5 Questions: Ethiopian-Born ZADA Slows the Clock on “Atlantic Times”

Sailing was never part of ZADA’s repertoire. An avid surfer, horseback rider, and skier, the Ethiopian-born, Vancouver-based artist knew nothing about sailing. Always in the habit of trying something new, the 20-year-old singer/songwriter found herself on a sailboat in the middle of the sea in the video for her new single “Atlantic Times.”

Backed by Afrobeats and a soulful cruise, ZADA explores passing time, the pressures of growth and change, and the missing links around romantic connections. Things are changing fast, and I can’t change with them / Nothing’s meant to last, but I still remember when she sings while drifting on a small vessel against a warm sunset. Visually, “Atlantic Times” also traces some of the inhibitors of human connection.

“The message we wanted to send out at the end was to honor the power of real human connection,” ZADA tells American Songwriter of the video and its link to the lyrics. “Throw away the phone, the paper and pen. Come talk.”

Inspired by her deep adoration of nature and the outdoors, the idea for “Atlantic Times” was also dreamed up on the water, while the singer was surfing. “I remember watching the water lap over my surfboard and it made me think of the push and pull of relationships,” says ZADA. “I went into the session with that as my inspiration. I wanted to capture the essence of the feeling you get when you meet someone, catch a spark, but you go your separate ways, then wonder if it’s a lost connection, or if those seconds could be recreated one day.”

Motivated by the vocal styles of Erykah Badu and FKA twigs, ZADA started playing guitar by ear at the age of 7 before moving on to piano at 12, and poetry and songwriting by her mid-teens. She later learned the structure of writing at the Songwriting School of Los Angeles.

Several years later, ZADA, who released her debut single “Nomad” in 2022, continues to embrace her own craft of songwriting, along with expanding herself to collaborations with Mr. Hudson (Jay-Z, Duran Duran), Kareem James (Nicole Scherzinger), Elliot Beenk (Steve Lacy), and revered mixer Neal Pogue (HAIM, Doja Cat) on her forthcoming album. The project was recorded between Los Angeles, Hawaii and the U.K.

“There’s an endurance to making music and being myself,” says ZADA. “I’m figuring out the finesse of throwing away all my inhibitions and expressing exactly how I feel. I’m excited to open a new chapter to my story.”

ZADA spoke to American Songwriter about “Atlantic Times,” working on her forthcoming debut album and how the natural world continues to inspire her music.

American Songwriter: How would you describe the collection of songs that you’re working on for your debut?

ZADA: With inspiration drawn from my introspection, spontaneity, and clarity, this upcoming project memorizes my life’s best and most complicated moments.

AS: Are there any recurring themes or threads you’ve discovered in this new batch of songs?

Z: Time is a huge theme presented throughout this project. I’m constantly wondering and asking, “How do I make the most of the time that I have? When is the right time to make an introduction or even say goodbye?” I believe “Atlantic Times” lends itself to the aforementioned theme. I share how I’m enraptured by the decisions of when to rekindle a lost relationship, or rather if I should reconsider.  

AS: You manage seamlessly mix R&B, Afrobeats, soul and more into your music. What are you hoping to capture, sonically, on your debut?

Z: I love balancing organic and electronic elements throughout the songs, and I’m always excited to explore my vocal range more as a songwriter. We [me, Brian West, and Chin Injeti] spent so much time creating demos. [We] started writing halfway into last year, taking time to methodically harvest something we would all be ecstatic to collaborate over. It was pure joy. 

AS: Living in British Columbia and being so connected to the outdoors, how does nature inform your music? 

Z: Some of my favorite sessions have been when I’m surrounded by nature, whether that means I get to recreate in the forest, ocean, or ski hill before my sessions start or get inspired by the abundance of natural beauty. I can come into songwriting way more invigorated when I’ve interacted with the outdoors.

AS: Has songwriting shifted for you over the past few years since you started?

Z: For sure! I started writing when I was around 13. It was a wholesome process, but I didn’t get to collaborate. This past year has been incredible for that very reason. I truly cherish any second I get to spend with my musical colleagues — usually followed by some intense creation or a life lesson. That’s something I could have never imagined for myself, but I’m so grateful for it right now.

Previously I looked out to society for inspiration, partially because I hadn’t experienced enough yet and partly because I was still afraid to fully open up. It’s not to say that I’m on top of the world with handling my emotions now, but I’ve definitely learned to give myself the space and time to consider my feelings, or how my internal is affected by the external elements around me.

Photo: Blake Jorgenson / Courtesy of The Bloom Effect