Nature’s plan

>> Toronto singer Zaki Ibrahim and her
heavenly voice just sort of fell into place

by SCOTT C

When I received Zaki Ibrahim’s eponymous EP in the mail sometime early last year, I was floored by the authentic soul stylings of this young, Toronto-based vocalist. Released on U.K. imprint Treehouse, the EP only added to the momentum that this golden-voiced South African native had built sharing stages with Esthero, Bahamadia and Ladybug Mecca. Working closely with Toronto’s District 6 Music collective, Ibrahim’s talent, combined with her dedication to cultural exchange and reaching as many people as possible with her music, makes her more than just another diva, and she’s only getting started. I spoke to Zaki over the phone from the studio in Toronto, where she’s recording her first full-length album.

Mirror: Does the fact that Canada has such a tepid relationship with soul music get on your nerves?

Zaki Ibrahim: It’s true, but I guess I just have to put it out there. If I’m recording or writing, I’m not really thinking about that part of it. Canada’s music industry tends to look at its resources coming from rock- and folk-based music, so if you’re trying to do your thing inside of that, I think it can be very limiting. I’m trying to look at it more globally, without boundaries, and support will come where it naturally comes from.

M: It’s not hard to notice that you’re quite an attractive young thing, so I’m interested to know how you feel about image-driven careers.

ZI: Yo! I had this conversation with a friend just yesterday. Straight up, when there’s a camera in my face, I get freaked out like it’s a gun or something. I did do a few photo shoots with a friend, but I had to get really comfortable, turning the heat up, putting the music on, everything. I don’t even want to look at images of myself for press and all that. It’s like a phobia or something. I still get weirded out doing interviews. I don’t know what it is about TV, but it’s a really scary thing for me. The thing is, once you get to know me, I’m not really a shy person at all.

M: So it’s a fear that you can’t really explain?

ZI: I worked as a hair stylist for about six years, and I had to kind of leave it. It’s cool to exchange with people and get in their heads for a bit while doing their hair, but after a while, it just became about outward appearance. People talking about wrinkling skin, messed-up hair and losing a few pounds just became overwhelming, and I couldn’t see myself going much further into that industry. It was too superficial.

M: (laughs) So you decided to get into the music industry instead?

ZI: (laughs) I don’t even know how that happened! It just kind of came about. I’ve always been around it and loved hip hop, singing hooks, writing songs, but as far as me deciding to make a career of it, it’s just been a natural progression.

…With Moka Only, Fierce Helder and more at the
Apathy is Boring website launch at Club
Soda on Saturday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., $15