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Growing up in the small, largely French-speaking city of Rouyn-Noranda northwest of Montréal, Zach Zoya developed a diverse musical palate from his family. Introduced to African music by his South African father who fled to Canada during apartheid, and North American soul and pop music by his French-Canadian mother, Zoya was immersed in rhythms and melodies that spoke to him even when the English lyrics didn’t. Though French was both Zoya’s first language and the one more established in the Montréal music scene, he’s rapped in English from the start of his career. Raised without a computer or television in a place with minimal hip-hop culture, Zoya first honed his flows by covering records by Kendrick Lamar and Drake, and credits learning the skill of rapping with improving his delivery as an all-around vocalist.
After establishing himself in the Montréal music scene by gaining the support of 7ième Ciel, a powerhouse label in French rap, collaborating with platinum producer High Klassified (Future, The Weeknd), Zoya earned a finalist position for the FEQ Rising Star Award at Festival d’été du Québec and brought his energetic live performances to the stages of renowned festivals including Osheaga and the legendary Montréal International Jazz Festival. After partnering with Universal Music Canada, Zoya began releasing songs that showcased his signature blend of melodic hip-hop and emotive R&B which landed him the covers of Spotify’s Northern Bars and Apple Music's Northern Touch playlists.
For his debut solo EP Spectrum, released in October of 2020, Zoya collaborated with heavy hitting Toronto producers - JUNO Award winner Matthew Burnett, Grammy Award winner Boi-1da and Multi-Platinum selling producer Don Mills, as well as UK artist, songwriter and producer Angel (Frank Ocean, Moneybagg Yo, Stefflon Don), and Montréal producers Bougo and DTRWRK. Showcasing the versatility of Zach Zoya’s artistry as a songwriter, singer and rapper, Spectrum earned critical acclaim from established culture outlets such as Okayplayer, Rolling Stone France, The Travis Mills Show on Apple Music, ELLE Canada, HotNewHipHop, Complex, EARMILK and Wonderland Magazine and landed Zach on HipHopDX’s “Best R&B Songs of 2020” and Complex’s “10 Best Canadian Songs of the Month” lists.
After a breakout year of showcasing the spectrum of his artistry, Zoya is further exploring his emotionally driven R&B on his upcoming sophomore EP due out in 2021. “I’m going deeper into my feelings for this project,” he says. “Melodic R&B is really the music I fell in love with first. Love, attraction and lust are such core feelings, core emotions. They appeal to our most primal instincts and everyone can relate to them. Even if it’s in another language, you get the tone, the intention. Some things are just basic to human communication. Being whispery, being close, these things are just universal.”
With the rare combination of versatile talent, charisma, and perspective, 23-year-old Zach Zoya is poised to be the next Canadian star to build a worldwide following.
