Rising Arp: Pop Newcomer shazza Says There’s Nothing Wrong With Having A Pity Party

shazza invites you to a different kind of party (Credit: Courtesy of shazza)

When you’re down in the dumps, it’s okay to throw yourself a pity party. At least, that seems to be the negatively positive sentiment of fresh-faced singer-songwriter, shazza. Sorrow and disappointment are merely emotions that form part of the fabric of human existence, and shazza has no qualms embracing them whatsoever. The nascent artiste’s latest endeavour is an open rebellion to hustle culture, that it is perfectly acceptable to fail and feel the bumps of your tumble. And she does this with an ebullient piece that keeps its head held high.

shazza has dropped the aptly-titled “Pity Party”, a feel-good pop bop produced by Adele Lim of Homeground Studios. Despite its mopey, dismal content – “And I know it’s ungrateful / To be so very hateful / At this age, but / Give me a break” – the song maintains a perky disposition. It stays chipper with frolicking pianos, bright clockwork beats and playful sound effects that encompass rocketing blast-offs and money-minded ka-chings. shazza uplifts the mood further with a euphonious vocal timbre that oozes with mainstream magnetism – an innocuously cosy voice that radiates ray-of-sunshine bliss and girl-next-door relatability. shazza can certainly carry a tune, and she carries a charm that is hard to dislike.

shazza is inspired by the likes of ABBA and Taylor Swift (Credit: Courtesy of shazza)

“Pity Party” is shazza’s third single, following “August” and “It Takes Two” released in 2020; the latter earned her a win in Radio Heatwave and Spinnup’s The Xtract competition. Coming from a choral background, shazza (the alias of Shareefa Aminah) hopes to inspire with more than just her blooming musicality, but her stance on having more cultural representation in the music scene. “In my experience, seeing someone who looks like you and holds the same values as you being recognised on the level I aspire towards, it makes a difference,” says the musician in her press release. “It helps people believe that their dreams aren’t out of reach.”

Her open perspectives on inclusivity, along with her songs that aim to challenge the status quo in Singapore, possess a sanguine potential – that you can encourage discourse through the transparent honesty of music.