ZAI, A PUNK RAP ICON IN THE MAKING!
PHOTO BY Izzy Davison ★ WORDS BY Malachi Mitchell
During a viral freestyle, artist and designer Zai raps, “I am full of contradictions, but damn is that a crime.” Being a Trans, Black, Jewish, Gay man, this line sums up Zai’s unique perspective and mission to show better representation to often underrepresented groups. In a conversation over Zoom, we talked about this, intersectionality, and his upcoming album, Saturn’s Doula.
“I have a message that is worth hearing and can help people,” Zai said early in our conversation. There was a calm and confident demeanor in how Zai spoke; it was the vibe of someone assured in who they were. In everything Zai does, he keeps his communities in mind and doesn’t want that to be lost on his audience. Aiming to be as blatant as possible about who they make their art for, Zai is focused on changing how people think about each other and themselves. It’s about letting people experience perspectives they may not have considered. “So many problems would be, not gone, but a bit more tame if people have heard more perspectives.” It’s a noble cause that Zai knew he wanted to pursue from a young age.
In a way, Zai embodies the public figure he wants to see more of in the world. At one point in our conversation, he talks about wanting to see more rappers who are out and Trans and designers who create clothes that are more intersectional. He hopes to inspire anyone who comes in contact with his art, saying, “I want people to be like ‘Oh okay if this flamboyant trans dude from Harlem can make music that people like and it’s blatantly about that or can make designs with trans people in mind; then maybe I can do whatever I want to do.’” He’s tired of the same perspectives, one that doesn’t allow space for people like Zai or anyone else who doesn’t fit in the expectations set for us. This is something that he’s dealt with for most of his life.
Zai was born in New York but spent much of his childhood in Germany and Switzerland. This led to him growing up in neighborhoods that didn’t have many Black people at his age. Though often being the only Black kid, Zai recalls living in Indian and Turkish communities and getting to understand other people of color, seeing how they are similar and how they differ from each other. This is where the concept of intersectionality became very important for him. Though going to school in predominantly white spaces and often being ostracized for being Black, Zai’s parents provided the foundation for him to be confident as a dark-skinned Black person.
Zai grew up in a very pro-Black household; he grew up loving The Wiz. The costumes, the music, the acting, and the dancing inspired him. He remembers his parents playing Prince music videos on the weekend as well. Zai seemed to have no choice but to become a creative person. His mother is a fashion designer and grew up in dance school, which Zai also did from age 5. His father is a former neuroscientist and now an art dealer. As our conversation continued, Zai pointed out that a dress hanging on the wall behind him was one of his mother’s creations. Both parents are elaborate dressers, according to Zai, and they also serve as a source of inspiration for him.
Returning to the States at age 11, Zai realized that people of all races didn’t understand him. He said this while laughing about it. This was when Zai decided that he would try as hard as possible to make it clear to people that intersectional experiences not only exist but should be normalized. By High School, Zai had dropped dance school and became interested in musical theatre. At the time, it combined his two passions of acting and dancing, which he still has. It wouldn’t be until college that he would start working on music, which brings us to his latest album: Saturn’s Doula.
Set to drop on August 8th, Zai describes the album as his most personal. He’s only focused on himself on this one, not concerned with anyone else. In contrast with his previous two albums, Zai took his time with this project. The themes he was writing about had to change and shift as he experienced life and its challenges. He also has trained himself to be a better singer on a technical level for recording music. Being more accustomed to singing for musical theatre, Zai spent time honing his singing voice for this album. He talks about being less insecure about his singing voice after studying inspirations like Prince and Destiny’s Child in his home studio (his room). Despite that, Zai wants to give us bars on this new project and show us some of his brains. As a punk rapper, he said he doesn’t get to show off his lyricism, but after that aforementioned freestyle went viral, he wants to show more of that side of his artistry.
If you aren’t on the Zai hype train yet, Saturn’s Doula in August seems like it will be a great entry point. There are moments when you can watch an artist in real-time work on themselves and fall deeper into their art, which usually leads to something truly magical being created. From everything Zai said about the process of this album’s creation, Saturn’s Doula might be that moment for him. Even though he makes it very clear that he’s still a punk rapper, he’s also tapped into a new sound, by working with different producers. He described the album as being more ominous. “It’s giving walking down a part in Italy.” He also described it as “James Bond-y, mysterious, dramatic vibes.” You do not want to be late on this when Zai is everywhere in the future.
Zai plans on being “really annoying” this year with his visibility and reach. Yes, part of the reason for this is that it would bring more money, but it’s also tied to his mission of helping with representation. “I want to be like a big Trans rapper and a big Trans designer. I want to do shit big in a way that people in my community have been told we can’t do.” Zai also is one of the minds behind Raven Presents, a nonprofit created to hold shows and events that book predominantly Black, and Brown and Queer and Trans artists who typically have trouble booking venues. They make space for them to perform and have the freedom to go all out when they perform. Living up to the vision of inspiring his communities, Raven Presents shows people from those communities that, as Zai says, “there are people ready for us.”
