Interview: shazza On Her Latest Single 'MEDIEVAL' & Overcoming Self-Doubt In The Music Industry

Hype Malaysia

01-05-2025

If you're after new music to add to your playlist, we highly recommend checking out Singaporean singer-songwriter shazza. Born Shareefa Aminah, she has been writing songs since childhood and has never shied away from experimenting with a diverse range of genres. Hailing from sunny Singapore, the 23-year-old artist grew up in a musically rich household, where an eclectic mix of Norah Jones and the Black Eyed Peas formed the soundtrack to her early years.
We recently caught up with the rising star to chat about her latest single, 'MEDIEVAL', her forthcoming album, and the challenges she's faced as a female hijabi artist navigating the music industry. Let's dive in:
1. Let's talk about your career. From 'Get Well Soon' and your early YouTube days to your latest single 'MEDIEVAL', how has your songwriting process evolved over the years?
I started writing songs at a very young age — 11, in fact — so I didn't have many real-life experiences to draw from. Back then, most of my songs were based on fiction. I would make up stories in my head and turn them into lyrics. The first song I ever wrote was a breakup song, though it wasn't based on anything real. It was entirely made up, but it was still me telling a story — and that's how I've always approached songwriting. That part has remained consistent.
Even with 'MEDIEVAL', I'm telling my story — my experience as a woman in this industry, the struggles I've faced with societal expectations, and so much more. It's still storytelling at its core. With 'Get Well Soon', I wrote that about my celebrity crush, Tom Holland. I'd never met him, of course, but I think he was unwell on a press tour at the time, and I found inspiration in that. So, yes, you can go and tell everyone that — and I'm not ashamed of it! A lovely song came out of it.
I think the way my music has evolved over the years is that it's become far more personal and grounded in real experiences. But the heart of it has always been the same: music is how I process my emotions and make sense of life. That's what I've always done — and continue to do — through my songs.
2. What have you learned about yourself as an artist after making music for so long? Have you made any recent discoveries about your thought process, behaviour, or how you express yourself through your art?
Yes, especially with the album I'm currently working on. One of the biggest things I've come to accept is that I need the music just as much as it needs me. That's been my key takeaway from making this record. It's like I've finally come to terms with the fact that I don't feel fully like myself unless I'm writing and pouring myself into my music. It's something I've realised is such an integral part of who I am, and how I process life and everything that comes with it.
As music becomes more of a professional path for me, a lot of other elements have naturally come into play, things like learning how to market and promote not only my music but also myself. There's a whole side of the industry that's about strategy and visibility. But even with all that, what remains at the heart of it all is the creation of the songs, the stories, the art. I've also discovered that collaboration is really important to me. There's so much joy in working with other artists and writers because you get to see the world through someone else's lens. Over the years, songwriting has helped me understand myself so much better — it forces you to look inward. It's helped me come to terms with a lot of things.
Take my previous single, 'MIDNIGHT', it's about the difficulty of letting go of people and things that aren't good for you. Those aren't parts of myself I've always been proud of, but writing that song helped me accept that they're part of being human. It's helped me embrace those less polished sides of myself and turn them into something meaningful. And I think that's a beautiful thing — to be able to transform something messy into art. It's one of the greatest privileges of doing what I do.
3. Growing up as a songwriter, you write a lot of songs by yourself. What was it like the first time you were writing with someone else?
I think I was probably around 17 when I wrote this song with my good friend, Umar Sherhan. We actually released it just last year, it's called 'Rain in Manhattan'. The song came from our shared love of rain, and at the time, I had never written a song with anyone before. Umar is such a special and dear friend to me, so it was a really meaningful experience to be able to share that creative space with him. I felt safe, and more importantly, I felt seen throughout the process. It made that first experience of co-writing incredibly beautiful.
It also taught me the value and beauty of collaboration. There's something very unique about the connection that forms when you're writing with someone, it's one of the moments I feel most deeply connected to others. That experience really opened my eyes to how powerful and fulfilling collaboration can be. Of course, it can be scary to open up to someone in that way, but collaborations taught me to be more willing to trust people when you're writing songs together.
4. Your latest single, 'MEDIEVAL', is quite different from your previous releases, with a sound that's very Nordic-folk inspired, similar to artists like Aurora and Kalandra. What was the creative process behind the overall sound and melody of this track?
I wrote this song with my guitarist and very good friend, Ashlyn Yeo. We've been playing together for a long time now, and she's not just my go-to collaborator but also one of my closest friends. When I approached her to write this song, I already had a clear vision in mind. I knew exactly what I wanted to say with the song. It was deeply personal, about my own struggle as a woman in this industry, and the pressures and expectations that come with it.
When we first started writing, Ashlyn drew a lot of inspiration from alternative sources, while I tend to lean more towards pop. I've always wanted to break into the mainstream market by blending pop with other genres, because I love mixing different sounds. So, it was a perfect storm in that sense. Ashlyn's influences come from artists like Aurora, so initially, 'MEDIEVAL' had a much more folky vibe than what you hear in the final version. The challenge was to make it sound more accessible to a pop audience as well.
