Zaynab Wilson (MoZayic)

August 26, 2018

Name: Zaynab Khadija Wilson



Hometown: International



Preferred Art Form: Music



Artist Bio:



From the age of six, Zaynab was playing and performing the Steelpan with her family band in and around Montreal. At age 14, her curiosity and independence led her to the drums. Interpreting rhythms has always been one of Zaynab's unmistakable strengths and, in many ways, finding the drums helped develop her boundary-less musical exploration from jazz to alternative metal and indie rock, all in addition to the range of music playing through the household sound system, including Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye and Toto.
With a Bachelor of Music from Humber College in 2014 specializing on drums, Zaynab is an equally talented percussionist, vocalist and songwriter. A few of her most relatable influences are Brian Blade, a stylistic influence as both drummer and singer-songwriter, and Norah Jones, whose music has been an influence of hers since age 15. Since moving to Toronto in 2009, Zaynab has been performing regularly, supporting a number of local artists as a drummer and percussionist and backing vocalist. As part of her personal and professional development, Zaynab is releasing her new music as a singer-songwriter who may, from time to time, groove out on whatever percussion or drums may be readily available. This works for her creative vision; to tour extensively and collaborate with different artists both here and abroad and grow her sound into a fresh musical experience.






What’s integral to your work as an artist?



When it comes to my overall work as an artist - a musician, I think the most essential aspect of my work is knowing when to press the reset button from time to time. I'm very grateful for the opportunities that allow me to survive as a musician: drummer, percussionist, vocalist, steelpanist; and as an educator: workshops, private lessons. One thing that can easily happen is falling into the "hole" or the chase of it all: always taking gigs and never having time to properly prepare for them mentally, emotionally or even physically. I started travelling and backpacking in 2011 and that changed something in me and opened me up to the freedom and perspective that comes with these types of adventures. I took the Dalai Lama's suggestion to go someplace new every year to heart and made it my goal, nay, REWARD to send myself out on an adventure to somewhere new where I could make new connections and share my talents outside of my home zone. In 2016, I could feel myself nearing a breakdown and in October of that year, I booked a two-month trip beginning January 25th 2017. This trip hosted a wide range of memories, new and lasting friendships, experiences, realizations, learnings, surprises, love, and most of all personal growth. I believe for me to grow as an artist I have to grow personally. I push myself outside of my routine and familiar world and change the perspective a bit then bring it back to my world and mash them up.



What has been the most influential moment in your life?



I recall one moment in particular that is completely unrelated to music but had such an impact on me that it somehow translates into other aspects of my life, including music. In the summer of 2001, while I was in the sixth grade and my graduating year, my elementary school in Montreal, Northview Elementary, got a surprise visit from an Olympian - Anne Montminy of the Canadian diving team. Unlike many of my schoolmates, I knew exactly who she was; I was glued to the t.v. screen watching the 2000 Summer Olympic games, totally mesmerized and wanting to be a part of them someday in an athletic participatory capacity. I was THE sporty girl in my year and excelled in athletics overall. Anne was in our school library, it was a very small school, and I got up as close as I could, which was basically at her feet. She spoke to us about her journey to the Olympics, the feeling of being and competing at the Olympic level and eventually winning her bronze medal, which I saw her receive on t.v. the summer before. She then let a few of us touch her medal and I got to be one of them. I don't think anyone knew how special that moment was for me to meet an Olympian, and I held Olympians high up on my list of special people, hear her real-life journey and hold the medal that she had worked so hard to earn in my own hands. I went home that day and asked my mom to sign me up at the local summer pool. It took a bit of negotiating with my parents and childish promises of endless household chores but I got myself signed up and joined the dive team straightaway. I'd never dove before but I had so much motivation and inspiration that I made the Monday to Friday 11 am practice a priority the whole summer. At the end of the summer, my coach told me that he'd never seen someone join the diving team and excel so quickly that he referred me to the Pointe Claire Provincial Dive team, which I successfully tried out for and made the team. Sadly, due to financial constraints and a bit of disbelief on my end, I wasn't able to continue with the team. That lesson was so important for me and, at 12 years old, showed me the simple formula for success: be open to anything, find your passion, work hard at it through a routine, commitment and dedication and the rest will come. Diving is still a passion of mine and I took it up again nearly two years ago at U of T through Dive Toronto.






What themes do you pursue in your work?



My work, at least during this chapter of my work, is based around personal and reflective themes. I've been singing for a few years now and it's always been difficult for me to sing a cover of just any tune. I have to really get behind, inside and around the tune and sing it as though it were my story or I wouldn't feel like I'd be doing anything creative with it. My music is very much my journal entry with a bit of rhyming, so it's comforting to know there are people who can relate to my stories and my experiences. This certainly motivates me to continue to share and express what's going on in and around me. I mostly like to write about my recipes for self-love, times of struggle, travelling and wanderlust, my social commentary, relationships and the occasional break-up tune.



Who or what is your inspiration?



I'm a very lucky person because it seems I'm constantly in the presence of so many amazing artists, or they drag me to see shows of more amazing artists I hadn't met or heard of before. There's such a strong flow of creativity, originality, diversity and inspiration to make your own mark. If you can ever find yourself at the Painted Lady Open Mic on Monday nights, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I've had so many great mentors along the journey who have pushed and inspired me in many ways. I've also been down deep, dark and lonely journeys and I'd say my new music as a singer-songwriter came out of my wanting to write music that eases me through moments of melancholy, reminds me that I can get through these times and reaches listeners however it wants to. I really appreciate feedback in all that I do as it keeps my wheels spinning, and when I hear people say my lyrics reminded them of a situation they're in or that the lyrics would be brought into a classroom setting as part of a self-love theme, I feel even more inspired and certain that I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. Of the new Live EP Session tracks, each song was inspired by a bit of my personal story but also by different characters in my life and what I learned from being around them. There's a story for each song.








Where do you think art fits into your community?



I think art, in it's various manifestations, can and should be able to fit into any and every aspect our greater community. I think our greater community can afford to use even MORE art. It's such a powerful resource and the teacher in me believes that every single person possesses the power to wield and create. I've been involved with extra-curricular sectors within the TDSB's Welcoming Communities Newcomer Youth initiative, and a good friends' initiative called Let's Get Together, and they do a great job bringing art and activity to students who don't often get the opportunity to explore additional course offerings due to finances, family and personal constraints, accessibility and a number of uncontrollable factors. I'll use the Steelpan workshops I run as an example. In some of my classes, I've seen students who couldn't speak much or any English help show other students, who may have spoken a different language, how to play certain parts of a song on an instrument they'd only seen for the first and only been playing for a few weeks, or even seeing two students, fresh from different countries (Syria and Japan), fall in love. Art can do that! It can help bridge our different cultures, our beliefs, our hearts and ultimately bring us all closer and close together. I'm admittedly no visual artist and that's quite alright with me, but it's very gratifying to know there are affordable and accessible options like paint nights or Meetups that can bring more types of art into my life, and I'm sure I'm not the only one of my kind out there. I love walking down Dundas St West or through Kensington Market seeing all the amazing graffiti and feeling inspired and often looking to find the artist and somehow collaborate for an album cover, poster, business card, merchandise, anything at all. That's one way art can stand as a key community connector.

Anything else to add?

Feature performance at the August 27th Painted Lady Open Mic. Begins at 9pm SHARP.
A Solo Western Canada Tour between September 2-20 - The NAS Zine