Frya;

Getting to know the person behind the songstress!

Who is Frya?

My music is about a young African woman learning how to love, how to forgive and self-correct. In my first EP Dots; each song is a story; and these songs are all linked to the next. The songs all have a different vibe to them, for example the Samy Sosa single that I just dropped is completely different to anything else I have done in past. Overall, I would say I stand for versatility, femininity, honesty and being bold.

How do you choose your sound, what is your creative process like?

I am an emotional writer and whatever I’m feeling now is what I write. For example, with Dots; I was going through  heartbreak and the emotions that came with it. You can feel it in the music unlike Samy Sosa which is different from everything I have done before. The other day my dad called me, and he reminded me of Samy Sosa and after the phone call I got into the studio with Mr Kamera we created the song.

Did you always know you wanted to become a musician?

 I was always into music from a young age, I used to be the child that runs onto the stage in church and grab the mic to sing; which used to embarrass my parents a bit. So, I think I have always known that music was my calling.

When you’re young your soul and spirit knows what your are meant to be doing but as you get older the world beats that out of you. When I grew up, I did Finance and Accounting, but I still wanted to sing. I started doing covers on instagram.

 I did this one particular cover of an Adele song that grabbed the attention of an SABC producer. This producer invited me to write a theme song for a hit show. Even though I had never written music before I managed to freestyle that one song in the studio and the reception was very incredible. From then I got hired by other producers for more shows on SABC. After that I got to work with people that had always looked up to and people that had always inspired me 

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Speaking of artists that you admire; who would you say you look up to locally?

Brand wise I would say Tuku and Winky D. Winky D; particularly; because he never has any drama in the tabloids and his works speaks for itself. He’s a professional and he respects women which is important to me. Internationally; it would have to be Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse.

Which female artist would you like to work with both locally and internationally?

I would like to work Tiwa Savage;she is incredible. She has done so much for African female artists. She’s the definition of a boss.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced so far?

Being an independent artist is difficult, but I chose it because I wanted to be able to do everything in my own terms. I wanted time to understand myself as I feel like a lot of the times record labels tend to manufacture artists. I have to learn my tone and do things at my own pace. Building a team is very hard because you must build it from ground up and they have to people that believe in your brand and want the best for you. The biggest challenge is having to fund myself, from music videos to travel.

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Speaking of artists that you admire; who would you say you look up to locally?

Brand wise I would say Tuku and Winky D. Winky D; particularly; because he never has any drama in the tabloids and his works speaks for itself. He’s a professional and he respects women which is important to me. Internationally; it would have to be Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse.

Which female artist would you like to work with both locally and internationally?

I would like to work Tiwa Savage;she is incredible. She has done so much for African female artists. She’s the definition of a boss.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced so far?

Being an independent artist is difficult, but I chose it because I wanted to be able to do everything in my own terms. I wanted time to understand myself as I feel like a lot of the times record labels tend to manufacture artists. I have to learn my tone and do things at my own pace. Building a team is very hard because you must build it from ground up and they have to people that believe in your brand and want the best for you. The biggest challenge is having to fund myself, from music videos to travel.

What don’t people know about Frya?

She has an accounting degree and she is currently doing her second degree; a Bcom in Strategic Management.  I feel like a lot of people see my Instagram or hear my music and they don’t know that I’m also book smart. A lot of people don’t know that I think that education is very important especially for young women. As much as you can be in music or in the arts you still need to get an education so that you’re able to have a mind that is aligned with your vision. This is important because when you enter these rooms with these big people you will be able to articulate yourself and your vision. You’re also able to understand what you’re getting yourself into.  A lot of people think that you just drop out of school and get into music; no; don’t drop out of school unless you have a plan and have a way you will expand your knowledge in that particular gift that way you can make informed decisions once you get into music

What do you think up and coming Zimbabwean artists should do to put themselves on the map?

I think that we cannot expect people to take our music seriously when we don’t respect our craft. We need to start respecting our brands more; we should start taking what we say and what we do in the public eye more seriously so that people can respect us for the craft instead of being obsessed with what’s happening in our lives. I think that international brands will only start taking us seriously once they see the work that we put out in and the support we get from our own people. We also need to be more united and host our own Zimbabwean concerts for Zimbabwean artists by Zimbabweans.

All you need to do is listen to her latest single; Sammy Sosa in order to know that this is someone with a bright future in the music industry. With beauty; talent and brains she is going to be an unstoppable force. Watch the video to one of her hit songs; Roses below.

 

Camilla Sibanda

What don’t people know about Frya?

She has an accounting degree and she is currently doing her second degree; a Bcom in Strategic Management.  I feel like a lot of people see my Instagram or hear my music and they don’t know that I’m also book smart. A lot of people don’t know that I think that education is very important especially for young women. As much as you can be in music or in the arts you still need to get an education so that you’re able to have a mind that is aligned with your vision. This is important because when you enter these rooms with these big people you will be able to articulate yourself and your vision. You’re also able to understand what you’re getting yourself into.  A lot of people think that you just drop out of school and get into music; no; don’t drop out of school unless you have a plan and have a way you will expand your knowledge in that particular gift that way you can make informed decisions once you get into music

 

IMG-9600
What do you think up and coming Zimbabwean artists should do to put themselves on the map?

I think that we cannot expect people to take our music seriously when we don’t respect our craft. We need to start respecting our brands more; we should start taking what we say and what we do in the public eye more seriously so that people can respect us for the craft instead of being obsessed with what’s happening in our lives. I think that international brands will only start taking us seriously once they see the work that we put out in and the support we get from our own people. We also need to be more united and host our own Zimbabwean concerts for Zimbabwean artists by Zimbabweans.

All you need to do is listen to her latest single; Sammy Sosa in order to know that this is someone with a bright future in the music industry. With beauty; talent and brains she is going to be an unstoppable force. Watch the video to one of her hit songs; Roses below.

Camilla Sibanda

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