ZITAH

The Mamas in Music Podcast is hosted by Claire London in connection with the Mamas in Music non-profit organization. This episode features ZITAH.

ZITAH, an independent R&B/Soul singer-songwriter from South London, has always been driven to create music from a young age. With performances at UK venues and a devoted fan base, she debuted her single 'Goals' in 2020, showcasing her ambition.

ZITAH made appearances on BBC's 'Little Mix: The Search' and the BRITS 2020, supporting Stormzy. She's shared stages with artists like Ed Sheeran, Fireboy DML, and Santan Dave. ZITAH's live music journey includes notable showcases at venues like KoKo Camden and The Ned. In 2022, her track 'Tell You What I Did' with Drum & Bass duo Pola & Bryson hit 1 million streams. ZITAH's relentless pursuit is to inspire nations worldwide with her music.

You can listen to this podcast episode and other Mamas in Music podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xj06hOClF1NOV9Xv0WU0o

The following is a transcription of the episode.

ZITAH

Claire: Today I'm talking to the wonderful and talented ZITAH, who is an R&B soul singer-songwriter from the UK, and I'm really excited for you to hear this because it was just so inspiring and relatable just hearing about her work ethic and her passion and any challenges that she's gone through, especially being a young mama. So I really hope you enjoy this conversation with the wonderful ZITAH.

ZITAH: Hi, how are you?

Claire: Good. How are you? Nice to meet you.

ZITAH: Great. Thanks. Nice to meet you too.

Claire: Yeah. Thanks so much for doing this.

ZITAH: Honestly, I'm privileged to just be able to discuss my truth and my journey as being a mom in music, so, really honored to be here.

Claire: I feel like it's so cool because there's not really a place for that- that we know of, which is why I love this community. Tell me a little bit about, first of all, your child's age or how many kids you have. We'll start with that.

ZITAH: Okay. Well, I have one child and she's seven, going on to eight.

Claire: Amazing.

ZITAH: So yeah, I've got a bit of experience now, I would say anyway.

Claire: Yeah, you're ahead of me with my two- almost two-and-a-half-year-old, I'm like, I can't even imagine. Yeah. Okay.

ZITAH: You know what? I've always kind of had motherly instincts or kind of being very responsible from young, because I am the oldest of, like 10 siblings, so-

Claire: Oh wow.

ZITAH: I've had many years of experience of wiping, you know, wiping the nappies and-

Claire: That's nothing new for you. Yeah. I can imagine.

ZITAH: Yeah, literally.

Claire: And were you doing music when she was born Have you been doing it for that long that it was -started out when she was, when she arrived here?

ZITAH: I mean, to be fair, I was kind of involved in music. However, in terms of like me pursuing music and just making the deciding factor to actually pursue music was... not too long ago. It was shortly after she was born, let's say a year after she was born or something like that? I remember prior to me even doing, cause I was involved in music and I had started sort of pursuing my own solo, you know, endeavors with music and I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to do music anymore when I found out that I was pregnant, because especially my culture and African culture is a major taboo to have a child before you're married. So for me in that position, you know, finding out that I was pregnant and having this dream that I wanted to chase and, you know, feeling defeated in the moment and feeling like I couldn't do it because it's just so like, it's just so frowned upon in my community. So yeah, after that, I just overcome all of my fears and I just made that deciding factor to be like, you know what, I'm going to do music and I don't care what anyone has to say about it. I don't care, you know, any obstacles, that's just the part of life. Nothing comes easy. Do you know what I mean? Everything is always a challenge. So for me, when that happened, I was like, yeah, I'm going to pursue music regardless.

Claire: That's amazing. And because you could have easily just been like, eh, it might be too hard, you know, and then you would've always regretted it. And that's what I always say too. I'm like, you got to do what is in your heart to do or no matter what, right? So that's a good point. And so where are you at now? What are you up to now? And what are your sort of current, you know, what's the situation now? Do you have like a childcare situation when you have to do stuff? Are you on tour at all? Are you just writing and performing a lot? What's going on with you now?

ZITAH: Yeah. Do you know what?

Claire: Yeah.

