Zahna- Aggressive, Female-Fronted Rock.
Interview conducted on Aug. 23, 2020
By Dan Locke
Zahna is a female Christian Hard Rock solo artist based out of San Antonio, TX, and is also known as Suzy Martinez, the former front-woman of national touring band “ILIA”. After separation with ILIA in 2016, Martinez debuted as Zahna in May of 2017. Fusing gritty, industrial guitar riffs with technical drum elements, the San Antonio-based vocalist shines her aggressive vocal style, giving birth to the powerful active rock she now claims as her own.
How old were you once you immigrated from Mexico to the United States?
I was almost 2 years old.
What is your upbringing?
I had the fortune of growing up in a wonderful, safe, and loving home. My parents were Christian, my mother was protective and nurturing, and my father was my world (still is!). My two older sisters made me feisty and determined. Growing up as the youngest sibling challenged me to be better always, and follow closely in my sisters’ footsteps.
How did you discover music?
I grew up with music. My dad played guitar and would sing beautiful Mexican music to us all the time. He was the worship pastor at our church, so I was always exposed to music from a young age. My sisters and I were placed in music and art classes. We were always supported in anything we wanted to try our hands at.
What took you back to Mexico?
My family had been living in Ohio ever since my dad was transferred from my birth city of Monterrey Mexico, to the U.S. Ohio was a very harsh and cold environment, and living there took a toll on my parents. Their deep desire was to return to warmer weather, and be closer to family down south. When we achieved U.S. citizenship, my dad moved my family to Texas (where we still reside). But my dad had other plans for me. During the move, I was sent to stay with my aunt and go to school in Mexico, because my dad deeply desired for me to understand my roots, live in my home country, and learn to read, write, and speak my native language properly. So I became an exchange student in Mexico to complete my 6th grade year. When it was done, I went back to finish the rest of my schooling in Texas.
What is you’re feeling about DACA?
If it helps people, I support it.
How did you start to write music?
I had a small radio that was gifted to me when I was little. I constantly listened to it everyday after school and eventually I became familiar with all the hits and big artists of the time. Eventually I started to hear music in my head everywhere I went. Melodies just wouldn’t leave my brain, and so I began to write songs as early as 7 years old to give the melodies an outlet. These songs were juvenile and sometimes silly, but it was a start. I never stopped writing since then.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
I used to play my dad’s classical guitar, until I started getting interested in rock. My dad knew that his classical would no longer do, so he took me to Sam Ash to buy my own first acoustic guitar when I was 15. He told me I had to buy the guitar for myself, in order to understand what it meant to sacrifice for my dreams. So I got a small job to pay for my new guitar and every piece of music gear I would own after. Although my dad pushed me to work for the things I wanted, he would still always provide me a way to keep a job by giving me rides to work every day. He wanted me to learn financial responsibility, yet he still gave me all the tools I needed to make my dreams a reality.
What was your first performance at like?
Absolutely thrilling. It was like something came alive in me, and that energy took me over. My body reacted like an animal that was subdued for centuries that had finally been unleashed. The adrenaline was rushing so fast, by the time we finished our set, it felt like we had only played for mere seconds, but in those seconds, a defining realization occurred to me: playing shows was something I was born to do, and I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
I wrote my first songs when I was 7 years old. I instantly remember the strangest phenomenon of hearing melodies in my head out of thin air. I didn’t understand what was happening, but these melodies were memorable, and I started to think of words for them. I actually wrote 2 songs in one day, and still remember the words and lyrics for each. The first was called “Forget The Past” and the second was called “Patty Cake,” lol.
How did you get into the Christian rock band ILIA?
I had heard of ILIA when I was in a church youth group in my early high school years. I went to a big church, and Christian Rock was becoming very popular at the time, so I became exposed to a lot of Christian rock, metal, and hard rock bands very quickly. When I first heard of ILIA, I thought it was so cool how they were an all-girl band, and screamed in their music.
Little did I know that many years later, when I was finishing my last semester of college, I would discover through an announcement post on their Facebook that they were auditioning new singers.
Needless to say, I made it in the band.
What was the best moment you had with ILIA?
