A good partner is hard to come by and is like a diamond in rough. In “My Man” we get to expirence real love upfront. Zay’Marie returns with her first release of 2023 delivering her new single My Man from her much anticipated album Natural. Elizabeth Marie Murray hails from the iconic Virginia Beach, though she is currently based in Washington, DC. We had the pleasure of interviewing Zay’Marie, and here is what she had to say:
Q: I love the groove of your most recent release “My Man”. What is the story behind the song?
ZAY’MARIE: My Man is, as you can probably tell, the song is for the “my man, my man, my man” crowd while also acknowledging how difficult it is to find a good one today.
Q: There’s so much changing in the world right now. Do current events affect you as an artist?
ZAY’MARIE: Current events affect me as a person. I’m always growing and evolving, and so are my tastes and music. I’ve realized that I like to stay aware of what’s coming on in the world around me. However, I need to find a balance to remain sane and positive because there’s a lot of ugly out there. Sometimes I write music to help me process these things, and sometimes I write to escape and immerse myself in something more beautiful.
Q: Your latest single “My Man” resonates with powerful emotion. What is your creative process in songwriting/ where do you get your ideas for creating songs? What–if anything – has influenced the upcoming album’s concept?
ZAY’MARIE: The album is called Natural and it’s all about feelings that come so naturally that you don’t have to think much about them. My Man in particular is a song I tried to write years and years ago, but I never found the right flow or the right words. Then all of a sudden, I found someone to make it real for me. It began pouring out in less than a day with a totally different sound and different words. My ideas for songwriting either come from how I think the music sounds; either a specific beat I heard or melody I started to play, or it stems from a feeling I already had and I figure out the most effective way to get it out. Occasionally though, I dream of music and I flesh it out when I’m awake
Q: In your opinion, who is the best singer of all time, and what makes them the best? Do you see similar qualities in yourself?
ZAY’MARIE: Whitney Houston easily. Her tone is flawless, no matter how she uses it. It’s great to have my own tone, and I strive to perfect its versatility, but I can’t compare myself to Whitney.
Q: A lot of people can sing, but they don’t have the confidence to actually pursue a career in music. When did you begin to believe in yourself?
ZAY’MARIE: It’s an ongoing process honestly. I know I can sing, I’ve been singing my whole life. But I really think I have a sound that isn’t typical. I have words worth listening to. Making music is something I enjoy. Therefore, I feel like as long as I’m making music that sounds like who I am, I’m proud of it. This is because it is a reflection of my mind and my heart.
Q: What has led to the most significant growth in your music career? What is the most valuable advice you can share with other aspiring performers who may want to pursue recording careers?
ZAY’MARIE: The most significant growth came in college when I studied songwriting as my alternate concentration for my music degree. I had concentrations in voice and popular composition, and it taught me how to write and how to produce on a basic level. That really opened up the music world to me. I can take the things I hear in my head and come up with a way to create them in real life. I am not limited to just beats that other people create. The best advice I have is to find your sound. Find the music you hear in your head and make it real. Make your music sound like you.
Interviewed by Shertara Brazil
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