I think we managed to strike that balance, even though it was a long process. With the help of my production team, we eventually found a good middle ground. The challenge was heightened because, for the first time, I wanted to infuse my culture into the song. We included traditional Indian percussion elements, which we went to Kuala Lumpur to record — it was a special moment to blend those cultural sounds with the music.
5. Could you walk us through the process of coming up with the concept for your upcoming album?
The album feels messy, but in a curated way. I wanted it to be intentional, even if it might not seem that way at first. It was quite an interesting process, because with my first album, things were a lot more haphazard. When I first started out independently, it was all trial and error, I was just releasing single after single to see where it would take me. Then, as things started to go well, I decided to bring everything together into one body of work. I simply compiled what I had. There wasn't really a plan, you know?
With more experience as an artist, I approached this second album with far greater intention. When I began working on the project, I was coming from quite a messy place, personally. I had a big 2024, which I'm incredibly grateful for, but everything was happening so fast. I needed to figure out how to navigate it all while holding on to my sense of artistry. Coming from that chaotic headspace, I knew which songs I wanted on the album, but I didn't yet understand how they all fit together. It felt like a collection of snapshots — glimpses into my struggles, my emotions, and the process of finding clarity.
At the time, I hadn't fully come to terms with what it all meant. I think the special part of putting this album together has been how much it's taught me to process all of that. This album is essentially my way of making sense of how to move forward, of reclaiming my artistry and my direction. It's been a deeply intimate and personal journey, one that I hope will resonate with people on a profound level.
6. So, in a way, would you say this album is a journey of overcoming that messy headspace?
Ashlyn and I came up with an analogy that's very dear to my heart — about a boat. When I first started out independently, I had this small boat that I built with my friends and family. Then a huge wave came and swept it away, but it carried me much further than I ever thought I could go in such a short time. The only catch was, it broke the boat in the process.
For this album, it's been about rebuilding that boat and documenting the journey along the way. Earlier in my career, my music was very upbeat and hopeful, and while that still remains, I've also delved into darker themes with songs like 'MEDIEVAL' and 'Perfume', helping me process the more difficult and negative emotions I've experienced. So the album is my journey of coming out of that dark and messy headspace to coming to terms with what I've been through and moving forward from those experiences. The songs get progressively more hopeful towards the end.
No matter what happens with this album, whether it blows up or not, I know it's going to take me places. I'm incredibly proud of the music I've made so far. I'll forever cherish this album because it's been such a big part of me stepping into my 20s and growing up. Although it hasn't been a project I've worked on for years, I'm at a pivotal point in my life, transitioning into adulthood. I'm figuring out a lot of things and, at the same time, learning to accept that there's so much I still don't know. Because of that, this album is extremely dear to me, and I'll carry it with me for the rest of my life.
7. Were there any rewrites once you figured out the concept for the album?
In the end, I kept everything as it was, so there were no rewrites. I believe the beauty of it is that I put everything into it, communicated it exactly as it needed to be. When I wrote these songs, some of them were still in the process of being written, so having more direction helped clarify what I was going through at the time. But for the majority of the songs, they were already written, and I had already said what I needed to say. It was just that I didn't fully understand how they all connected.
Having the insight to finally figure out what the album was supposed to be about helped me learn how to piece everything together. Ordering the tracklist, seeing how each song tells part of the story, and figuring out the kind of narrative it needed to convey. The album is meant to capture the ups and downs of being in your 20s. One minute, you're at your best; the next, your life feels like a dumpster fire. And that's the beauty of it. It's a blessing to feel so much, I think. That's what I've learned to accept. As chaotic as it all is, I wanted the album to reflect that. I wanted it to feel like the reality of being in your 20s — whatever that headspace might be. And I think that's what really helped me shape the album.
8. Is there a track that you can share that you're particularly proud of and can't wait for fans to listen to?
There are three tracks in particular that I'm really proud of. I was especially excited for people to hear 'MEDIEVAL', which is already out now. The next one, coming in May, I'm also incredibly excited about. It's a collaboration with someone I didn't think I'd have the chance to work with so soon. They were kind enough to join me on the track, and I can't wait for people to hear what we've created together.
This one's a happier song, thankfully, I'm happy to report that, especially after the last few singles, which have all been quite miserable! It's lighter and more romantic, which means a lot to me, because I'm a romantic at heart. This track reflects my experiences with love in my 20s, and getting to explore that has been something really special. I'm still single, just putting that out there — but writing this has been a meaningful part of understanding what love has felt like for me. So yes, this song and this collaboration both mean a great deal to me.
As for the third song, it's a much softer track that's incredibly close to my heart. I wrote it for the people in my life whom I love deeply, and I've name-dropped quite a few of them. It's an intimate song, and I think it'll be an interesting listen because I know exactly what every reference means — and so do they. It's also one of the most personal songs I've written, and perhaps not one that everyone will resonate with. That's rare for me, because usually when I write, my goal is to give something to the listener. But this one? I wrote it for myself. And being able to say that feels quite powerful. So I'm really curious to see how people respond to it.
