ZØYA

ZØYA is an indie pop singer-songwriter, recording artist, musician and storyteller based in Los Angeles, CA.
The largest part of her music is about struggles that she was going through in her life, especially during her teenage years. Her songs are for those who need encouragement or a positive vibe throughout their day.
Though mistreated by others in the past, ZØYA now imbues her music with the kind of soul somebody only gets by aligning an inner fire with a greater power.
ZØYA believes that music heals and she wants to reach out to those folks who struggle with the same issues as she did, so that way they could open up and acknowledge their struggle, understand that they’re not alone in this world, and that there is always a hope, a new beginning, and that way their wounds will quickly heal.

Her latest single ‘I Still Believe’ from her new EP ‘Veracious Heart’ is an emotional, and empowering song that highlights the importance of believing and having steadfastness in faith, and encourages everyone to ‘still believe’ despite the circumstance or situation in life.

‘Veracious Heart’ EP is available from all major digital stores now!

Connect with ZØYA

facebook.com/zoyanaumchik

twitter.com/zoyanaumchik

zoyanaumchik.com

Credits: Photography by Sasha Vardanyan | EP cover art by Caner Soylu - Niji Magazine

ZØYA is an exciting young musician based in Los Angeles. Born in Belarus, her family moved to Columbus, Ohio, where she took up poetry before she starting at the Columbus International Children’s Choir Academy. With an insatiable love for songwriting, she wrote her first ballad at the age of 13 and recorded her first worship album at 15.

The budding singer-songwriter has over 40 tracks under her belt and strives to provide meaningful songs of encouragement and positivity for those who need it. She sees music as a method of healing and writes about the struggles she experienced during her teenage years to help inspire others who are going through their own problems. ZØYA tackles issues such as immigration, education and poverty in her songs and is active in pursuing charity work.

Her new EP, Veracious Heart, holds these messages of hope which can be heard above in the track ‘I Still Believe‘. The song focuses on faith and how important it is to keep believing, regardless of the circumstances.

ZØYA’s EP can be found on all digital platforms. Check out her socials to keep up-to-date with what she’s doing next. - Music Crowns

ZØYA is a very talented Columbus based Pop singer-songwriter whose newly released 5-song EP "Veracious Heart" was just reviewed by our contributor Peneliope Richards; go to our Features page to check it out. We connected with ZØYA to discuss her new EP, the positive message of her music, her musical influences, and her goals for the remainder of 2017.

After reading our exclusive Q&A with ZØYA, be sure to stream/download "Veracious Heart" and follow her on her social media streams.

You have a very beautiful voice; when did you discover that you could sing and when did you write your first song?

Thank you! I discovered that I can sort of sing when I was 11 years old. One day, my parents asked me to sing a song at one of our local church services. I had to sing an acapella in front of 500+ people for the first time. As a result, the audience enjoyed it, and I received a lot of positive feedback from professional musicians as well as music coaches and they encouraged me to keep up at singing. I wrote my first ballad when I was 13 years old. I was just playing around, improvising on my old-school piano at home and then an interesting melody came up to me and eventually I wrote the lyrics to it. I’m classically trained on piano, so I remember I had to write down the notes of my very first melody to the music sheet so that way I could remember how to play it again.

Your music has a very positive and hopeful message. As opposed to writing songs about drugs, sex and partying as many Pop artists do, why did you decide to create empowering and faith-filled music?

Because I want to talk and sing about raw, and real things in my songs. I want to share my story with everyone. I've had my heart broken many times; I was emotionally abused, mentally bullied and socially rejected in the past. I struggled with self-denial, severe anxiety and depression. Even though I'm still struggling with it sometimes, there's always one thing that gives me a purpose, hope and strength in life - my faith and personal relationship with God. There's something a lot more deeper and meaningful about music in general. I believe that through music we can heal and empower everyone. Nowadays, I feel that most of the mainstream pop music is relatively shallow in terms of the lyrical context; it's lacking an authentic message and real meaning. It is franchised and it just exists for the most of the time. Therefore, I want my listeners to know that my music is all about the message of hope and love. If they're struggling at the moment, I'd like to remind them that they are not alone and that they are loved.
Who are some of your musical influences? How do you stand out from them and your contemporaries in Pop music?

