Interview with Zeeteah Massiah
Zeeteah Massiah is a musician who is particularly associated with reggae, jazz and house music.
Why did you want to be a professional musician?
It never occurred to me to do anything else. I started singing as a small child, and from my teenage years onwards people kept offering me work as a singer. Music chose me.
What inspires your music?
Life. Love. Passion. Rage. The usual.
What things get you in the mood to write songs, or do lyrics come spontaneously?
My husband Paul and I write together. I'm inspired by feelings and moods. He's inspired by other music and by me (he says).
How do you want your music to affect people?
I want them to feel the way I felt when I made it.
Do you test out your songs before releasing them? How do you do this?
Yes. Definitely. We have an informal "focus group" of people we trust, both inside and outside the industry. You have to check that a song actually works.
How do you prepare for a gig?
I prepare for a gig by choosing which songs would work for that particular gig and then make a set list. I'll send the set list and charts to the band several weeks beforehand so they can get familiar with the songs. We'll then have a band rehearsal a few days before the show.
What is your favorite song that you've written?
We haven't written it yet.
Has there been a reaction to one of your songs that you've been surprised by?
We wrote quite a gentle song about racism a few years ago that provoked a surprisingly hostile and nasty reaction from some middle American conservatives.
They seemed to be upset that we were complaining about it. It was very strange.
What are some ways that you promote yourself?
Live gigs. Social media advertising. Mailing list. Social media presence. YouTube videos. Word of mouth. Radio play. Spotify playlisters. All the usual ways.
What would you say has been the biggest challenge of your career?
It's always the next album.
What have been your favorite places to tour?
I love being on tour. I'm lucky enough to have toured Japan many times with Eikichi Yazawa, performing in giant stadiums. That was amazing. And touring the world with Tom Jones. Another wicked experience. But one of the most special touring moments for me has to be singing a duet with French rock icon, Johnny Hallyday, in Bercy Stadium in Paris
Are there advantages to being an independent musician?
Being an independent musician is challenging because you have to be self-financing and you have to organise your own design, distribution, marketing and everything else. But I'm very lucky in that Paul and I are a great team, and we have some terrific independent agencies working with us, so we are able to do all those things. Being independent does give you a huge amount of freedom and control which we enjoy, and it frees you from having to deal with all the music business politics, which can be awful.