9. As a lyricist, most, if not all, songs written by an artist were inspired by real-life experiences. Is there a song that you've written or released that you'll never perform live because you find it emotionally difficult?
There are definitely songs I've written that I think twice about performing. Some are deeply personal, and I'm just not ready to share them with the world — at least not yet. That said, every time I write a song, I do so with intention. I always visualise myself performing it. That moment of sharing it with an audience is part of the process from the very beginning. One of the things I've always wanted to do through my writing is to help people feel seen and understood.
So it's important to me that I get to communicate these experiences. The hesitation doesn't come from a fear of vulnerability — I'm quite an open person. I wear my heart on my sleeve, sometimes to a fault. The part that scares me is knowing that the people I've written about might recognise themselves in the song. I never want to make anyone feel uncomfortable — that's really where the hesitation comes from. But I think I'll learn to navigate that over time.
Still, I don't ever want to hold myself back from sharing a song. Because at the end of the day, everything I write comes from a place of love and good intention. Sharing is such a big part of the process. There's a song from my previous album called 'What Do I Know?' It was originally just an interlude, but I've since created an extended version. People really connected with it — more than I expected, actually — and that's been incredibly meaningful to me. Every time I perform it live, I remind my fans I'm never going to release this, so you all want to hear it live, you have to come to the show to hear it. But people love that song, and I'm very honoured that they do because it's probably one of the most personal things I've ever written.
10. You have a formal musical background with the piano, and you taught yourself to play the guitar. If you could learn to play another instrument, which one would it be and why?
I'd love to learn how to play the bass. I've always appreciated a good bassline, and when I'm producing my own demos, which I don't get to do as much as I'd like these days, I often think things would be a lot easier if I could just play the bass myself. Honestly, I think a lot of things would come together more smoothly if I were a stronger musician overall, but bass feels like a key piece that's missing.
I've also always wanted to learn the drums at some point in my life. And I'd really like to get better at the guitar, especially the electric. I'd love to be able to shred a bit, because right now, I can't. I don't usually sing and play at the same time, mainly because I take real pride in my work as a vocalist, and I want to give that my full focus. That said, there are moments on stage when I get the itch to perform alongside my band — to be part of that collective energy in a more hands-on way. So, improving those instrumental skills would be amazing.
11. The entertainment industry is not for everyone cause you have to be resilient, especially as a public figure. Was there a moment in your career when you felt too overwhelmed with everything that you've considered quitting or maybe going on a hiatus for a while? How did you overcome that challenge?
There were definitely moments when I was starting out where self-doubt crept in. I never seriously thought about taking a break, but I did find myself wondering, 'Did I make the right call?' cause I'd taken time off from school to pursue this career, and then I'd see my peers progressing in their education. There were points when it didn't seem like this path was going to work out, and that hit me hard.
You put so much effort into a song, and sometimes it just doesn't play out the way you hoped. Then it's back to square one, taking the next shot without knowing whether it's going to land or completely miss. It's such a gamble, and it gets exhausting, especially during that early period. But I think my strength has always been being a bit delusional. I'm actually really grateful I had the chance to give a TED talk last year, and the whole topic was 'Sometimes, delusion is the solution.' Because truly, that mindset got me through so many of the struggles I faced at the beginning.
As I mentioned earlier, I've been in a bit of a messy headspace. It wasn't that I wanted to walk away from everything — far from it — I just wanted more. I wanted to find my footing, to slow down a little and figure things out. And I think, to some extent, I've managed to do that. Right now, things feel incredibly overwhelming. I've got an album coming out, and there are moments where it feels like I can't even catch my breath. But strangely enough, I think that's part of the beauty of it. This chaos, this intensity — it means something's happening. Something real. I don't see myself ever stepping away from music, but I will be slowing things down a bit when I return to school this August. Once the album promotion is wrapped up, I'm planning to take things slow, give myself the space to figure out how to balance both work and study. One step at a time.
12. If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
I love this question. I honestly feel a deep sense of gratitude for my younger self whenever I'm asked what advice I'd give her. And truthfully, I don't think I would give her advice, because so much of what I have today is thanks to her. More than anything, I'd thank her. If I had to say something, it would simply be: Keep going. Keep at what you've been doing. She was incredibly kind to me, to the future version of us. She believed in what we could become, and I'm so grateful to her for that.
Whenever new and exciting opportunities come up, I often hesitate. I get scared. But what helps me move through that fear is thinking, Do it for her. Do it for the youngest version of myself. Because if she knew this opportunity was even possible? She'd be over the moon. And I think, how could I let that go to waste? That's what helps me push through the fear and the doubt. I'm so thankful for her. Honestly, I'd tell her to keep going, to keep believing — because we're going to do some really cool shit one day.