Solana Imani Rowe, also known as SZA, released “Z” in 2014 as her third EP and first retail release. This EP features alternative synth-pop while also being combined with modern R&B sounds. I personally like the songs “Babylon” with Kendrick Lamar and “Child’s Play” with Chance The Rapper. These songs are a perfect example of that synth-pop sound with R&B as well. SZA is one of my personal favorite artists due to her amazing sound and her music style. Her music reminds me a lot of Tyler, The Creator and Childish Gambino. “Z” is my favorite album by her as it shows her more sentimental side, and usually this album goes very unnoticed by many.
Who is SZA?
SZA, Solana Imani Rowe, is an American singer-songwriter who is known for her mixed-genre music. Born on November 8th, 1989, Solana grew up in New Jersey with a mixed religious culture of Christianity and Muslim. After dropping out of college, she found a life in music and songwriting, which quickly led her to a life of fame and success. Solana is mostly known for her raw vocals and reduced use of AI/ voice tuning. She has stated in her past that singer Ashanti is her inspiration for her music style and her career. Growing up, she was exposed to the music industry and career by her family, with her mom enjoying church music and R&B, her dad enjoying jazz and funk musicians, and her sister listening to more hip-hop and R&B styles. Solana grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald as her vocal inspiration and Ashanti as her style inspiration. She has also stated how Lauryn Hill is one of her more personal influences, as Lauryn has been able to blend rap with singing, and she has spread awareness for her Black Female experience in songwriting.
“Z”
SZA’s “Z” was published on April 8th, 2014, and introduces fans to her story of sexuality, abandonment, and nostalgia. Many fans say that her music has a psychedelic sound to it, while I agree with that, I do have to state how she combines it with a more R&B sound. As I previously stated, “Child’s Play” and “Babylon” introduce people to the more synth-pop side of SZA and her music style, rather than the psychedelic. The album itself is good, but some songs seem to be more poetry than they are a musical dialect. The song “Warm Winds” is a good example of this, as it features more synth sounds and a different tone in voice rather than her usual pop sound. “Julia” is also a good song, as it presents listeners with a more upbeat style of music with its more pop-like sounds and its upbeat sound. It features a lot more of the pop side of SZA with happier vocals and a higher-pitched sound. Overall, “Z” has to be one of my favorite SA albums, and I definitely recommend it to people looking for a good album to listen to, whether you’re working, exercising, or even just sitting at home.