Pop singer/songwriter Mia Z on her new songs, creating music videos, and reflecting about her time on The Voice
Pittsburgh pop singer Mia Z has already accomplished so much in her music career. Since competing on The Voice ten years ago, she’s released four albums, made music videos, and co-wrote a song with Pharrell. As an artist she knows what she wants and is grateful for all of the opportunities. Her songs feature a wide range of genres, from pop to jazz to hard rock. She even has a new single on the way for November.
Over a phone interview, I talked with Mia Z about her new songs, creating music videos, and reflecting about her time on The Voice.
Growing Up With Music
Josh: Did you grow up in a musical background?
Mia: My grandfather played the saxophone. My grandmother was the singer in the Johnny Murphy Orchestra. My mom and my uncle were in a band for 40 years together. They played everywhere. This is honoring my family, their legacy, and just what God gave me to give and to share with the world.
J: Do you come up with melodies on your own?
M: Yeah, maybe find a beat or my producer will send me stuff that I connect to. I’ll immediately sit down and sing to it. That’s how I’ve always written, especially with my mom playing the piano. We wrote 100 songs that way.
Live Shows
J: I saw you headline at Pittsburgh’s Little Italy Days in Bloomfield. Great show.
M: Thank you, that was fun! I’ve done it like four times now. I’m Italian. I put my band together and brought my mom back cause I needed a keyboard player.
Reflecting on The Voice
J: Has it really been 10 years since you’ve been on The Voice?
M: Yeah, it’s been that long. It’s kind of crazy to think I was 16 on the show. It was bittersweet because I didn’t want to take the time to be on the show. My mom submitted me and then had to tell me later that I got picked.
J: Did you watch the show before competing?
M: No, never.
J: (Laughs)
M: It was never a dream. I would say it was God’s doing because everything in me didn’t want to go. It wasn’t because I didn’t think I was good enough. I didn’t want my story to go that way.
J: The Voice is still very popular, but it was the biggest show back then.
M: Yeah, my family freaked out. Pittsburgh supported me. I couldn’t ask for a better city to be born and raised in.
J: Did The Voice teach you about performing in the music business?
M: It was life changing. After I got voted off, Pharrell Williams called me back and we wrote a song together, and that’s never happened on The Voice. I couldn’t ask for a better experience. I wouldn’t be able to reach the entire world without that show.
Original Songs
J: You’ve released 20 singles in the past two years. How do you have the time?
M: I make time after work. I don’t like to be on a schedule when it comes to music. I just keep expressing and singing.
J: Did you write “Why?” with a full band in mind?
M: No, I didn’t like the way that it was going. So, my producer, Blanco, who made the beat, sent it to me. I had always kept it in my archive.
J: Have you ever played “Give it Up” live?
M: I have not. I’m mad that I haven’t, cause I feel like that would be such a groovy baseline. It would be cool to capture it live and do a live video.
J: I really like the acoustic guitar in “Time.”
M: My uncle played that. We did a video up on my pap’s hill because my pap passed away, who I was very close with. That was 100 years of history on that hill with my family.
J: Your song “Don’t Speak” rocks out.
M: Oh yes, I love that song. I wrote that with my band when I was 13. It was my dream to be in a heavy rock band. I’ve always wanted to release a song like that.
Recording
J: Do you use your phone notes app to jot down ideas or record vocals?
M: Yeah. I’ll just open up a session on my laptop and record straight through.
J: You want to capture it.
M: (laughs) My mom will bring me hot tea and she’s like, ‘Are you recording?’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, just give me a minute because right now I’m in the moment.’
J: (Laughs)
Mixing Genres
J: You have different genres in your songs.
M: Yes, it’s hard to get labels to be zoned in on that. I’m really not gonna box myself in.
J: And the record labels want you to pick one.
M: They do. How do they know that it’s gonna work? An A&R rep liking it doesn’t mean the rest of the world’s gonna even care to even be interested in it.
Creating Music Videos
J: You create a lot of music videos!
M: I do. I want certain scenes. I do everything—the fashion, the wardrobe, the hair, the location. It’s just a way to be creative and it’s fun to challenge yourself. I’ve done them all in Pittsburgh. So that’s always important to me.
What’s Next
J: What’s next?
M: I have a new music video dropping in November and a new song featuring a violinist. More live shows, releasing content, and whatever God has planned. I’m gonna keep continuing to do what I’m doing and not really worry about where it’s gonna go.
J: That’s so refreshing to hear.
M: I love being creative, and love being around my family. I can’t imagine putting all that on hold just to go be a singer. I love my life. There’s nothing I would change. Of course there are struggles too, because life’s not easy. I’ve been very, very blessed. I would never take any of it for granted. I really feel like no matter what, I will always stand as a Steel City girl—it’s Pittsburgh all the way from me. So everywhere I go, I rep the city and I’m very proud and honored to be raised here, and musically just growing here.
You can find Mia Z’s latest singles and music videos online here and keep up with her on Instagram @miazanotti.
Check out last month’s band of the month article here!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.
