LOS ANGELES — Zella Day was born on March 13, 1995 in the small community of Pinetop, Ariz. Her first EP record, Cynics vs. Dreamers, was self-released on May 22, 2012. Day released her first single “Seven Nation Army,” a White Stripes cover tune, on June 14, 2012. Then came the songs “East of Eden,” “Hypnotic” and “High” from her 2015 album, Kicker.
I talked with the 21-year-old musician on the red carpet at the 2016 American Heart Association’s “Rock the Red” music benefit on April 28 at the GRAMMY Museum in downtown Los Angeles. She entertained audiences with two original songs at the event — “Jameson” and “Gypsy Girl.”
“It’s beautiful to be at such an inspiring place with amazing musicians posted all over the walls,” the Hollywood Records artist explained. “I know that James Taylor has played the same room that I’m playing. Iggy Pop was here last night. It feels good. This is the first connection I’m making. I feel its the right one because it’s through my music. I can’t wait to see what else comes after this.”
Day performed two straight weekends at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this April in Indio, Calif.
“That experience was everything I hoped it would be,” she said. “I stayed Friday through Sunday. I played my shows in the heat of the day. I had a 4:30 slot and the sun was beating down, but it was perfect and magical. I had the view of the mountain and ferris wheel. Then, I enjoyed music the rest of the weekend.”
I was following your backstage tweets during the festival.
“Being backstage at Coachella was quite the honor to be around such amazing people and getting access to see shows from the perspective that I got to see them. It was really inspiring.”
Please tell me more about your new album, Kicker.
“It’s a record I released about eight months ago now,” Day explained. “My new single is ‘Mustang Kids’ which I am shooting a music video for next week. That song is a collaboration between me and another artist, Baby E. The song is about growing up in a small town, having the fire within you, the passion and art to get you out of your current environment and onto bigger and better things. That’s pretty much the message.”
Watch Zella Day perform “Sweet Ophelia” at the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival:
