ZSELA
cover story in her. magazine volume 10
Lamé Aqua Pussy Bow Blouse _ Vaquera, Shorts _ Zsela's own
Suit _ Vaquera, Shoes _ Stylist's own
Dress _ Vaquera
Lamé Dress _ Vaquera, Shoes _ Stylist's own
Lamé Dress _ Vaquera
Top & Trousers _ LRS, Shoes _ Miu Miu
Suit _ Vaquera, Shoes _ Stylist's own
Top & Trousers _ LRS, Shoes _ Miu Miu
Lamé Dress _ Vaquera, Shoes _ Stylists own
Jacket _ Vaquera
Top & Trousers _ LRS, Shoes _ Miu Miu
Jacket & Trousers _ LRS
Photography _ Peter Sutherland
Styling _ Jacob Park
Hair _ Latisha Chong
Makeup _ Raisa Flowers
Design_ Yukio Sugaya
@zsela_
A Conversation with Zsela
Writer _ Peter Sutherland
I saw Zsela perform for the first time at a benefit show in NYC. She filled up the room with her voice and energy in a way that brought me to tears. A year later, I saw her perform live for a second time and I was determined not to cry. I made it through the first three or four songs and then when she decided to go a cappella, it was over, full sobbing. She is an epic artist and it’s cool to meet someone early in their career and follow them as a fan. We shot these photos on a rainy day in a vacant apartment on the lower east side of NYC. This interview was done over email after the shoot.
When I’m taking photos, I sometimes feel like I’m just picking things out of the world that I really like and editing everything else out; what is your process for making music? How does a song come together? What comes first, vocals or music?
I don’t have a set routine. It's always different depending on where I'm at, what material (if any) I'm starting with, who I'm working with etc. I think one thing that's constant for me is that I like to have a bank of lyrics to work from. If I don't already have an idea, it's easier for me to find melodies when I have words. I think I do a similar thing as you with my writing - plucking things from the world around me, collaging shit together to tell a story. It's not linear. A lot of my songs have fragments from different lifetimes; they’re never usually specific to one thing or person. I like to pull lyrics that I’ve been holding onto for years and see how they’ve changed in meaning over time, see how they can have a different weight... or even none at all. It's fun to go through your words and discover new meaning in something you wrote 5 years ago and discover some cringey stuff that you’re glad no one has seen ever. Ever.
What are some things that really inspire you outside of music?
Beauty supply stores, Minnie Driver, fright night, family, pasta, Junior's cheesecake, mom's photographs, hands, tall buildings, planes, ducks, stand up, small towns, Times Square, dice, fear, anonymity...
Minnie Driver?
I think she's hot and I like her name.
What part of your creative process brings you the most joy?
that motivates me. Now, I’m having fun as a performer. I used to be so shy as a kid, especially with my singing. I was convinced I could never sing out loud, so thank God for microphones. In high school, I was in women's B choir, but I learned that if you mouth the word pineapple over and over, it looks like you're singing so I pretty much coasted with that. Cut to now, and I'm ending each set with an acapella song so I've grown a lot since then. I like finding a level of intimacy with a crowd... it's so special when it's there.
Who’s your favourite performer and what makes a good performer?
I think at the root it has to do with honesty. How someone can shift a space to make you feel like you are witnessing something no one else has – like a secret.
Does making music feel like it comes easily to you or do really have to work at it?
I don’t know that it comes easily, it's dependent on a lot of variables, but one thing that I can always control is my writing. I've found that it comes easiest when I'm moving around, walking, traveling and/or giving myself enough space to be alone.
How does clothing or fashion play into your life or art? What would be cool tour merch to you?
Band aids.
Who produces that music?
Daniel Aged.
What is it like working with Daniel? Can you talk about your creative process?
Daniel is one of my favourite humans!!! He is family. It’s been such a journey making this EP and I’m so very thankful that we came out the other side of it as really strong friends and I also can’t wait to make new things with him. He really gave me the space to take control of my sound and helped make it everything that I wanted it to be. For this project, we definitely took our time getting these songs to a place where we were both really excited about them.
How did you figure out your stage performance?
I'm still figuring that out... For these songs, when I've been performing, I like being able to see people and make eye contact because it makes me feel really present within a room. Now I'm playing bigger venues, which is a new challenge (it really throws me off if people talk). The songs are so personal and singing them makes me feel very vulnerable, especially to a noisy room. But I'm learning. The tour was helpful with that and it’s good to not get too deep about it. It's always so wild after the shows to hear even a few people sharing how much the songs resonated with them, so that's all that matters.
How do you Relax?
The steam room.
Right now, there are 2 songs on Spotify; what is the future, and will you roll more stuff out soon?
I’m releasing a single called For Now in March from my debut EP which will be out April 24th.
Can you talk in more detail about the EP and For Now?
The EP is titled Ache of Victory and these songs have been inside of me for quite some time. I've grown so much with them and in a way, this whole process has saved my life, so I'm very excited for their release, in both a physical and an emotional sense.
Looking ahead, what is your overall ambition as an artist?
If anything, I want to make people feel less alone. I want these songs to provide some kind of healing through unsettling times and I want to make a lot more of them.
What’s it like living in New York as someone that is actually from here?
Rare
Do you feel connected to people your age? Like, do you feel that you are part of a definable generation?
It depends on the person rather than the age. I’m not usually surrounded by people my age but it doesn’t take away from still feeling connected. I think I’m more disconnected with my generation when it comes to technology... in the way that I’m still learning how to use a computer :) and phone ;)