Sia, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Sara Bareilles, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald. I sing and play what I feel. I am open minded to different music styles and I'd like my music to be very eclectic in terms of genre. I love mixing soul, jazz, folk, rock and alternative pop together very often and adding some elements of oldies. I can assure you that my next release will be different in terms of sound style as opposed to this EP.

What are you most proud of with your new "Veracious Heart" EP? Do you have a favorite song on it?

The fact that it is my debut original EP that I’ve released independently, wrote all songs and co-produced them for the first time. I’ve also had the opportunity to record it with an amazing music team in a very warm and welcoming setting at the Red Oak Studios which is owned by the Grammy nominated and multi-platinum mix engineer Mark Needham, who produced and mixed for Imagine Dragons, the Killers, Shakira and more.

I Still Believe is probably one of my favorites on the record because it excites me the most out of all songs. It is considered as the lead single in the EP that is the theme to my new self-empowerment online campaign #IStillBelieve that allows everyone to participate by sharing stories of struggles or victories and in return to receive encouragement, love and strength. Also, I really enjoyed recording the vocals as well as work on production of I Still Believe.
What are your goals for the remainder of 2017 musically?

Play as many shows as possible, release my first music video for I Still Believe, and kick off the Veracious Heart tour sometime in May. Veracious Heart Tour schedule is to be determined soon, so stay tuned. - DOPECAUSEWESAID

"Hailing from Columbus, OH, ZØYA is a singer-songwriter crafting tunes for the pop loving masses. Producing songs with heart, ZØYA creates positive music with a soulful undercurrent.

Latest single “I Still Believe” is a track penned with empowerment in mind, highlights the importance of believing and having steadfastness in faith. It’s a bit of a slow burner, but once the chorus is upon you, it’s powerful pop hooks can really be unleashed.

There’s no denying ZØYA’s range, blending flecks of Paloma Faith with the power of SIA. It’s catchy, it’s powerful and it’s well worth hanging on until 0:45 to catch the track in all it’s glory.

Catch her upcoming EP, Veracious Heart, released on ​​April 7th and now available for pre-order here​." - One Stop Record Shop (London, UK)

ZØYA is an independent recording artist​, singer-songwriter, musician and storyteller​​ ​based in Los Angeles, CA. The largest part of her music is about struggles that she was going through in her life, especially during her teenage years. Her songs are for those who need encouragement or a positive vibe throughout their day. Though mistreated by others in the past, ZØYA now imbues her music with the kind of soul somebody only gets by aligning an inner fire with a greater power.

ZØYA believes that music heals and she wants to reach out to those folks who struggle with the same issues as she did, so that way they could open up and acknowledge their struggle, understand that they’re not alone in this world, and that there is always a hope, a new beginning, and that way their wounds will quickly heal. Her latest single ‘I Still Believe’ is an emotional, and empowering song that highlights the importance of believing and having steadfastness in faith, and encourages everyone to ‘still believe’ despite the circumstance or situation in life.

ByDarryl Carter Jr.Published on April 4, 2017 SHARE TWEET COMMENT
ZØYA is an independent recording artist​, singer-songwriter, musician and storyteller​​ ​based in Los Angeles, CA. The largest part of her music is about struggles that she was going through in her life, especially during her teenage years. Her songs are for those who need encouragement or a positive vibe throughout their day. Though mistreated by others in the past, ZØYA now imbues her music with the kind of soul somebody only gets by aligning an inner fire with a greater power.