My best moments with ILIA would be our late night drives, our days off on tours, and time spent together during rehearsal weeks. We would talk in British accents for weeks straight, regurgitate inside jokes, saw some incredible sights and hiked some incredible trails. I saw massive landmarks such as Mount Rushmore, Yosemite National Park, Multnomah Falls, and Astoria (The town the filmed The Goonies,) just to name a fraction of places.
The members of ILIA were truly my best friends, and these times were some of the funnest and hilarious memories I have of my young adult life.
Once ILIA disbanded, you started your solo project. Why did you decide to go solo?
When things fell apart in ILIA, I knew I wasn’t done with music. I had too much to say, and my soul needed a lot of healing. Writing music was the only way I knew how to heal myself and make sense of things. I didn’t expect my new brand and moniker Zahna to have that much success, but I’m really glad it did.
Did you know if you go to ILIA YouTube site and click on about- Facebook – it takes you to someone name Ilia Miciano. Who is she?
I
I honestly have no idea. We had to fight for the official name of ILIA a lot. I’m pretty sure there’s a makeup brand out there named ILIA. We had to compete a lot for the hashtag and social domains.
We had often talked about changing the name due to this and also because of the fact that there were all new members from the original girl band besides our drummer. But since we already had a solid fan base, we didn’t want to lose our steam due to a confusing name change.
How is it like touring with your husband?
To be able to tour with your spouse is honestly a dream that I believe a lot of people would give anything for. I am extremely lucky. Things weren’t always so easy though, as my husband split his time and attention between being a drummer in his first band he’d been a member of before we even met, so there was definitely a learning curve. But my husband, Patrick has since stepped down from that band and exclusively drums for me now. I can’t lie and say I’m not totally over-the-moon about that.
It’s pretty awesome, and if I’m honest, it feels like how it was always meant to be.
Tell me about the making of “Lo Mas Oculto En Mi”?
This song was originally written in English, but when my label suggested the idea to record it in Spanish, I was totally on board. To be able to hear a song that my grandma could actually understand the lyrics to was really special.
How is the new record coming?
I I can’t fully express in words accurately how excited I am for my new record. I can’t release details at this time about it’s title and theme, but my soul paid a heavy price and underwent a real cathartic journey in order to write these songs.
There were times where these song ideas were so heavy, it really would affect my mood all day. Sometimes I didn’t want to talk about these subjects, and other days I couldn’t stop talking about them. I would write pages and pages of lyrics, so many lyrics that my producers told me they couldn’t fit everything into the songs and I would have to save them for another time. It was hard, but so have these last years been. I can’t wait to see what the fans think of it.
What is your favorite track on the album?
O
On my current new album, I can’t decide yet. On Red For War?
Probably track 9, “Was I Bad”
How do you stay healthy while touring?
I thrive by being a workaholic. Haha… just kidding, but not really.
I mostly try to avoid soda, as well as energy and sugary drinks. Fast food isn’t always avoidable, but I do my best to pick the healthiest options when I do.
My Apple Watch is truly a lifesaver and reminds me to take my medications every day, and I create systems in place like that as failsafes. Anything can go on tour, so I plan ahead a lot before going out and make sure I have a great team that is happy and healthy and taken care of as well.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music? Digital vs. vinyl?
I’m probably going to get a lot of flack for this, but I say digital. I was just never exposed to really having a record player or vinyl. To me, physical objects like vinyl take a lot of space, but I know a lot of people sure do love vinyl and would love to debate me on the quality of vinyl, or something like that.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
I’m honestly not surprised. Things change. The times change. I just don’t pander to fear or to the media.
What is the mental health situation of the United State?
That’s a really deep question. I think there’s a lot of factors of why there is a decline in the well-being of the younger population. I can only really speak about my generation, but as I stated in my last response, things change. We no longer live in the political, economical, or technological landscape our parents grew up in. Has this caused a steep downward spiraling curve in the landscape of mental health with millenials and younger? I would say, “yes.”
To name one example:
My generation grew up with really fast technology.
