Aziya - 'chain'
London-based musician Aziya is at her most liberated in her new single ‘chain’.
Fresh from her UK tour, Aziya seems disinterested in settling down. The rising alternative dynamo has wielded a guitar since the age of ten, building her musical repertoire to blossom into a skilful singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Releasing her debut EP ‘We Speak of Tides’ in 2021, she went on to support artists including Nova Twins and The Vaccines before coming out with her vibrant single ‘atomic’ early this year. In her own words – “I produce songs that I would want Debbie Harry to sing, Prince to co-produce and John Bonham to drum on.”
‘chain’ opens with up-tempo drums, the track taking on a deeper edge with shadowy thrumming. The chorus swirls in with shoegaze-y instrumentation, immersing listeners in layers of swirling guitar subdued by Aziya’s striking vocals and unfettering yelps. She goes on to showcase her vocal power in the bridge. “Don’t fight the chain,” she insists, encouraging her audience to embrace what typically represents restriction. However, Aziya has offered a different perspective.
The song symbolises the sense of community that she has generated as an artist. “…Just like a chain is made up of individual pieces linked together, I wanted to write a song that highlighted to my fans that they are a part of my world,” she states, “I hope it reminds people it doesn’t matter what you look like or where you come from, when you come to my shows or you listen to ‘chain’, you’re a part of something and you’re accepted.”
Aziya has blasted into the musical sphere with an infectiously lively presence. From shooting a music video with her friends in London to jaunting around the city to share her “sad boy songs” over TikTok, her creative realm is inclusive and now open for the world to be a part of. With her second project on the horizon, Aziya is a multitalented force to watch out for.
Words by Kayla Sandiford
