You may remember Willow Smith from her eclectic 2010 single, ‘Whip My Hair’. Those days are over for the now 17-year-old, however, as she has spent the past few years rebuilding her music career and recovering from the negative press that followed the then-child star. ‘Whip My Hair’ became A hit around the world, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 18 on the Australian ARIA charts. It was even acclaimed by artists like Solange Knowles, Ciara and Brandy. However, Smith felt her debut into the music industry became focused on fame, not talent. Years on, Smith has channelled this journey into a solid body of work under the name Willow, releasing avant-garde soul album ARDIPITHECUS in 2015, and her second album, The 1st, which uses more organic and raw sounds to channel alternative singer-songwriters of the ‘90s. Most recently, Willow has hit the road with American singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko, with rumours of a collaborative jazz album floating around online. When it comes to the music industry, Willow is taking all the right steps to become an individual musician, unique from her family name.
Last week, a hip hop classic celebrated its 30th anniversary. I’m of course referring to N.W.A’s debut, Straight Outta Compton. Considered the pioneering record of gangsta rap, the 13-track record has had an enormous impact on the evolution and identity of hip hop, having been sampled by the likes of Fatboy Slim, Vince Staples, 2Pac, Black Eyed Peas and T-Pain. If you’ve listened to any track, you’ll recognise the recurring violent and sexual lyrics and profanity, often specifically directed at government organisations. This tension persisted over the years, resulting in the FBI and U.S. Secret Service sending a letter to N.W.A’s label, Ruthless Records, informing the group of their displeasure with their music, and banning them from performing at several venues. This letter only helped further popularise the album, solidifying the group’s work as a commentary on racism, police brutality, and corruption. In 1991, Straight Outta Compton sat at 51 on the Australian Aria Charts and soared to number eight on the same chart in 2015-16 upon release of the Straight Outta Compton film.
This week’s artist spotlight is one for the fans of Erykah Badu and Moses Sumney. Hailing from Perth, ZĀN is a desi singer, songwriter, electronic producer and video artist whose musical routes can be traced from an eclectic mix of over-saturated South Asian cinema, ‘90s R&B, and ambient electronic minimalism. Having spent his early years in Pakistan, Japan and now Australia, ZĀN’s new music reflects a sound from another country and culture – almost another world. The artist’s new EP, Gulnaz, navigates issues of intersectional identity, traumatic past and optimistic future, fused together by alt-R&B stylists and bouncing production. Each track is a thought-provoking and emotional journey. ZĀN is incredibly in touch with his inner workings and isn’t afraid to speak up about the issues going on around him, and across the world.