Do I think tech has created an instant gratification response in myself and my peers? Yes. Almost everyone I know that’s my age or close to, has some degree of serious anxiety or depression, and I think technology has a lot to blame. Too much information, too many choices, too much stimulation causes brain overload. It’s too easy to get overwhelmed and stressed. I’ve had to learn to shut it off or else I’d go crazy.
Too much information, too many choices, too much stimulation causes brain overload. It’s too easy to get overwhelmed and stressed. I’ve had to learn to shut it off or else I’d go crazy.
How can public help the doctors and nurses on the front line?
just do your part and wear the mask. I know it’s not a LONGTERM solution but it helps right now by not overwhelming the hospitals. I’ve immunosuppressed myself, so it bothers me when people aren’t willing to help out us sick folk just a little.
I would be terrified if I couldn’t get admitted to the hospital (as I often do) for chronic conditions because hospitals are maxed out.
Do you think kids should go back to school his fall?
I seriously have no opinion on that because I don’t have kids. But I do understand how parents are probably terrified right now
It’s honestly really hard to NOT be mad at the government and legislation right now. I honestly can’t believe Congress is taking a recess during a pandemic without having officially passed a decent bill for small businesses, unemployment, and education. It’s infuriating and embarrassing.
What song from the past is in your mind right now?
“Lift The Veil” – Cry Of The Afflicted
Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
This song is about lifting the metaphorical veil from your eyes and realizing the truth that blatantly stares at you in the face. This song, band, and album, never cease to give me chills due to how piercing, convicting, challenging, and sobering (all at once) the lyrics are. I feel that the song is relevant in this time of chaos and turmoil most of all, because it’s so easy to blame society, others, and anything that isn’t ourselves, for all the pain and hurt in the world. Why? Because it’s human nature to resist accountability and responsibility; not only for our actions but the darkness in our hearts
Humanity needs an answer for it’s selfish condition, but “Lift the Veil” is a song about how obtaining that answer can only be found when we lift the veil and look within ourselves.
IIt’s there where we will find the true problem, which is the condition of selfishness in the human heart. We live in a fallen world because we made it this way. If we truly want to better this world, we need a solution to the darkness that is engrained in ourselves; a solution which I believe with my entire being, is only found in Jesus Christ.
You were in the middle of your first solo tour and the virus hit. Tell me what you were thinking at the time it hit?
Honestly, I was taking it one step at a time. Whatever issue was in front of me first, I was trying to resolve, all while keeping in mind the bigger picture and keeping the safety of my team members and still following through with my contractual obligations to the best of my ability. It was just about getting through it a day, by day, knowing any second we would get the orders to go home. I was in constant communication with my band and team, and we were united all the way through.
Touring is a high-pressure environment, and now in hindsight, I see it good cosmic humor and only fitting that I would have to deal with an “act of God,” such as a nationwide shutdown, my first headlining tour.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think live-streaming concerts will still continue even after the shutdown, but I’m confident live shows WILL return eventually. There’s just no substituting the live-concert experience. I’m hoping, if anything, people will be even more pumped up to see live music, and attend concerts more frequently when artists tour again. It’s great that artists realized the potential and benefits of live-stream concerts, but I don’t see them replacing live tours, necessarily.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I’ve been working on my private vocal coaching and consultation business venture, as well as my new album cycle. I also picked up new recipes and got better at cooking.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Yes! As I said in my previous response, I’ve been learning how to cook new recipes and try new things in the kitchen. I’ve had time to grocery shop and learn about new ingredients, cooking styles, and foreign dishes. I’m also realizing how much I love to teach and coach others about singing. I never had confidence to start doing so, but the quarantine pushed me because I was running out of options. Needless to say, I should’ve done this a long time ago.
Quarantine marks?
I think you’re asking about quarantine masks? Like I said before, if it helps people, I’m for it. I am in the high-risk category for contracting COVID-19 because I am a kidney transplant recipient, so I really appreciate people wearing masks, and helping to keep the hospitals open, so if I have a mishap, I can still get a bed.
How is your Artist Development Consultations coming along?
