#Showbiz: Zara Zya to emulate Ziana Zain

SHE bears two “Z”s as her initials and loves singing ballads. She is also a multiple-award-winner and an actress with a strong following.

Zara Zya, not Ziana Zain, is her name, and she has her first single, a ballad about reconciliation and closure titled Tiada Dendam.

Speaking at the launch of her single at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur recently, the star of TV drama series such as Mona Lisa and Love You Mr Arrogant said Tiada Dendam was recorded early this year while its music video was shot from May 4 to 8 in Japan.

THE ZIANA FACTOR

The 32-year-old from Temerloh, Pahang, whose real name is Zainurul Razia Zainuddin said a chance meeting with her favourite singer, Ziana five years ago, triggered her interest in becoming a singer.

“It was a showcase featuring Ziana, and being a staunch fan, I decided to greet her after the show.

“Ziana encouraged me to sing a few lines from her songs and I obliged. She praised me for having a good singing voice and encouraged me to put it to good use someday,” said Zara who has been acting since 2010.

The Anugerah MeleTop Era Popular Female Artiste and Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian 2014 Popular New Actress participated in singing contests during her secondary schooldays at Sekolah Menengah Bukit Sentosa, Rawang, Selangor.

“Singing has always been a hobby for me and I grew up listening to songs by Ziana and Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza.

“When I first became an actress, I was encouraged by my co-stars and directors to sing, but back then I didn’t feel confident.”

However, fan feedback gradually prevailed. “Many of my fans on social media urged me to record at least one song, and I’ve finally bowed to their demands!”

UNIVERSAL MESSAGE

Zara, who hosted Kilauan Emas Otai last year, added that Tiada Dendam was a universal message about not holding grudges against others. Hard feelings, she said, can “ruin people physically, mentally and spiritually”.

“It may be an easy-listening ballad but it’s a very meaningful song. I don’t like to get into others’ bad books and I believe in forgiving and forgetting when things go wrong.”

Tiada Dendam is composed by Lieynur Liey and Fauzi Aisunam and written by Iman Imran.

It is a collaboration between Zara’s own company Zara Zya Management, Life Records and Waznah of Brunei, and has been available on Apple Music and YouTube since March 30.

JAPANESE JAUNT

Elaborating on the video, Zara said she had a great time exploring the various boroughs of Tokyo for a week.

The video was produced by Norihiro Yoshida of Fuji Entertainment, and it was shot in Shinjuku, Asakusa, Shibuya, Harajuku and Odaiba Park.

“It is a dream come true to visit this modern, clean and progressive city,” said Zara.

She explained that Shibuya Crossing was “awesome”. “I was standing right in the midst of thousands of people. That's the biggest crowd surrounding me in any film or video.”

GETTING INTO THE GROOVE

Zara also had an unforgettable experience at Odaiba Park, which was very windy after dark.

“It was just past midnight there, and the winds were cold and howling. One gust was so strong that my jacket was almost blown off.”

Zara said she was fortunate to have Indonesian director Chris Sinyal involved in her video, as he has worked with major Indonesian artistes such as Rio Febrian.

“He got me to express different emotions in various scenes. I had to be cheerful in one and melancholic in the next.

“It wasn’t easy but thinking of sad moments in my TV dramas did the trick!” she said.

When asked if she planned to write her own songs later, Zara said it was “too early” to think of it.

“Perhaps, when I get some inspiration, I may do so. I just want to take baby steps for now.”

Nevertheless, her dream song is a duet with Ziana.

“I’m years behind Ziana but I’d love to record a song with her one day,” she said.

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