Being Independent and Staying in the Zone With MC Zeal Static
Independent rappers in Australia have been dominating the scene, we are seeing more rappers of colour fly into the lime-light. Zeal Static is one of them. Hailing from Melbourne by the way of Fiji, Zeal will undeniably be your new favourite rapper. He combines raw personalities and lyrical delivery over fresh memorable beats.
We sit down with Zeal and chat about why the Aussie hip hop scene is thriving due to more ethnic artists’ coming through, why talent isn’t everything and about his latest 'Meet The Rebel' EP.
You came from a pretty rough background which a lot of Australian immigrants can relate to, why did you pick music as your outlet?
I guess music is something everybody can relate to, especially hip hop, which doesn’t have any limitations and no holds barred, you speak about all kinds of experiences and life’s challenges which unites the people, also for me it’s a way to vent out all the problems I go through.
Did you ever think you would never make it?
I am not trying to become famous or rich off music, thats not my main goal, I am just loving the art and the zone I am in. Being independent and able to put out records I want, I’ll worry about the limelight when I reach it, for now I am just riding the flow.
You have done a lot and remained underground, what is it about your music that sets you above the rest?
These days talent isn’t everything, it’s following, it’s major label backing, so me being an independent artist, I am trying to represent the hip hop culture. How it should be, by dropping knowledge, by being lyrical and having content people can relate to and in doing so I try to gain that small percentage. Of people who want real music, who want to hear real talent and be able to relate to what their listening. When you listen to my record you can differentiate between me and the next guy, thats what sets me apart from the rest.
How do you find the Melbourne scene for hip hop at the moment?
I think hip hop not only in Melbourne, but the whole of Australia has gone from 0 to 100, as you see more ethnic artists. Making headlines and breaking barriers, bringing flavour to this land where 10 years back only artists you could hear were white Australians. So the scene is definitely on and popping.
If you could collaborate with any Australian musician, who would it be?
I think Jessica Mauboy would be a great artist and personality to collaborate with, her voice, flow and charisma is just too real, I could definitely picture a hit record with her.
You just released your EP could you tell us about it?
I like my titles to be meaningful and if it’s an album, I want the name to have some sort of connection to the songs, all in all they interconnect just like a book and
Just like a book has chapters, so does our life. So ‘Meet The Rebel’ is the first chapter which gives you a little insight on me as an artist and a person.
You talk about being a rebel, but what is the kindest thing you have done?
Even though I call myself the rebel, I am a humble person and I love to help the poor and needy, so I try to give to charity, I have family back home in Fiji who aren't well off and I help them out where ever I can.
What's next for you?
I am back in the studio working on more projects, looking to network with other artists, working on a new single hopefully by the end of this year I’ll have another song and video.