ZITAH: So when I tell them that I'm a mum, they don't believe me because I'm always doing a million things at the same time. So for me, it's just having a schedule in place, knowing- because before I was working full time, and I was also doing music shows and then I was also in the studio and obviously dealing with my daughter. So, at the moment, I just came off tour like last year. So, I did a tour like with Kojey Radical. It was amazing. It was a lovely experience in terms of like my shows and stuff. I'm still performing. I just had a show last week. I've got a show coming up in a week. I'm in the studio a lot. So, what I do is I just balance, I have family to help me and I have a childcare system. So, if I need to be anywhere, you know, during school hours and I can't do the school run, then I'll just arrange for my childcare to pick her up and then I will come home, get her and then, you know, go from there. So, if I've got evening sessions, then my sister will probably come over, help me overnight while I'm in the studio because sometimes my studio sessions finish super late like 3am. Sometimes they finish at 3am, 4am. My reality is I'll be in a session and let's say my session finishes super late, I had a very late session one day and it finished at 6am. I came home and I worked my daughter up around 7am to start getting ready for school.

Claire: Oh my god, yeah.

ZITAH: So, you know, it's just about having to make that sacrifice. Are you willing to really work hard for it? Do you know what I mean?Because it is hard being a parent, I can't lie and say, oh, it's easy and everything is given to me.I'm spoon fed.I'm not spoon fed at all.It is harder. However, you know, whatever you're passionate about, you'll make a way to do it regardless of whatever obstacles you have.

Claire: Yeah. And don't you think, though, that it's much easier when you have a support system in place, like family around? I mean, I feel like it must be so much more challenging when you don't have, you know, a sister, a mom, whatever, like nearby to sort of...

ZITAH: Yeah, I can only imagine. I genuinely agree with that, and I just literally send my prayers to any women that are struggling. I thought like there may be, there could be a system put in place to kind of support mothers that are alone because not everyone has a big family, not everyone has siblings that they can, you know, you know, allow to look, you know what, looking after a child is a big responsibility. You might have siblings and you don't really feel comfortable leaving them with your siblings. You know what I mean? That's normal. So I just feel like in terms of being a mama, I've always had this thought, like, I know there's childcare and there's night nannies and things like that, but if there could be like a system where moms could, you know, volunteer to help each other, that would be really good. I think that would be helpful.

Claire: I love that idea. In fact, I think that's something that the community is like trying to tackle, like figure out maybe some resources to put in place or something that, you know, I mean, because it is really hard and the hours aren't traditional for someone in need, you know, it's not like you're working nine to five. Anyway, that's great. So your daughter's seven, you said?

ZITAH: Yeah.

Claire: Yeah. And she's obviously at this point, she's in school. So at least she's got like a little bit of a, she's got a little bit of a schedule, right? So do you remember those early years, like when she was, you know, two and three and you were, it was a little bit more, did she have somewhere that she went at that time to like a...

ZITAH: Yeah. So I introduced my daughter to nursery only because not just because of the educational purposes, but because I wanted her to be around her peers, I wanted her to be around other kids. Because she's an only child, I want her to sort of have that feeling of, you know, she's got people, like other people at the same age as her that look like her, same mini size, you know what I mean?

Claire: Yeah, absolutely.

ZITAH: Because me and my sisters were all grown and, you know, I don't really have, my sister's got a daughter, now she has a daughter, but at the time, there was no one around.

Claire: Yeah.

ZITAH: So, my daughter didn't really have any siblings or, you know, any one of her kind to kind of play with because all of my friends, because I don't want to say I'm young young, but I'm quite a young mum.

Claire: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

ZITAH: So a lot of my friends don't have kids yet, they haven't had kids yet. So it was for me, it was like a challenge, I was like, oh, I need her to be around people her age. I need her to feel, you know, comfortable, to feel like she's not alone. Because I know that I have a friend and I have a couple of people that I know that are only children. And, you know, I've always got this thing because I come from a big family, I don't want my daughter to have the only child syndrome, the world does not revolve around you darling.

Claire: Yeah, well, I've been, she's going to be an only child too, mine. So I get, I'm like thinking about the same thing, you know, I'm like, I want her to be around, like she's in a little preschool, even though she's two and a half, I'm, you know, I'm like a couple of mornings a week, just so she can get that socialization, you know?

ZITAH: So that's literally- exactly what I did, I took her to nursery, it's nursery for us, I know it's preschool in the US.

Claire: Yeah, yeah, well, same thing, I get it, yeah.

ZITAH: So I think that was super useful, super helpful, especially to build up her personality, her character, her confidence, and just her being comfortable to kind of talk to her peers. You know, that's something that I struggled with when I was younger. I struggled with lack of confidence, you know, I didn't find it easy to kind of integrate and mingle with other people, even though I had siblings, but I, because I was the oldest, so I was born first, and I was alone for like, five years, and then my sisters came along. So during that time when I was young, I kind of found it a bit hard to sort of mingle, and I didn't want my daughter to have that same challenge, so I kind of wanted her to be around her peers.

