ZAHNA SIGNS TO XOVR RECORDS
SINGER SHARES PLATE-SHIFTING NEW SINGLE “PILE OF PILLS” — LISTEN
Zahna‘s earth-shattering voice is one that refuses to be silenced— no matter the fury of the highs and lows that have been thrown her way.
Today, she announces not only her new single, the rebellious rager “Pile of Pills” — listen here — but also her new label home. She is pleased to announce that she has partnered with XOVR Records, the label owned and operated by Korn’s Brian “Head” Welch.
The song is furious AF, but it is threaded with a note of hope.
“‘Pile of Pills’ was written when I was in a chaotic state of survival from 2019-2021,” Zahna states. “Coming off the heels of an organ failure diagnosis, following a kidney transplant, and then diving into the following years of the pandemic as an immunocompromised individual, it felt like death was always around the corner. Not only was I fighting the physical aspect of dying, but I had so much financial stress, medical bills, and music industry trauma. My body, heart, and mind, and spirit were just so sick.
“Anything I did or tried to do just felt like buying time until I had no recourse left, and I never knew when I was going to exit the survival cycle. It truly felt like life circumstances were just squeezing my willpower to live anymore and death was always on my doorstep.”
She continues, “Years of darkness and hardship can change someone fundamentally, but I am so blessed to have made it out alive despite all of the challenges. ‘Pile of Pills’ is for anyone just trying to survive. The poverty and chronic illness cycle is absolutely vicious, but please don’t give up, even if it takes years. I’m still healing from those turbulent times, and I hope this track can help you scream your lungs out and release all of the anger, pain, and hopelessness. You will make it out.”
Welch weighs in on what magnetically drew him to this artist, saying, “I am always so mesmerized by a vocalist who has incredible power, incredible range, melody, tone, and on top of all that, having the strength to be so vulnerable to share such an intense health crisis experience with the world, while still dealing with the raw emotions and trauma from it. It melts my heart, man. It touches my soul. I am a huge fan of Zahna for many reasons, and I am confident you will be too.”
Watch video of Welch and Zahna here.
Her voice is a powerhouse. But that’s only one element.
A survivor. That’s Zahna.
Zahna spent the time off during the COVID-19 pandemic off the road buckling down to write her strongest songs yet, supported by her husband and collaborator Patrick Madsen. The couple enlisted the skills of industry leaders Cory Brunnemann (Through Arteries) and Kellen McGregor (Memphis May Fire). The refining fire of the trials she’d lived ignited a fierce creative energy, creating a series of songs that will be released as a full album.
“It’s deeper than just music,” Zahna shares. “To me, the songs I write are stories, written with purpose and intent. If you dissect them, you’d see that they always lead to some universal truth. I think my purpose and drive is to help others identify that truth, or to inspire them to seek the truth about themselves, or a higher power.”
The vitality of Zahna’s music has been forged through professional experience as well as personal resolve. Her musical resume includes an acoustic, worship-focused project called Our Divine Romance that served as a creative outlet through college, followed by time fronting ILIA and bringing songs to the table that would become their high-charting Reborn EP, and ultimately burning up the charts with songs “Underneath” and “Drown” from her 2018 debut solo album.
Zahna has taken her hard-won experience and turned around to generously invest it in other artists through vocal lessons, cowriting, branding, and artist development. As Zahna navigated the challenges of the pandemic, she came alongside other artists to help them do the same. “I had always had a heart to help anyone I could in this business, since I know how intimidating it is to navigate obstacles and find trustworthy people to work with,” she explains.
Her role as a mentor and consultant are just another mark of all the ways Zahna’s voice is only getting louder as it becomes increasingly her own. “The reality was I was always capable, and I needed to stop waiting around for someone to tell me I was,” Zahna reflects. “When the world is in chaos around you, when your physical body is failing you, when people betray you, you simply have no choice but to take control and find out what you’re made of. Whether it was anger, a deep sense of purpose, faith in a higher power, or some wild idea about personal destiny… some survival instincts I never knew I had came to life.”