Like I mentioned in a previous answer, I should’ve done this a long time ago! I never realized how much I would love coaching and building relationships with aspiring artists. I love all my clients so much, and when I see them growing or accomplishing something, I’m filled with so much joy for them. I remember being at that starting point and more amateur place in my music career, and I would’ve killed to get some of the mentorship and advice I now give in my consultations, that were paid with plenty of years of error, heartbreak, and spent money.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You came up with Zahna Backbend Challenge. How did you come up with that?
Doing the backbend is one of my signature stage tricks. I just had so many photos that live concert photographers sent me of this pose. I thought it would be funny to make a challenge about it, but funny enough, a lot of my fans expressed that they were “too old” to be doing something like that. It made me laugh.
How is your back?
I stretch everyday and it’s a huge part of my singing routine. My back feels great, man.
Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home. Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
If you’re a huge celebrity that is extremely exclusive with a massively high stock? Probably, yes. Everyone else? Probably not. There’s just too much content to compete with. This is why people like to physically go to concerts. It makes you jump, dance, move, socialize, and releases so many endorphins by physically participating. There’s just nothing like it.
Also, you can only do livestream so often. If everyone has access and you live stream too often, it becomes less exclusive and too available. The point of physically touring is to make it exclusive from city to city. There are more overhead costs, but if you’re good at what you do as an entertainer, and know how to work a crowd, touring is a lucrative business..
Live Nation is starting to do the first ever U.S. drive-in concert series — LIVE FROM THE DRIVE-IN — which started on July 10, 2020. Now there are many other Drive-in concerts popping up. Do you think this is something you would be willing to do?
I’m sorry, but the concept of doing drive-in concerts just sounds so awkward as it is. It’s hard to take seriously, but I understand why artists have to do it. We all need to make our bread. I can’t fully say I wouldn’t do one, but I know I would have no interest in going to one, either.
For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?
You meanYou mean, how it’s always been? Haha, just kidding. I barely just started contractually obligating guarantees, so yes, it would be really hard to feel like I’m going backwards and playing for door splits. But again, I’m an entertainer, and know how to work a crowd. I would probably (reluctantly) still do it, and it would be possible, but it would definitely be uncomfortable.
For other bands, it may be different. I know bands who don’t tour unless a certain financial figure is presented to them. It’s their business and I respect them for wanting to be paid for their efforts. Everyone is different.
In addition, at the present time for a band to go on tour from one state to another they may need to self-quarantine for 14 days. How is that going to work?
It cannot work, which is why no one is doing full-on tours.
How was KCF2020 and Chains Unchained Festival? Was there any social distance at the show?
Absolutely incredible. The fans were on fire. These smaller festivals had record attendance. Everyone that came, knew the risks. We were all screened before entering the festival grounds. I can’t say the social distancing worked very well, but I personally know a lot of these festival organizers, promoters, and super fans that attend these festivals, and I have not heard about a single case, much less an outbreak, of COVID-19 resulting from attending these festivals..
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
That’s pretty wild. Could be super cool. I would be down to experience something like that, but at the same time it could be awkward. It’s like that one time my husband gifted me the virtual reality Oculus goggles. In theory it was super cool, but my sight issues and astigmatism made everything difficult to process. So with a holographic concert, who knows if some issue like that could arise? Maybe the holographic artist would walk through your coffee table, and the concept of a holographic concert would be better in theory, but not reality, I wonder?
How you learn how to drive a trailer yet?
I have! But now that my husband tours with me full time, he insists on driving, so that means I haven’t gotten much practice lately.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Career-wise? Explosively farther along than I am now. I can finally say I have everything in place to be successful. I had quite a few obstacles these last 2 years that set me back, like needing and undergoing a kidney transplant, needing a tour vehicle, certain connections and team members, getting settled as a newlywed, and getting financially stable.
I can finally say I feel so much stronger health-wise, have stability and obtained the rest of the tools and team I need to launch the next record, huge. That is, when COVID-19 decides to die down.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
I just want to thank you for interviewing me, and for your thorough questions. I have a lot of thoughts and I love it when someone cares to ask me about the deep stuff.
s for those reading, I really hope to connect with you through my music. Please send me a message if anything I said resonated with you, and check out my music if you’re ever bored. My name is Zahna, and I hope to meet you soon!.
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