motel void

MOTEL VOID: You come from Orlando, Florida. How would you describe the current music scene there? (Your favorite venues, artists…) Do you feel that you’re part of it?

ZOYA ZAFAR: I’ve been pretty active in the local music scene for about 10 years. There have been some cool venues that have come and gone, which is a bummer. Overall, I think the Orlando DIY music scene is really unique and there are a lot of great bands coming out of here. Orlando is a pretty mid-size city and it’s not going to compare to bigger cities like NYC, LA or Chicago in resources or opportunities. It’s funny because a lot of bands don’t actually tour down here, so we feel kinda left out from that cool indie scene. But I think because of that, Florida’s music scene is really supportive of each other. In general, the DIY scene is very cross-genre and everyone is just excited about the art that’s coming out of here.

Some Orlando Artists I recommend:

Fast Preacher
Jonas Van den Bossche
Julee Bruise
Mother Juno
Cafetorium
Be Gentle
Young Traveler

Some Venues:

Stardust Video & Coffee
Framework Coffee
Will’s Pub
The Dining Room

MOTEL VOID: You were born in Pakistan. Do you still visit your family there? Do you have any connection to the local music?

ZOYA ZAFAR: I last visited about 6 years ago. Most of my dad’s family is there and they are heavily involved in the local music and art community. I’m honestly not up to date with what’s happening right now but I’m sure it’s pretty cool!

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released your debut single ‘You Meant Nothing, Too’. Will it be part of your new album?

ZOYA ZAFAR: Yes! This one is off the new album that’s expected to be released later this spring.

MOTEL VOID: Could you tell us more about the recording and writing process of your songs?

ZOYA ZAFAR: My writing process has seen many evolutions. At the moment, I’m really into writing in a simple but nuanced way. I’ve always loved when songwriters could write complex feelings in a simple way.

Lately, I usually start on the piano first and sing random words while I come up with a melody. If a certain note or melody starts resonating with me, I’ll quickly record it on my phone before I forget. Then I think about the melody for a while and listen to it on repeat until I start forming some lyrics. Then I go back on the piano and try to play it all together. I let the natural flow shape the song, some lyrics might change and the melody may change when I put it all together. I don’t know if that makes sense?

For my recording process, it depends. I have a pretty modest setup to record ideas. Lately, I’m trying to jump straight to recording on my computer while I’m writing so it feels fresh and I’ll try my hand at production. In the past, I would just make demos on my phone and hold onto it for years before actually recording it. In general, I hate recording because it gives me a lot of anxiety because I never feel like I get a good take. I’m trying to get better though, and put less pressure on myself.

For this song, and the rest of the songs I did with Max Helgemo for the album, we worked remotely. So I would send him demos and he would then do his take on the instrumentation and arrangement and send it back to me. This was a project where I really felt like I needed a collaborator. These were old songs from years ago that I wanted to breathe new life into, so I needed a fresh perspective for it to be an exciting process for me.

MOTEL VOID: Your biggest inspirations right now?

ZOYA ZAFAR: I’m really inspired by my local music scene, haikus, and reading fiction. My inspiration for writing comes from my life. Writing a song is like taking a snapshot of how I’m feeling.