The Up and Coming Artist tells it like it is
In a society saturated with hyper sexualized music tailor made for men, a double standard often exists for women expressing their desires through art. Like so many women before her, Azaria grew up amongst chatter of what a woman should and shouldn't do. Eventually, she set out on her own journey and rather than straying away from her natural instincts, she embraced them. Thanks to this journey, Azaria is able to drop a song like O.N.S. , a track that flips outdated social constructs on their head. In this song, she doesn't want a long term attachment, she wants a one night stand, and she's unapologetic about it too.Azaria's sound is a melting pot of R&B and Hip Hop with traces of her Jamaican background throughout. This month makes two years that she's been on the music grind and one thing that's remained a constant is her advocacy for women's empowerment in her music. She's a champion for causes like mental health, and she's leading a Clubhouse conversation to talk about safe sex for our mental & physical health.O.N.S. isn't just some steamy, one off track. It's a symbol of her passion for woman's autonomy as a whole. Both Azaria, and her collaborator Tia Bank$ let it be known exactly what they want in the song. And if you don't like it, deal with it.Listen to O.N.S. here!
1. You're really transparent in your journey to discover different dimensions in your womanhood. For those who are new to you and your journey, can you tell us a bit about how you arrived at where you are now as an empowered woman and artist?
Oh, I love this question. Like many women, I struggled to find my own autonomy in a world where womanhood is heavily defined by patriarchal standards. A lot of my life growing up, I always heard people say, "women must do this, women should do that, it's right when a woman does this...". Like most women, I got tired of the standards and behaviors that I was "supposed to do" that did not fit who I was as a person. Women are individuals first, but our social construct forces us into a box. I arrived at being an empowered woman and artist by understanding how important it was for other women and myself to break out of that box. This allows us to have the ability to take charge of our autonomy and be multifaceted. One day I might want to own a company, the next, I might want to be a stay-at-home mom. For myself, empowerment is the ability to choose what I want for me and nobody else. However, this is a challenge that many women face with the very unrealistic societal standards of womanhood that does not reflect our autonomy. These ideas show in my artistry by my choice to be vulnerable about my own experiences as a woman. It's not easy being a woman. Some days you feel sexy, sad, may feel frustrated, but the world teaches you that your feelings and autonomy don't matter. (I FEEL LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME!) My aim for sharing my experience is to empower women to use their own voice and share their experiences because they matter despite what we are told.
"My unapologetic self is influenced by seeing Jamaican's doing the same in anything they do."
2.Congrats on your new release O.N.S! Both you and Tia Bank$ killed it. What was your creative process like in both the ideation and execution of the track?
Well... one day, I was walking in my neighborhood in a great mood listening to music. That day I listened to everything, Dancehall, R&B, Pop... you name it!. Then I called my producer Keyon and was like, "I feel like writing some music today." I started going through beats on youtube and found this beat by Thomas Crager & Eibyondatrack. I instantly loved it and started writing the track. In terms of the ideation of the song, I just poured my own, friends, and other women's feelings of just really not needing a man and just wanting to experience sex on our own terms. I wrote the song to be about a "one night stand" because some may say it is not empowering for women to partake in one. Keyon came up with the title O.N.S. (an abbreviation for "one-night stand"). However, (PLOT TWIST), I didn't write the song for myself. I actually wrote it to pitch to other artists for songwriting work. Then a couple weeks later, I heard a Tia Bank$ track on Instagram! I was like, "I need to work with this girl!". So I messaged her and realized, "Nah, I need to keep this track for myself." I sent Tia my rough version of the track, she sent me back her verse and I instantly fell in love with it! Then I got into the studio and recorded with Denise De'ion (complements of Just Over Music & Lynx music because I won studio time). Denise helped me construct the song to have a nice flow to it. A month later, I finished the back-ups and little things at my dad's studio. Then KR Moore and I mixed and mastered the track 2 weeks before it's release because I am just sooooooo meticulous during mix and master. The cover was the vision of CHVRMD, mish maroon and I. mish is the one that took the photo of my leg and did the graphic design of the beautiful cover.
"Like many women, I struggled to find my own autonomy in a world where womanhood is heavily defined by patriarchal standards."
When it came to the execution, I wanted the song to have that raw feeling of yearning for and having sex to translate. While I was recording, I closed my eyes and brought my alter ego (Giselle) into the room - she shows up when I perform (lol). This helped me tap into that urge and feeling of freedom that sexual expression can bring when enjoyed. However, I also wanted the song to show the power of women having the right to not just be objects of sexual desire. With the juxtaposition of Tia's verse and my yelling, "all I want is the D." it really shows that women have the power to be free in their sexual right to choose what they want and how they want it. In our society, women are not allowed to have control over their sexuality because many believe this power is not meant for us. Compared to men, we usually get penalized for doing so and, that must change. For me, this song helps break that idea. This is why I am so intrinsically happy and proud to have written and sung this song.
