A-Zal has just released a new song, "17 & 11 Nights". This song is all about the beauty and magic of first love and is an important part of A-Zal's music journey. It tells a story of innocence, nostalgia, and heartfelt emotions through its beautiful melody.
In a recent interview, A-Zal was kind enough to share with us the inspiration, collaborations, and aspirations that have shaped his musical universe. He gave us a sneak peek behind the scenes of his creative process, helping us understand what goes into making such beautiful music.
Interview:
1. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "17 & 11 Nights" and what the song means to you?
The journey of creating this song began with the idea of capturing the magic of first love. It holds a special place in my heart as it marks the beginning of my album’s journey. Similar to how first love holds a unique significance, this song will always remain deeply cherished and close to me. Being my debut song, it sparked the creation of a songwriting process where I document significant memories related to the song's theme from my own life, drawing inspiration from personal experiences to pen down the lyrics.
2. How was the experience working with Grammy-nominated mix engineer Benny Steele on this track?
It was absolutely stellar working with Benny. A mix engineer plays a big role in getting the song to create that sonic impact! This is the last process of songmaking, but it can literally be a game changer. Being a music producer myself, I pay a lot of attention on the technical aspects of the song, right from the initial recordings to the final master. And, having someone like Benny who understands an artist’s soundscape is a huge value add.
3. "17 & 11 Nights" follows the success of your debut single "Movie Script." How do you feel your music has evolved since then?
My music has primarily evolved in terms of production. While I remain rooted in mainstream adult contemporary pop, I've been experimenting with various sounds for my upcoming tracks. I aim to maintain the essence of my songwriting style, but with each release, I gain insights into which scales and vocal ranges suit me best as a singer. Additionally, I'm learning more about what resonates with my audience, which is crucial for the growth of an independent artist.
4. What was the creative process like when writing and recording "17 & 11 Nights"?
This song was quite unique in terms of the creative process as it started with a random title that was stuck in my head. I wanted the song to be about first love, but at the same time, I wanted the title to be intriguing, so I came up with "17 & 11 Nights." At 17, I experienced my first relationship, hence the reference to that age, while "11 nights" symbolizes the memorable days and nights spent celebrating my birthday. Since the song aimed to evoke a sense of innocence, the production was tailored to reflect this sentiment. Surprisingly, I dedicated more time to perfecting the production of this song compared to others. During the songwriting phase, I aimed to keep the lyrics and melody simple and cute, which reflects in lines like “making room in the corner of my eyes for a little dream”.
5. What do you hope listeners will take away from "17 & 11 Nights" after hearing it?
"17 & 11 Nights" is a song that reflects the innocence of first love. I hope it will take the listeners back to their days of their first ever relationship.
6. Are there any artists or genres that have particularly influenced your sound on this track?
I have always been inspired by the songwriting of Ed Sheeran. Although, I wouldn’t say I’ve taken any inspiration directly from him for this particular song, but I love the way Ed Sheeran uses the acoustic guitar in his song production. In current mainstream pop music, I often see that the acoustic guitar has taken a back seat and doesn’t shine enough in the mix. That’s one reason why I wanted to bring out the acoustic guitar playing in this song. It took me three days to write the song, but it took me three months to come up with the guitar arrangements.
7. With "Movie Script" making waves on the charts, do you feel any pressure to replicate or surpass its success with "17 & 11 Nights"?
It doesn’t create a pressure to replicate the same performance as I know every song won’t make it to the charts. But, charting of Movie Script has wired me in such a way that in the songs I’m writing for my second and third album, I try to write and produce it in such a way that it does well on radio. As an artist, we learn and evolve from every song and I feel I have created songs that could find a spot in those charts very soon!
8. What's next for A-Zal? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you're excited about sharing with your fans?
The highlight on my calendar is the release of my album later this year. The singles leading up to it, set to merge into the album around August or September 2024, are all part of a bigger story, reflecting my artistic journey and musical style. The first few singles have intentionally kept a raw, acoustic feel, but there's some exciting, explosive music on the way that will surely surprise my audience. Currently, I'm producing my third album, scheduled for release in 2026, with a sound that's experimental pop and cutting-edge. My goal is to keep up this momentum, aiming for a new album release every year!
Connect with A-Zal: Instagram
