Zahyia

Zahyia Rolle
Rapper • Songwriter • Actress • Dancer • Choreography • Producer

It is rare to find a performer who combines star potential with a true understanding of her music and medium, then again, this in Zahyia Rolle! Whether singing a classic by the Supremes or exploring the limits of hip-hop, Zahyia Rolle, known as ZZ Rolle by her peers, is a performer who defies labels and defines the world “artist.”

Nominated for 3 2005 Independent Music Awards, and winner for “Best Gospel Song”, Zahyia only recognizes boundaries and limits long enough to cross them. Raised in a home where the arts and music were in the air and blood, she’s been stunning national audiences for the past seven years as a show-stopping performer/vocalist where her diverse and wide-ranging talents shine.

Zahyia originally of Liberty, NY has been involved in musical theater since 3, and quickly showed promise with the piano, alto sax and flute. With a visual artist and fashion designer for a mother, and an accomplished composer/singer and jazz musician for a father, there was no choice; Zahyia was driven to continue in the arts. It was her father’s music sequencer and drum machine that first allowed Zahyia to express this passion for music and give voice to the sounds in her heart and head. At eleven years old she had already begun working on her own compositions in her father’s recording studio, and by the age of sixteen, she had more than 100 sequenced tracks to her credit.

While studying music at the University of Rochester, she became musical director of the a cappella jazz ensemble Swingshot!?, and self-produced her first demo, the hip-hop flavored “Afro-di-Z-aic.” A stint with the funk outfit Zuri led to her on-going, seven-year association with “The Christopher Jay Show”, a nationally-known soul and funk revue that also includes Vegas-style jokes and audience participation.

Zahyia has toured throughout the East Coast with the “Motown Legends Show” and “Legendary Night of the Stars,” indulging her love of old-school soul and R&B. In addition, she has toured as a soloist with the One Human Family Workshop Choir throughout the United States, including the Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, WI.

Currently, Zahyia is a regular soloist for upstate New York’s legendary party band, Nik & The Nice Guys touring throughout North America, including high profile performances such as many Superbowl pre-game show, CNN 25th World Conference Show w/ Hall & Oats, opening act for Average White Band, as well as Ingrid Michelson.

Some of the High Profile Performances include:

Coors Super Bowl Bash - Detroit, MI
Super Bowl XL - Detroit, MI
35 Anniversary - Annual Quad Holiday Party - Atlanta, GA
Cazenovia FD Easter Ball - Cazenovia, NY
Mohawk Expo 2007 - Turning Stone Casino
Owasco FD Memorial Day Party - Owasco Lake, NY
Montour Falls Fireman's Fair - Montour Falls, NY
30th Annual Boilermaker 2007 Finish Line Party -
Utica, NY
St. Lawrence Homes "Home Opener" for NC State -
Raleigh, NC
Triple Play Realtor Convention 2007 - Caesrs Atlantic City, NJ
Buffalo Bills Holiday Party - Buffalo, NY
Opened for Average White Band - Rochester, NY
Opened for Ingrid Michaelson - Rochester, NY