Kiki : It was such a pleasure to catch your performance at Eddie ’ s Attic . Congratulations on delivering a sold-out show on a Tuesday night ! How do you account for that sort of reception in Decatur , GA on a week day ?
Zale : Thank you so much for coming to see us play live ! Performing is my favorite part about being an artist , so having you there , Kiki , was really quite special . I have to account the success to my amazing fans , “ Zaliens ” --as I affectionately call them . These are hardworking people who often spend their weekday evenings having dinner and listening to me sing my songs and tell my stories around Atlanta . Of course I also have to credit the supporting artists Sami + Sean and Anna for their hard work in helping me promote the event .
Kiki : Talk a little about “ Zale … the early years ”. What is your first recollection regarding music — that led to you choosing it as your life ’ s work ?
Zale : I remember my first real solo in 1st grade as a defining moment . It was a full 2 minute song . Just me with the microphone in my right hand and a blue plastic umbrella in my left hand . It was a jazzy number about rain . The bridge was a scat section and I loved practicing it over and over . I remember feeling confident and connected to the people listening to me . I remember making different kinds of people smile and I liked that part a lot . I remember asking my mom on the way home from that concert if I could audition for an upcoming production of “ Annie ” a town over . I think I was hooked from the first solo .
Kiki : They say that everyone has key defining moments in their life … please share some of yours .
Zale : I always sang . I started out in my car seat , then in choirs , in musicals , in beauty pageants , and finally ended up in a rock band freshman year of college at The University of Georgia . Everything was going my way until 2013 when my college band broke up ( and my boyfriend dumped me ) and I felt lost , alone , and unsure about my place in the world . I felt like I had nothing left to lose , so I picked up a guitar and tried to make myself not just a singer , but a musician as well . I started really digging into myself . I wrote 26 songs that year . I traveled by myself and stayed single and made a solo record . I did a lot of collaborating and open mics and networking , and tried to make myself as independent as possible . Hitting the low made me reach for a new high . Another defining moment that comes to mind is the loss of my friend Jordan Oberle . He was my first crush and best friend since the 6th grade . We talked almost every day for 9 years . He was a generous man with bright blue eyes and a stoner laugh . I was at a sound check , when my friends came to deliver the news in person . I had never suffered a loss so close . I had just spoken with him the day before and everything sounded normal . How could I have not seen the signs ? It made me see life differently . I make sure to listen to my loved ones and ask for help when I need it . Every time I sing “ Open Up Your Eyes ” at my shows , I sing directly to Jordan .
Kiki : What is your greatest challenge as an artist in today ’ s music industry ?
Zale : My greatest challenge as an artist today is being noticed by agencies and labels in an oversaturated market . I pray that the shifting climate of the music industry will continue to favor independent artists that work hard to create a strong brand and fan base .
Kiki : What would you consider to be the biggest mistake you ’ ve ever made as an artist ? What is your biggest triumph ?
Zale : Biggest mistake is easy ; not listening to my gut about people . If you think people are shady , they probably are . If it seems too good to be true ; it is , sugar . I would advise to cut and run . My biggest triumph as an artist has been financing , creating , and releasing “ Fortress ” on my own . Indie releases are a very difficult and costly endeavor and I did it at 23 ! Making another record now to release in 2017 .
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