Claire: Yeah, no, that makes sense, I think that's a great thing to do. And does she, is she into music? Does she listen to your own, your music, or does she have her own?

ZITAH: She's actually- she's like my biggest fan. I love my daughter so much in terms of like her support. Sometimes she keeps me going. You know, sometimes as moms, we feel so defeated, and we don't want to make our children see us sad, or see us down, we always want to be happy. So for me, it's like sometimes, you know, my daughter can actually sense that, oh, mommy's not too great today, and she'll be like, it's okay, mommy, you're good. You've got this, like, even just hearing her little encouragement is just so amazing, and it's so useful. Like, it's really, really helpful for me anyway. So even with her support with my music, if I've got a song, let's say I go to the studio, and she'll be like, mommy, can I hear what you did?

Claire: That's amazing.

ZITAH: She's got her own little playlist. She's got her favorite songs that she likes, and you know, when we're in the car, that's what I'm playing all the whole journey.

Claire: I know. I love that so much. I feel like my daughter's just getting into it, like this year even more. And but sometimes we'll sing songs and she'll go, stop singing mommy and I'm like, like she wants to sing herself.

ZITAH: That is so funny. Sometimes I remix her songs. So like, you know, the "baby shark do-do-do-do-do."

Claire: Oh, gosh, that's a big one.

ZITAH: "Mommy, that's not how it goes."

Claire: That's great. I love it. Yeah. I mean, it's a- it's amazing thing to have a child. And when it's like, when you can kind of when you're in that flow of like doing what you love and taking it, there's nothing better, you know, when it's all like working out. But it's always a challenge. And the schedule thing is probably the hardest. I feel like that all the moms I talk to, the time and schedule, like organization is usually like the biggest challenge.

ZITAH: Yeah.

Claire: Yeah. And maybe that's it's like that for everybody. But again, I say that about people in music or the arts, because the schedule is just not normal.

ZITAH: Exactly, it really isn't. And one thing I would like to touch on is just knowing when to say no, because that's something that I've learned in my artist journey and just in my musical journey is that not everything deserves a yes, even though as moms, we can feel very, you know, limited at times. So when opportunities are thrown at us, we're like, oh, my goodness, maybe I need to do that. Or maybe I need to be there. Or maybe I need to be at this event. Sometimes you need to kind of look at what your goals are. Always remember your why in everything that you do and understand that, OK, if I need to be me being in this place, how does it help me? How does it kind of, you know, level me up? How does it upgrade me? How does how can I contribute to that situation as well? Not just what you get, but also what can you give to the event or the occasion? Because I feel like sometimes there has been times in the past where I've gone to an event and I'm like, oh, my goodness, I really didn't need to be there. Because for me, every single minute counts because I could be with my daughter. I could be doing certain activities with her. I've got homework to do with her. I've got reading at home and learning at home to do with her. So for me, it's just about balancing my time and really understanding that it's crucial and knowing when to say no to certain things.

Claire: Yeah, that's great. And I think for me, it's become a little bit easier to say no, because I'm like, I've become a little bit more like focused on what I really want because I've had to kind of, you know, in the past, I'd just be like, well, I'll go to that thing. Why not? And now I'm like, no, you know, so I think that's really important. I'm so glad you brought that up. You know, we often feel like we've got to be everywhere at one time, especially that like FOMO thing. Like, am I missing this event? What if I meet this person? You know, like, what if I meet this producer or this, you know, and it's just can go on and on and on. But I think that's really smart. What else do you feel like is important as moms in creative fields that, you know, we could kind of, I don't know, carry with us or remind ourselves because I feel like it's a constant, like getting centered around what you need to be doing.

