Azul Zapata — a self-proclaimed “local loud human” per her LinkedIn profile — comes from humble beginnings. Born and raised in a Spanish-speaking household in Argentina, her family is a big part of her identity and one of the main reasons she is passionate about music.
Zapata’s life was filled with music from the very beginning. Her father played the guitar and inspired her to pick up an instrument of her own, the trumpet. Zapata started playing the instrument in middle school, playing for family parties and close friends. Now, Zapata has incorporated her trumpet skills into her shows, mimicking greats like Duke Ellington.
Argentinian rock and pop were prominent parts of her mothers daily routine, usually playing somewhere in the house as she worked. This doesn’t go to say that Zapata only listened to Argentine music — she grew up listening to Toni Braxton, Celine Dion and Lauryn Hill off her family’s old CDs.
“My family is very eclectic,” Zapata said. “We have lots of CDs and the radio is always playing. We are just a very loud family in general. It was never really quiet when I was growing up.”
Ellington was also a big inspiration for Zapata, as most of her music is jazz-filled. She loves jazz and disco music, and uses the genres as the base of many of her songs.
Zapata believes that the mix of the two creates a very clean sound that you might not get in hip-hop or other upbeat songs. Zapata gets emotional during her songs, which creates an indie kind of feel to her music that you won’t find in hip-hop.
Other inspirations for Zapata come from strong independent women that were important figures in her early life. She watched Celine Dion perform in front of millions of people on television and remembers watching Serena Williams’ tennis matches and the crowd erupting for her.
Zapata fell in love with the idea of being alone in front of a massive crowd. She recalled thinking, “That’s insane, I want that experience.” For Zapata, it’s intoxicating to be alone on the stage, with nothing but the lights and her voice.
“Everyone is focused on one thing at the same time in the same place,” Zapata said. “I love being on stage — the energy, the lights, the thoughts in my head, the intention and energy trapped in that singular moment. That’s what art really is.”
Zapata writes all of her own songs, most of which draw on her own experiences or the world around her. She calls her life chaotic partly because she has had six different surgeries throughout her life, experiences that still affect her to this day.
As a queer Latina immigrant, Zapata is part of several communities that are reflected in her music. Her identity is of the utmost importance for her, since it has posed some challenges throughout her life. Zapata feels she exists in these multiple worlds, but can never find a home within them. Zapata is an active advocate in these communities that contribute to who she really is and make her music unique.
“All my music is very me, and that inspires me to keep moving forward,” Zapata said. “What am I supposed to do, not keep moving forward? That doesn’t make any sense to me, and it shouldn’t even be an option.”
Bandmate TJ Richardson plays bass for Zapata and has lived in the Triangle area since 2015. He spends the majority of his time in Raleigh and shares Zapata’s mindset when it comes to letting the music flow with emotion and meaning. He wants to make sure their music promotes change.
Richardson said Raleigh is the perfect place for bands who are trying to promote change and spread their music. He has spent time in major cities and has experienced what it’s like to be in a big-time artist market.
“When talking about skill, everyone in L.A. has skill, so sometimes it really only matters on how popular you are,” Richardson said. “But in Raleigh, it’s still about skill but more about personality.”
The ability to express their personalities is what draws artists like Zapata and Richardson to Raleigh. Both pride themselves on progressive ideals, a message that bodes well in Raleigh’s inclusive environment.
