1. Your roots can often shape your journey. Can you share a story or moment from your early life that had a significant impact on your path into music?
LAYLA Z: I want to start off this interview by saying that Iโm extremely grateful to chat with you about music and life. Sharing my musical path is something so personal to me. Earlier on, I developed a deep love for music.ย I was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. I can remember going into my grandmotherโs garage and looking through video cassettes of Nirvana and Elvis. This is when I knew that someday I wanted to make music. I moved to Poughkeepsie, New York, when I was nineteen and the passion grew stronger. I worked at The Chance and interviewed local bands. I did a radio show, where I met so many musicians. The mutual love of music grew into a full blown passion and impacted me greatly.
2. Did your musical journey begin with formal training, or was it more of a personal exploration? How has that shaped your unique approach to your craft?
LAYLA Z: My musical journey did not start with formal training. I am not that fancy, I am a simple girl. It was a labor of love, a lot of my music was through personal exploration. I believe it has shaped my approach because truly my music isnโt polished. It has a garage band feel, super raw and natural. Iโm just an edgy girl making rock music that hopefully resonates with people. I like to explore feelings of anger and emotions in my songs. The goal is to makeย people be like that girl has a lot of spunk. I write all my own lyrics and I work with others who produce the tracks. Itโs a super fun and creative outlet.ย
3. Who were some of the most influential figures in your early musical life, and how did they inspire your sound? Also, whatโs the story behind choosing the name โLAYLA Zโ?
LAYLA Z: What a great question. The most influential figures in my earlier life were Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Shakira, Lisa Marie Presley, and Elvis. There are so many others that shaped my sound. My mother also introduced me to all her favorite bands growing up. I remember driving in her old Honda Civic listening to Matchbox Twenty and everything from the eighties. Funny story, but my mother came up with my stage name. She always called me Layla growing up, and we thought Z added a special touch. We also have an inside joke about my stage name.ย
4. What do you believe sets your music apart? How would you describe your sound to someone discovering you for the first time, and what emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your listeners?
LAYLA Z: I think my music is different because there arenโt any layers of filters or extreme auto tune that is used throughout my songs. If my voice cracks I leave it in, if itโs not perfectly in tune then thatโs fine with me. I would describe my sound as angsty and in your face. Both songs of mine called, โFilthy Dirt,โ and โLove me for me,โ have that vibe. What I hope to accomplish for those who are listening to me for the first time, is a feeling of self awareness. I hope listeners understand that itโs okay to feel feelings of anger and sadness. When itโs portrayed through music itโs a perfect outlet. I hope to evoke these feelings so people can relate.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as POP?
LAYLA Z:ย We are all learning every single day, thatโs the beauty of life. I learned my sound through trial and error. Of course naturally we all emulate. Iโve watched musicians all my life that have inspired me. I love to look up to songwriters who truly love to write. Itโs always a great learning process. My development is simple, I am still learning. The one thing that I believe Iโve accomplished is my sound. Translating into songwriting sometimes is challenging. I love every category of rock and pop music. Every style is truly unique.
6. Music often transcends entertainment. Whatโs your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles โ and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
LAYLA Z: That is a deep question, I usually donโt go the political route. I am purely interested in music as expression and entertainment. I am just sharing my story through my music and if people dig it, then thatโs amazing. I just want to show that women can rock and that more women need to make rock music because thereโs a special place for us.
7. Do you feel the rewards of your musical career match the energy and passion you invest in it, or are there different kinds of fulfillment youโre still seeking?
LAYLA Z: I believe my two twins, my kids fulfill a huge part of my life. I am a mother before everything else. Whenย I am not working on music, I am tending to my two toddlers. Motherhood is a full time job. I use music as a creative outlet to navigate motherhood. Music helps me and hopefully will inspire my twins someday through their personal life.
8. Can you walk us through your creative process? From the first spark of an idea to the finished track, whatโs the most essential part of your process, and how do collaboration or external influences shape your work?
LAYLA Z:ย Iย listen to tracks by a producer of mine. I select a track that I like, then I start writing down lyrics. The sparks usually fly, once I listen to the opening of the song. Essentially, I know exactly what Iโm going to write right away. External influences always shape me. I create my music through Bandlab and the process has been so gratifying. Iโve collaborated with people all across that platform. Itโs such an amazing app for independent musicians. I was able to make my whole album called โSo Deep,โ through that app.
9. Whatโs been the most challenging hurdle in either your personal life or music career, and how has it shaped you as an artist?
LAYLA Z: The most challenging hurdle in my personal life is overcoming self doubt. Itโs natural to doubt yourself at times. When you put your music out there, you are opening yourself to criticism. Lately, this hurdle has shaped me and inspired me to make more music. Now, I donโt really care if people have anything negative to say since itโs my form of expression.
10. On the flip side, what moment or achievement in your career so far has made you feel the proudest, and why? And letโs talk about your latest release and future plans.
LAYLA Z: I am most proud of the fact that Iโve come so far. Most of this process came from humble beginnings. I am filming a music video in May, to a song of mine called โFilthy Dirt,โ with a director from New York City, named Walmy De La Cruz. I am not signed to any label, so the fact that I could do this and collaborate with other talented people makes me extremely proud.ย You can always find my music on Youtube by searching my stage name Layla Z, my official username for Youtube is @allanasedala and my Instagram is @allanamariaseda.
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