"I wanted the song to have that raw feeling of yearning for and having sex to translate."
3. We're hearing that you also have a visualizer on the way. What should we expect to see out of this upcoming visual?
I am so excited about the visualizer. We were not able to shoot the video idea I had because of Covid restrictions. However, My Creative Director CHVRMD, and I decided to still have a video for the song, however, with a similar concept but executed with what we can during this crazy time. The visualizer will be a call for women to come together and empower one another in our sexuality. I will be hosting an O.N.S. challenge that will prompt women to get their sexy on while singing the song in their favorite alluring attire. Like when you're hanging out with your girls and getting ready for that "late-night appointment" - if you get my drift. The point of the song is sexual empowerment and taking back your sexual power. The visualizer will show that message and demonstrate it with diversity because everyone deserves sexual liberation regardless of who you are.
4. With you being an artist with a Jamaican background, I couldn't help but notice the parallels between the sexuality in your music, and the similar themes found in many Jamaican artists' content. How much has background influenced you to be your unapologetic self?
My unapologetic self is influenced by seeing Jamaican's doing the same in anything they do. Artists like Spice, Shenseea, and many more can be unapologetically themselves in different ways. For example, Spice will tell you about how much she enjoys sex, and then she may talk about colorism and its impact on her career in the same breath. I love how Jamaicans are so diverse and comfortable in showing different sides of themselves. This allows us to thrive in whatever we would like to achieve. This is one of the patterns I noticed when studying Jamaica in Caribbean studies at the University of Toronto. (Shout out to my fave Professor Newton). Whether it's music, education, advocacy, we have so many hands in different pots. We have so many notable people from the island that have changed the world like Usain Bolt, Marcus Garvey, Michael Manley, Bob Marley, Kerry Washington, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Spice... the list can go on and on. By Jamaican's being so multifaceted and not caring about how it makes others feel, this translates into us having a huge impact on the world. Whether it is me graduating from University, being an advocate, or writing a song, my Jamaican background pushes me to be the best I can be. Seeing the result of being unapologetic as a Jamaican despite the circumstances is just who we are, and I am proud of that.
"one thing I wish there was more of is open conversations about sex and sex education. I enjoy sex like any other human being, however, I did not receive the foundational education to have sex responsibly."
5. Can you tell us a bit about the conversation that you're hosting on Clubhouse and how you're practicing what you preach in your music with the way you go about life?
So one thing I wish there was more of is open conversations about sex and sex education. I enjoy sex like any other human being, however, I did not receive the foundational education to have sex responsibly. All those nights scared, crying, and freaking out could have been avoided if I had a better education about sex. Not having all the information and education I needed to have agency and choice for my sexual experience stunted me mentally, physically, emotionally, and sexually. It was an annoying roller coaster. I now make sure going forward that I am in control and educated about my sexual health. Moving forward, I thought if I had this problem, many others probably feel or have experienced the same thing. When it comes to putting out "O.N.S.", I decided with such a sexual song, it was only right for me to host a sex conversation on Clubhouse. I wanted to have a judgment-free conversation about sex education and safe sex for our mental & physical health with others. I will be hosting it with my co-host of the Bad Gyal Chat Podcast (mish maroon). What is so amazing about Clubhouse is the platform allows for open oral dialogue and discussion to share our human experience with anyone in the world. When it comes to the conversation I'm hosting, I didn't want it to be the usual nagging, boredom, and shame sex education typically brings. Listening to "Sex Nerd Sandra", "Cocktales podcast: Dirty Discussions" and, watching Shan Bodram "Shandboody" on Youtube, these people make sex and sex education fun. So why not! The conversation will be happening on February 5th the time is TBA.
6. What should we expect from you as an artist going forward?
Well, I will be releasing my debut EP in the Spring. I am so excited about it because it showcases a taste of what is to come for my artistry. The project is so special to me because of how it represents the emotions and experiences we as women go through as young adults. As a Cancer, it is triple the emotions for me, which makes for great music to connect to. Going forward, you can expect more sharing of experiences, more storytelling, and advocacy from my perspective as a black woman in my music. Also, you can expect diversity and evolution in my sound. I never want to be bored exploring and discovering music and my abilities in different ways as an artist and songwriter. Some days I want to write Rnb ballads, others I want to rap or speak patois. Experimentation allows for this journey to be so much more interesting and fun to me.
7. Anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you for interviewing me! I am so grateful for this opportunity. As a nerd myself, I absolutely loved these questions. Thank you to anyone that read this interview. I encourage those interested or identify with my thoughts and artistry to check out my music, follow me on all social media platforms, and visit my website. Instagram: azaria.artistry, Twitter: azariaartistry, Website: azariaartistry.com
Credits: Photographer of headshot photo is (@turnt.visions), The make up artist is (@britsbarbies), Stylist is (@looksbycandi), Vision by Azaria and my creative Director CHVRMD.
