established internationally in the next few years and inspiring others. Zaena is currently working on her album , which she says is going to be different from the norm. She is looking forward to attending the Afrimma 2017 Awards & Music Festival as part of the promotion of her current singles as well as networking with other African stars.
Zaena is thankful to anyone who has ever listened or played her songs as she says without you, she would not be here.