ZITAH: I would definitely say to just remember who you are and to not lose your identity in motherhood. I know that sounds a bit negative, but like, I mean it in a positive way to be like, you know, as much as you have your child, you also were a person before you had a personality, you had character, you had the things that you loved before you became a mom. And I don't think it's, it's right for mothers to abandon what they love or who they truly are just because they've had a child, you know what I'm saying? Because that child would hate to grow up and be like, oh, so what do you like to do? And then imagine the mother answering and being like, oh, I loved to paint before, but because you came around, it's kind of daunting, do you know what I mean? So I feel like it's lovely when mothers embrace what they love and what they're into, what they do and allow their child to kind of be around that world. And as they grow, they're exposed to what their mom loves. And, you know, they can be like, oh, my mom was this. My mom loved this. Like growing up, my mom loved sewing. She's a tailor. She loves making things. And that's something that's inspired me growing up. And I've been like, do you know what? When I become a mom, I'm not going to leave my music. I'm not going to stop singing. And I'm so glad I made the decision to keep singing because at one point I really felt like saying, you know what, forget this. So I'm so glad I kept going. And I feel like that's one of the biggest things that I always stick to. And when I speak to other mothers, I always remind them, remember who you are. Don't forget yourself in your parenting. And it makes it more fun when, you know, you have your hobbies and when it's your me time and you know, you've got help with childcare or you've got childcare, taking care of your child, you can be like, okay, I love getting my nails done. So I'm off to go, you know, and pamper myself. It's lovely. Do you know what I mean?

Claire: Yeah, I so agree. Even me, I found it challenging to the first year. I was like, I'm probably quite a bit older than you, I'm guessing. And so for me, it was, oh, well, but for me, it was like, you know, I had already, like, I've already lived all this, you know, my identity is really strong now at this point. So it was almost like even more shaking because I was like, how am I going to do all this now? And I really started to worry that maybe, it's time to sort of just like hang up my hat, you know, and I had, you know, which is terrible, but I really had that feeling because it was just so hard. That first year, I was just like, you know, the first year is like a blur. You're like, I don't know what day it is, what time it is, you're up all night. So I was like, there's no way I'm going to be able to do music anymore. You know, so I really went through it. And that's when I found mom is the music and I was like, thank God. You know, and I started to see other moms be like saying the kinds of things you're saying. And just reminding you that no matter what age or stage your child is in or you're in, you know, you can't give up on your dreams and you want them to see you like loving what you do, right? As an example to set.

ZITAH: Yeah, there's beauty in motherhood. When we look around, we look at every single day, we see a different face. We see a face that we didn't see yesterday. And that's beautiful. That's beautiful because it's a woman that, you know, that gave birth and brought that person into the world. And to understand that you are part of that, part of creation, that's such a beautiful thing. And I feel like, you know, as much as, you know, we had that battle at first, you know, that first year, what I always say is that that first year is so crucial for bonding with your child. So even if you want to be at home and you're doing nothing, like you just want to breastfeed and go to sleep and wake up and change nappies, that's fine. I feel like as long as, you know, at the end of it all, you remember that I'm still, you know, this person, I was this person before I gave birth. And sometimes it's okay to take breaks. You're a mom, like you're raising a whole human being. That's a big achievement in itself, you know, and just don't talk down on yourself. Like this is to other mothers and other women that, you know, are kind of doubting themselves. Don't speak down on yourself. Don't doubt yourself. Don't beat yourself up. It's a journey. Do you know what I mean? And, you know, just embrace it, embrace every stage.

Claire: I know. And in some ways, I wish I sort of like could see a little bit more clearly. I mean, I was loving it.I was like loving her. I was falling in love, you know, all that stuff. But it was also like, oh my gosh, what's, what's happening to my, me, you know? So I definitely had some like ups and downs with it, but I so agree. Embrace it because, and also those really like young years are, it goes by so fast, like everybody says, right?

ZITAH: So honestly, now when I see, when I see babies, when I see babies now, I'm like, oh my gosh, she's grown. And I'm just like, I'm getting broody. And I'm like, no, I'm not ready yet because I'm in the labor pain. I remember my labor pain. I was like, oh my gosh, I don't know if I want to go through there. But, but honestly, it's just, every stage is so crucial. I'm learning something new every single year. And I know that even if I have another child now, my experience could be totally different. I could have a child that is super quiet. My daughter's very talkative and she's got a very sassy personality.

Claire: Yeah.

ZITAH: Yeah.

Claire: Oh, it's so much fun. And I love talking to people too, who have, um, just older, a little bit older because I'm like, what's it going to be like, you know, and it's nice to see. And I feel like I can't imagine just her just like chatting to me kind of like, so mom, you know, Oh yeah, that's great.

ZITAH: Yeah, that's coming.

Claire: Yeah. So why don't you talk a little bit about, um, just your music and sort of what you're up to right now. Do you have any like new releases coming up shows you'd like to sort of chat about?

