Hailing from Northern California, Zyah Belle is a much-needed breath of fresh air within R&B. Through her haunting vocals, intense lyricism, and captivating echoes of melody, she often seduces those who submerge themselves into her music.
For Zyah, music was a quintessential part of her household. Her mother was a choir director while her aunt, on the other hand, was a vocal coach at her local church. Naturally, she began singing in the church’s children’s choir which eventually led to theater and vocal ensemble throughout her high school years. That led to her studying music in college before gravitating to the musical hub of Los Angeles, which proved to be a good decision as she got to write and record with the likes of 1500 or Nothin’ (Nipsey Hussle, Travis Scott), Too $hort, and Snoop Dogg amongst others.
Since the release of her 2016 project New Levels, Zyah Belle has continued to blossom and expand beyond her boundaries. She isn’t too concerned with oversaturating her catalog, but rather creating music that resonates with her audience. Take her 2019 full-length release IX for example, which solidifies her place among the next wave of forward-thinking artists. Songs such as “Otw” and “Backwoods” are a beautiful display of Zyah’s craft, laminating intimate moments in her life in one of the most authentic ways possible.
Her latest EP, Who’s Listening Anyways, exhibits the growth of the musician, both within her artistry and navigating the world as a young Black woman getting closer to her dreams. The seven-track offering boasts features from ROMderful, Aj Claire, Innanet James, Nate Curry, and Tempest, who appears on the project twice. “Say My Name” sees her blend soulful R&B with rap while, “I Think That I Love You” showcases a much more vulnerable side of Belle as she uses music as a vehicle for self-expression. The entire project is an exciting leap forward for the songstress who continues to impress time and time again.
Now, in partnership with independent record label Guin—the powerhouse behind relatively familiar names such as Kevin George and Sylvan LaCue, the future is bright for Zyah Belle. Despite how frequently artists chase a viral moment or a few seconds of fame in this day and age, it’s apparent through her music that she places quality over quantity. We’re excited to watch her on the journey to the ultimate R&B paradise.
Elsewhere in music, PG County singer Reggie Becton is making modern R&B for the millennial male.
