PHOTO BY JACOB WALSH R&B-soul musician Zahyia Rolle.
Within weeks of Rochester musician Zahyia releasing the music video for her new single “Foul SoulChild” this spring, it had hit almost 50,000 views. The slow-burning, catchy R&B song features stripped-down production a haunting keyboard riff, an addictive drum beat, and Zahyia’s voice echoing overtop, as if traveling from another world. Wearing shimmering, bandage lace-up, knee-high boots and a matching corset, Zahyia moves alone in a stark room, dimly lit by dark blue and red light. Then, suddenly, she stands before a mirror, electric hair clippers in hand, and shaves her head in real time.
Last spring, the COVID-19 shutdowns hit the arts community extra hard as shows and live performances came to a halt.
For one local creator, though, the gloom that came with the sudden changes turned into a new opportunity to fulfill her destiny.
Zahyia Rolle released a music video for her single Foul SoulChild on March 5. The video s description describes its intent: I ve decided to dedicate this track to all my Sisters and Mothers struggling with mental health, Rolle said.Life in Covid has left so many of us feeling alone even when we are surrounded. I m fighting for a future where basic care and unconditional love for all EAR.thlings are a common and normal approach to our interactions.