Zanillya

Musician — Amsterdam

01Profile

A Zanillya Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
I’m Zanillya and from different places but Aruba feels most home.

Describe your style in three words?
Comfy, cool and effortlessly.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Beyonce as she is the best performer alive. She puts so much effort, energy in everything she does.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history?
Bob Marley and Frank Ocean. Because they both touch my soul in different ways and being on a line up with them means I’m on that level lol.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
It would be really hard picking one as there are so many that made me who I am being it hip-hop, dancehall, soca, or indie rock. All these subcultures are ingrained in my DNA and are influencing me on a daily basis.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
My dad as he was the wisest and most interesting man I’ve ever met. I would record him and listen to all his stories like I never heard them before.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
Paradiso in Amsterdam as it’s the place I’ve seen so many artists and dreamt of being up there myself.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Meshell Ndegeocello. Her music is so honest, pure and raw. She is a real artist and incredible live.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Thriller' by Micheal Jackson and 'Oh Carolina' by Shaggy.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Who Am I' by Beenie Man.

One record you would keep forever?
'At Last' by Etta James and 'Please, Please, Please' by James Brown. We played both songs at my dad’s funeral.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"Pardon me babe, there are instructions I think that you should read
I'm a madman, I cause problems that I truly never mean
I'm damaged, I trust no one, sometimes I can be real mean
To a magnitude extreme, I'm sorry but

Pardon me babe, there are instructions I think that you should read
My heart it has no shell, I can sense everything
I love from deep inside, but there are pains I hope to fix
I have no bag of tricks, it's just you should"

From 'Handle With Care' by Kid Cudi. It made me open up about my mental health in my music.

A song you wished you had written?
'Blem' by Drake and 'Only One' by Kanye West.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Commando' by King Promise.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'The Devil’s Tears' by Angus & Julia Stone and 'Before I Close My Eyes' by XXXtentacion.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Big For Your Boots' by Stormzy.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'We All Try' By Frank Ocean and 'Ava' by Pip Millet.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Anaiis, Mac Miller, Tems, Santi, Mustafa and Patrice Roberts.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
I’m Zanillya and from different places but Aruba feels most home.

Describe your style in three words?
Comfy, cool and effortlessly.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Beyonce as she is the best performer alive. She puts so much effort, energy in everything she does.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history?
Bob Marley and Frank Ocean. Because they both touch my soul in different ways and being on a line up with them means I’m on that level lol.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
It would be really hard picking one as there are so many that made me who I am being it hip-hop, dancehall, soca, or indie rock. All these subcultures are ingrained in my DNA and are influencing me on a daily basis.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
My dad as he was the wisest and most interesting man I’ve ever met. I would record him and listen to all his stories like I never heard them before.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
Paradiso in Amsterdam as it’s the place I’ve seen so many artists and dreamt of being up there myself.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Meshell Ndegeocello. Her music is so honest, pure and raw. She is a real artist and incredible live.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Thriller' by Micheal Jackson and 'Oh Carolina' by Shaggy.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Who Am I' by Beenie Man.

One record you would keep forever?
'At Last' by Etta James and 'Please, Please, Please' by James Brown. We played both songs at my dad’s funeral.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"Pardon me babe, there are instructions I think that you should read
I'm a madman, I cause problems that I truly never mean
I'm damaged, I trust no one, sometimes I can be real mean
To a magnitude extreme, I'm sorry but

Pardon me babe, there are instructions I think that you should read
My heart it has no shell, I can sense everything
I love from deep inside, but there are pains I hope to fix
I have no bag of tricks, it's just you should"

From 'Handle With Care' by Kid Cudi. It made me open up about my mental health in my music.

A song you wished you had written?
'Blem' by Drake and 'Only One' by Kanye West.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Commando' by King Promise.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'The Devil’s Tears' by Angus & Julia Stone and 'Before I Close My Eyes' by XXXtentacion.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Big For Your Boots' by Stormzy.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'We All Try' By Frank Ocean and 'Ava' by Pip Millet.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Anaiis, Mac Miller, Tems, Santi, Mustafa and Patrice Roberts.