ZITAH: At the moment, I'm working on a single that's coming out. I've got a dance track coming out, um, in March. And then after that, I've got another single coming out in April, hopefully. And so I've just been in the studio and running that up and that's been in the works. I've also got a show at the end of February, um, at Eddie's house. Um, so I'm really looking forward to that as well. So that's what I've got in the mix at the moment.

Claire: That's awesome. And what do you feel like your style is?

ZITAH: Um, I would definitely say that my sound is R&B, R&B soul. Sometimes I do dance tracks or drum and bass, depending on, you know, the track or who I'm working with. I've been sort of exploring other sounds and other genres as much as I am doing my R&B. Cause I do feel like R&B mainly stems from the USA. And, um, obviously in the UK we still do R&B here as well, but I feel like it kind of derived from the USA and the sound is not as much, it's not like on a major, it's not looked at as a major genre here in the UK, if you know what I'm trying to say, whereas genres such as drill and grime are quite common here in the UK. So I feel like my niche is trying to kind of bring back the R&B vibe, the old school sort of just reignite that fire here in the UK, as well as other places in the world.

Claire: I love it. Anything else that you would like to share before we wrap it up? I don't know. Final thoughts?

ZITAH: Final thoughts, I would just say, even when you do feel like giving up, don't. I know that's so cliche and, you know, I sound like a motivational speaker right now-

Claire: No, no, it's important.

ZITAH: But it's important speaking. Yeah. Even when you feel like giving up, don't. Just remember your why. Remember why you're doing it. Remember why you started. Because I feel like a lot of the times when it comes to your breakthrough and, you know, coming out in terms of in the music industry, you feel like your big break hasn't come yet. I feel like just keep going no matter what and remember your why. Why are you doing it? Are you doing it for the sake of clout? Are you doing it just to be famous? Do you actually have a passion for what you're doing? So when you actually question yourself and you have these little conversations with yourself, it reminds you why you're doing what you do. So when there aren't many people listening to you or you aren't getting as much likes, do you know what I mean? You remember that I'm not doing this for the likes. I'm doing this because I love it and I'm passionate about it. And I feel like it's always good to do things with meaning because they just stick more and it just has more impact that way. But yeah.

Claire: Yeah, and don't you feel like when you do things from that place, you're just more proud of the work, you know?

ZITAH: Exactly. Yeah. Honestly, like there's one song that I did, it didn't even get as much plays as my other songs did, but I was so proud of that song and I still am. And I'm, you know, I might even put a bit more promo behind it just to keep pushing it because I love it so much. And that just reminded me that I do it because I love it. I do it because I'm passionate about it. Do you know what I mean?

Claire: Yeah.

ZITAH: It's about remembering that.

Claire: And how do you remember that? Do you feel, cause sometimes I'll put, literally put something on the wall that's like, you know, because I have to see it, right? Do you do that too?

ZITAH: Exactly. Yeah. I like to put things down. I like writing things down or I like, so I have a diary. I'm so childish.

Claire: No, I love it. A journal.

ZITAH: Yeah.

Claire: Yeah.

ZITAH: I speak to my journal as if it's a person and I'm like, Oh, hi diary. I hope you're okay today. This is my day. And I like writing down how I feel. And then I'll go back to it. Let's say a week later or a month later or whenever. And then I'll be like, Oh my goodness, I can't believe I was feeling like this, this day. And then I'll be like, if I'm feeling encouraged, I'll write it down as well. So on the days where I am feeling a little bit discouraged, I go back and I read, I'm like, yeah, let me go back. Let me get back on my feet or I'll just write a song. Sometimes just doing what you actually love to do is what brings you back. Like it keeps you going. And for me, that is my therapy and it's my expression. So I'll just write about it or, you know, write it on paper in my journal.

Claire: It's so good. I have to say, this has been inspiring for me because I, this conversation, because I, you know, I can get caught up in like, I got to do this, I got to do that. And I sometimes, you know, I need to be like, what are you, why are you doing this? And what, remember you love music. That's why you started in the first place. So it's a constant, I just got to get back to that, like circle back to it. Right. So yeah, yeah, that's great. Thank you, ZITAH. This has been so fun.

ZITAH: Thank you so much, Claire. I've loved this meeting.

Claire: Oh, so good.

ZITAH: I love what you're doing. It's amazing. Thank you for, you know, helping other mothers and just giving them this platform to speak. Sometimes we just want to chat. Do you know what I mean?

Claire: Yeah, I do. I feel so lucky I get to have these talks all the time. It's so great for me. So, all right. Thank you so much.

ZITAH: Thank you, you too. Bye, Claire! Claire: Bye!

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