Personal Style: Zamaera
The rising Malaysian rapper gets lyrical about her musical journey, new-age inspirations, and unapologetic style.
“Uh, that’s the truth that I’m talkin’/People don’t consider when they ain’t been given options/Yeah, but we all got our choice/Livin’ life in silence or find the truth to your voice.” Zamaera drops the beat mid-shoot with an impromptu rap from her latest single “Truth”, as I fuss about ensuring the lighting and set is en pointe. Decked out in a beautiful tribal-inspired dress by Syomirizwa Gupta, complete with a pair of white Nike kicks, this up-and-coming 23-year-old rap royalty is evidently unafraid to speak her mind—in rhyme, no less. After all, her love for poetry and storytelling did blossom into this talent for spitting bars. And with the release of her debut EP later this month, Zamaera reveals to BAZAAR how she got her start as an artist, dream collaborations, and how she keeps it real with her fashion.
How would you describe your personal style?
What I wear is directly proportional to my personality, and I’m loud. There will be days when I’ll pair tribal maxis with sneakers, and there will be days when I go all black and max out in OTT accessories. To me, style is like art. It’s ever-changing, subjective, and emotive.
Speaking of loud, tell us how you got started as a rap artist.
A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I was a singer first before I started rapping. Little did I know that rap stood for “rhythm and poetry”, and I’d always done poetry and storytelling in school. When I was 17, a friend of mine got me to listen to Tupac Shakur’s fourth studio album All Eyez On Me, and it changed my life. His writing is very selfreflective, which is my approach to songwriting.
What are some of the challenges of being a female rapper in a maledominated industry?
I love answering this question and repeating this answer because it gives me clarity and assurance. The fact that you are one percent out of a 100 ... I see it as a positive thing, as there is already a point of differentiation. As a woman in any industry, you get scrutinised and put under a microscope. I always ensure that I stay true to myself. My brand has always been about relatability and the endgame is to be able to connect to the listeners.
Who are your style heroes? Is your style influenced by the music you produce?
The people that I have been inspired by in music have definitely inspired my fashion. A mixture of old-school meets new school, my style heroes are Sade and Kehlani. I adore Sade’s sleek and minimalist approach to dressing and Kehlani’s effortlessly crazy, sexy, and playful style.
Part of the fun when it comes to performing is also expressing your personality through fashion. Who are some of your favourite designers?
There are so many! However, I have so much respect for our local designers. I love Syomir Izwa Gupta for his gutsy use of vibrant colours and prints, and of course Afiq Mohamed for his edgy and sophisticated designs.
Dream collaborations ... go!
I would love to make a song with Drake. He is great at mixing pop and rap music, and his successes throughout the years have made him one of the most important artists of his generation. And of course, I would love to be able to make a track with Nicki Minaj. I look to her as a point of reference to ensure I keep my style of rapping in check.
What’s next for Zamaera?
I have a four-track EP coming up soon—it’s called Z VS Z. It was recorded live in Chicago with a 20-piece orchestra. I can’t wait for people to hear that. My latest single “Truth” entails the growth and progression with my spirituality, my beliefs, and existentialism; the things that are conducive to the conscious mind and how we are going to ask better questions. That’s what life is all about; it’s about discovery. When I released “Truth”, I had hope that it would spark this curiosity within others to seek their own truth.