ZØYA believes that music heals and she wants to reach out to those folks who struggle with the same issues as she did, so that way they could open up and acknowledge their struggle, understand that they’re not alone in this world, and that there is always a hope, a new beginning, and that way their wounds will quickly heal. Her latest single ‘I Still Believe’ is an emotional, and empowering song that highlights the importance of believing and having steadfastness in faith, and encourages everyone to ‘still believe’ despite the circumstance or situation in life.

Kicking off her first official appearance on Elite Muzik, ZØYA presents us with audio for her brand new track “I Still Believe,” the first official offering from her debut EP Veracious Heart, out April 7th​​​. Give the track a listen below. - EliteMuzik

Indie recording artist ZØYA will release her new debut EP Veracious Heart on Friday, April 7th! The new EP features the single I Still Believe, a self-empowerment anthem that is the theme of her new #IStillBelieve campaign. Her new EP seeks to encourage and inspire listeners through her own life struggles, and find healing with each other and through a higher power. Her soul shines through her work, which is evident on I Still Believe, an uplifting song that highlights the importance of steadfastness of faith, and to “still believe” despite any circumstances.
ZØYA’s journey as an artist began in Pinsk, Belarus, before she and her family immigrated to Columbus, OH in her youth. She started writing songs and poems at age of 6, before training at the Columbus International Children’s Choir Academy. She recorded (and self-produced) her first worship music album Shalom as a teen at her local church and by age 15, she had recorded and self-produced a second worship music album titled Gratitude at the Columbus Musicol Studio. These two albums featured her own unique versions of classic Russian Christian worship songs. As a songwriter & composer, ZØYA has over 40 songs under her belt, in addition to managing her performances and shows all around the United States, Canada and Belarus. She recorded two original singles No Need to Worry and God is God in one week at Studio Nerv-Records in Minsk, Belarus, which were released on all music platforms in 2014. No Need to Worry received mass airplay in Russia, and God is God took over Russian Christian social & mass media upon its release.
ZØYA is also passionate and outspoken about social issues such as immigration, education, poverty and children. She is involved with non-profits like the Fight For Children Foundation, the Bonner Scholars Program and the City of Athens, WV. She received her degree in Political Science from George Washington University and has also interned at the U.S. House of Representatives for the Speaker of the House. Her charity work and music have combined to ensure she lives out her goal to “share the good news, create music for people who are in need of encouragement, and spread the message of love, hope and self-empowerment.”
The Veracious Heart tour is planned for this summer & fall with shows in Los Angeles, so connect with ZØYA to learn more. Listen to I Still Believe on Spotify and you can pre-order the new EP and on iTunes today! - WorldArts Music

"The first artist ZØYA, a singer, songwriter from Columbus, Ohio. She performed an emotionally charged world premiere of three songs she just recorded. Her single ‘I Still Believe’ is an emotional track about overcoming obstacles and ‘Falling Apart’ is about a heartbreak. She’s currently visiting Los Angeles to finish recording her debut EP. You can check out her beautiful vocals in her cover of ‘Radioactive’ by Imagine Dragons." - WorldArts

July 10, 2017
Hi ZØYA, welcome to VENTS! ​How have you been?

I am doing great! Can’t complain. Thanks for asking!

Can you talk to us more about your single “I Still Believe“?

Sure.”​I Still Believe​” ​is an emotional self-empowerment anthem that encourages listeners to “still believe” and have a steadfast faith despite the circumstance or situation in life. It is considered as the lead single in the Veracious Heart EP and serves as the theme to my self-empowerment online campaign #IStillBelieve that allows everyone to participate by sharing stories of struggles or victories and in return to receive encouragement, love and strength.

Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?

When I wrote “I Still Believe”, I was struggling with severe anxiety and depression. It was a rough period in my life when everything was literally falling apart. While I was writing this song, I realized that I was not only writing it for​others but for myself in the first place. I wanted to remind myself and then my listeners​​ not to give up and to still believe even though it was so difficult for me to do that at the moment.

