Shazza: The Viral 'Wholesome Rockstar' You Never Knew You Needed
She's our top pick for all things singing and songwriting related
Shazza wears cotton skirt, Polo Ralph Lauren. All other clothes and accessories, her own
SHAZZA, 22, SINGER-SONGWRITER AND COMMUNICATIONS UNDERGRADUATE
TikTok account: @shazza.wav
Started on TikTok: “During the pandemic around 2020, but I would say I only became more active on it after I went viral with the Crash Adams freestyle video.” (She was one of the musicians who took part in the Canadian pop duo’s TikTok challenge, crooning a verse for its single Good Side freestyle in public when it visited Singapore earlier this year. As of press time, the video has clocked 21.5 million views and 2.5 million likes on the group’s namesake TikTok account.)
TikTok stats as of press time: 140.1K followers and 1.2 million likes
Why know her: That viral Crash Adams video sums up her musical prowess: versatile vocals that can go from rich and mellow to sugary sweet, and pure pop lyrical genius, all of which is on full display in her debut album Chapter One released last year. Complete with a bright and convivial personality that’s evident both online and in person, she’s every bit the “wholesome rockstar” she aspires to be.
Her background and how it’s shaped her content: “Pursuing music has always been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. My parents are big music fans and I was exposed to a very diverse range of music growing up. I think that made me enamoured with music and how much one can do with this art form – it is boundless and I like to share my art with people because I believe what gives the most meaning to music is the listeners’ own interpretation of a song.”
Her best talent: “I would like to say songwriting. I’ve always loved words and fell in love with songwriting ever since I first tried my hand at it when I was 11 so it’s a skill I’ve been honing for over a decade now. It’s my first and forever love and I’m very passionate about it. In fact I’d like to think that one reason why the Crash Adams video went viral was because people could see that.”
Her music inspirations: “The artists I grew up listening to have had a big subconscious impact on my musicality: Abba, Norah Jones, even the Australian children’s musical group Hi-5! I know that last one sounds out of place, but I was a huge Hi-5 fan growing up and when I hear its songs now, I realise how they have influenced to an extent my own tunes.”
How TikTok has helped her to nurture her creative talent: “It has made it a lot easier for up-and-coming artistes like me to connect with audiences far and wide like never before. If not for the viral Crash Adams video, I don’t think I would have been able to reach as many people as I have in this short time. And before this, artistes were at the mercy of the music industry and paving one’s own path wasn’t the most doable option, but now it is.”
Most memorable comment she’s received: “Someone once shared a lengthy wish for me to end up as his future wife and mother of his children on three separate videos. It was very flattering. It also made me laugh very hard.”
How much of her TikTok personality is true? “Probably 70 to 80 per cent. I am not a very good actor and I don’t really see the point in selling myself as someone I’m not so what you see is mostly what you get in real life. At the same time, I think it’s important to limit how much of my life I share. While I do want to create content, I don’t want to turn my whole life into content.”
Number of hours she spends on her phone daily: “About five? Ok, maybe more like six, mostly on Telegram for work, TikTok and Instagram.”
Her favourite TikTok accounts: “There’s a good mix of TikTok genres on my FYP – from music content to cleaning content and ASMR content, but most of it is comedy. As a consumer, I see TikTok as a means of entertainment and de-stressing, and my favourite way to do that is by laughing. I love how many talented and funny people I get to discover through social media.”
If there was no TikTok: “I wouldn’t have gone viral. That moment really helped me boost my reach and helped to further my career, and now I just want to make the most out of it.”
THIS INTERVIEW HAS BEEN EDITED FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY.
COORDINATION EMMA ASHLEE GOH PHOTOGRAPHY ATHIRAH ANNISSA STYLING DAMIAN HUANG, ASSISTED BY DANESSA TONG HAIR & MAKEUP KEITH BRYANT LEE, USING NARS & OUAI
This article first appeared in the June 2024 TikTok Edition of FEMALE