ZADA

ZADA is an artist defined by contrasts - beauty and grit, intimacy and scale, soul and experimentation. Her music serves as a mirror of self-discovery, cultural memory, and emotional truth. Born in Ethiopia and based in Whistler, BC, ZADA's sound transcends genre boundaries, blending alternative R&B with electronic textures, jazz, folk, and international rhythms. Her voice, a blend of warmth and clarity, guides listeners through layered soundscapes that feel both cinematic and grounded. Her vocal and production choices create a striking juxtaposition that is elemental, intentional, and moving.

Raised in a close-knit family and supported by a multigenerational creative crew, ZADA brings a deep sense of agency and intention to every aspect of her artistry. Her genre-defying work fuses distorted chords, hip-hop rhythms, and soul-rooted melodies to explore identity and heritage. Her visual storytelling is equally thoughtful. In the video for "Atlantic Times," co-directed with filmmakers Blake Jorgenson and Leo Hoorn, ZADA sails the West Coast while characters from different eras attempt to connect, by letter, pigeon, or phone. The message: presence matters most.

Since launching her sound in 2022 with her debut single "Nomad" - an homage to her heritage featuring kalimba, bottle percussion, and found-sound samples - ZADA has taken her vision to major stages including SXSW, Mondo NYC, HoneyJam, Black Girls Rock x BET at the Kennedy Center, and JUNOFest 2025. She has received early acclaim from Billboard, CBC's The Block, The Drive, Radio 1, WKDU, Tofino's Tuff City Radio, Amazing Radio (UK), and Spotify editorial playlists like EQUAL Afro and Sizzlers. She's also been nominated for two 2024 Western Canadian Music Awards and was named a semifinalist in the Unsigned Only Awards. Beyond the stage, ZADA uses her voice to uplift others, playing benefit concerts for organizations like Bring Back Hope and BC Children's Hospital.

ZADA's artistry is a living reflection of who she is: intentional, expansive, and deeply human. Her music serves as a homecoming, an offering, and a movement forward. With her feet on the ground and a vision that spans continents, she continues to carve out space for stories that resonate across generations, cultures, and soundwaves.