Any plans to release a video for the single?

Yes. I’ll be releasing a music video hopefully by the end of this summer.

The single comes off your new album Veracious Heart – what’s the story behind the title?

I came up with the title​ “​Veracious Heart​” ​because it resonates with authenticity, love, and faith. Definition of ‘Veracious’ is “speaking and representing truth” and it also symbolizes bravery. In this case, heart represents love. In other words, Veracious Heart is the brave heart that speaks the truth and that is authentic within itself and that is a loving heart. Another reason why I chose “Veracious” is because it has “Vera” in it. Originally, I’m from Belarus and my native language is Russian. On the EP cover art, “​Vera” was intentionally underlined because it means faith in Russian language and I wanted to highlight the importance of this. All songs on my EP are faith filled. Each song has a story of my own. It was raw and authentic songwriting process. While I was writing the songs, I felt there was something changing in me. My timid and broken heart was transforming into a Veracious Heart.

What role does LA plays in your music?

I recorded my debut record in LA. In April 2016, I visited LA for the first time ever where I’ve attended MUSEXP​O music conference where I’ve met with many producers, music executives, A&R’s ​and musicians. In the summer, I decided to come back again and record my debut EP with an amazing music team in a very warm and welcoming setting at the Red Oak Studios which is owned by the Grammy nominated and multi-platinum mix engineer Mark Needham, who produced and mixed for Imagine Dragons, the Killers, Shakira and more. Overall, it was a fantastic experience! I moved out to LA for good in November last year.

How did this album serve to you as therapy?

Veracious Heart EP songwriting process has contributed to an emotional healing and served as a therapy to me because each song on EP was a personal experience and story that I’ve always wanted to tell but never had the courage and opportunity to share it with everyone. I wrote what I felt at the moment, and I wrote about struggles that I’ve been through. The more I opened up in my songs,​ the more freedom I ​gained.

What aspect of your life did you get to explore on this record?

My spirituality and faith. My faith wasn’t strong enough until I started taking major steps and working on myself and believing that anything is possible. I am a Christian and I believe in God. But I have to admit that my faith in Him was challenged so many times in my life and you may probably see that in my songs on this record.

Any plans to hit the road?

I’m currently onVeracious Heart Tour. You can catch me playing live in Columbus, OH this summer at the Ohio Machine Lacrosse Festival on July 29 as well as at the ​Fashion Meets Music Festival on August 18 and I’ll be also playing a few shows in Los Angeles closer to fall.

Feel free to check out my Veracious Heart tour schedule for upcoming show dates.

What else is happening next in ZØYA‘s world?

Keep an eye out on​ my ​new music videos this year. Also, I’ll be playing more shows in LA. You don’t wanna miss it!

​Upcoming Veracious Heart Tour dates:

July 29 – Columbus, OH – Ohio Machine Lacrosse Festival @ 6:00 pm​

August 5 – Santa Monica, CA – Third Street Promenade @ 7:00 pm

August 18 – Columbus, OH – Fashion Meets Music Festival @ TBD

September 1 – ​West Hollywood – State Social House - Vents Magazine

"Speaking of, ZØYA was one of my favorite performances from the festival. She gave a performance that showcased her talent and was full of life and passion. She spoke openly and genuinely about why some of her songs were written. Afterwards, she encouraged everyone to meet and chat with her by her merchandise table where she thanked everyone individually for taking time to listen to her set." - Odyssey

ZØYA is an independent recording artist​, singer-songwriter, musician and storyteller​​ ​based in Los Angeles, CA. Her raspy, pure, emotional vocals along with unique and spunky presence on stage will wake you up if you’re asleep and surely will grab your attention right away. The largest part of her music is about struggles that she was going through in her life, especially during her teenage years. Her songs are for those who need encouragement or a positive vibe throughout their day. - A&R Factory