You always know when you meet a traveler, because there is a sense of urgency to discover in their creations, whether in sweeping sound or landscapes or just in love. Boston-based artist Zoya is the epitome of an adventurous wanderer, and the listener realizes this instantly in both her music or even during a conversation over drinks.
She said herself, “When I was young, my father would bring me to a foreign place and have me explore it on my own. It made me into a traveler, gave me a sense of adventure, and forced me to be independent.” Her experience abroad only adds to her avid interest in the international music scene, particularly London, which she hopes to enter within the next year.
Zoya really has trekked everywhere, from growing up in vibrant southern California, her birthplace in India, and numerous other countries, she is creating a name for herself in the indie folk world, drawing influences from her native India and blending them with modern aspects, such as featuring MIA’s drummer Kiran Ghandi on her upcoming video single “Lunar Eclipsed”.
Her recent EP, Letters To Toska, was recorded solely in her room, to capture the raw and authentic sound that she strives for in all of her musical works. Ironically enough, her upcoming album is entitled The Girl Who Used To Live in My Room.
Written up in the Huffington Post Arts & Culture section last spring, Anahita Bahri said of her music, “Zoya started her artistic and musical journey through Indian dance, in addition to hip-hop, ballet, and belly dancing. After dancing, she began painting, which sparked an interest in the visual arts. Eventually, though, she found her true passion in music. When she was around 12, she would spend her free time near a little river away from her neighborhood, where she would write lyrics and melodies.”
When I spoke with her, I got the impression that although she retains a deep appreciation for both of her former art forms, she loves music the most because it presents the greatest challenge and allows her to use her keen business sense that was obvious.
Directed by Alec Gaston and filmed by Drew Gilbert, her latest video, “Forgive & Forget”, is instantly relatable to any woman who feels trapped in a dysfunctional relationship but is not yet ready to wander, interspersed with scenes of both the good and bad times.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlW7QH7Gy1g[/youtube]
The video represents a young marriage where the person that you’ve fallen for is almost always busy although they may occasionally glance at your picture while they are at work. Sometimes, men can often be inherently selfish and almost every woman in love has experienced the situation depicted in this well-executed music video.
In it, she waits and waits for him to come home, dresses up, reapplies her make-up, smokes a cigarettes on the porch and gazes at the driveway and drinks a glass of red wine at the table she has set. She toys with the necklace that he presented her with when she held his attention and reminds herself through the row of gems that she will forgive, but not forget the neglect when he does reappear. Safe to say, we've all been there and although you may live in a mansion without the person you love it can feel empty.
