Zana` s music career began at a very early age. At the age of six she began playing the violin at the music school in Crnomelj, attended various concerts and competitions. She began to show great talent for music and everything connected with it. By the age of ten, she played almost every instrument, which has been given into her hand. By that time she also joined the local string orchestra.
At the age of 18, Zana already sung in a number of music Pop-rock groups and thus have accumulated enough experience to go on a quest for a solo career.
In 2004 she released her first album Sexy. The song Fire (album Sexy) is performed at the selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and her different style immediately attracted attention. She continued with collaborating with other known artists like a slovenian hip-hop group Kocka, they recorded the song Trophy (Sexy album) and later with the great Croatian singer Ivana Kindl, song Fever (album Sexy).
Later that year, Zana was featured on the cover of Playboy magazine. The response was very surprising, because the magazine had to be printed again, for so many copies had been sold.
In this time Zana began to write her own songs. Thus, in 2007, the team created a wonderful song called Second Violin. Zana sang that song again at the selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Even if the song was not the winner of the contest, it certainly won the hearts of the people as Zana later received an award for the most played song of the year, and her name appeared on the Croatian list of the most played musicians. She also performed on the Croatian Radio Festival as the first slovenian singer ever invited
Later she participated in the tv show Dancing with the Stars and achieved an excellent second place.
In all these years of making music, Zana also had a hidden passion… Acting. She always wanted to be an actress, so in 2013 she traveled to America, where she had the opportunity to be a part of three smaller film projects and put her acting skills, which she was working on over the few years with her mentor, to the test
In 2015, she received an offer to be a part of a tv show Your Face Sounds Familiar. In an excellent show, which broke all rating records, Zana showed not only her singing but also acting talent. A year before that, Zana joined the band Smash, and performed extensively throughout Europe, so it was hard to cope with the sleepless schedule during the show. Nonetheless Zana worked hard and came in the finals.
Right after the show she traveled to Belgium where she was chosen for a smaller role in the movie Iron Sky The Coming Race, which will be released in 2017.
In all the years of creating Zana wrote a number of songs both for herself, and for other artists. One of them is a hit song Call Me where Zana sang with one of the most recognizable vocals in our country Uros Peric. Zana decided to put a collection of her most personal songs in a new album 11:11.
She is currently in Europe performing and recording the vocals, as the album is being produced in Los Angeles by 1500 or nothin.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Zana: I grew up in a small country called Slovenia. In a tiny town Crnomelj, where thinking outside the box or dreaming big wasn`t really supported. I knew I was a music child right away. When other kids were playing with normal toys, I was in my own corner, trying out every instrument I could get my hands on and started learning how to play. When I was 6 years old, I started studying the violin and soon joined the school orchestra. We performed quite a lot so I could get a taste of what being on stage felt like.
In Slovenia, people are really patriotic, so mostly people listened to slovenian music. Since I grew up listening to Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston… I suspected I would have to cross the slovenian borders to follow my calling. And so I did. Today I am performing all over Europe an working on my new album, which I hope will be heard in the United States as well.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Zana: Zana is my real name. Actually, it`s spelled Žana, but since not many countries have the letter Ž, I decided to keep my stage name as original as possible. So, Zana it is 🙂
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Zana: I would say, living in Slovenia, you have to give away your music for free sometimes, or else you don`t exist. Our music system works different than most countries. So it is quite a challenge to operate musiclly inside as well as outside of Slovenia.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Zana: My advice is, first find out who you are and what your calling is. The more you know about yourself, the more your music will make sense and feel real. It`s all energy and vibrations. Second, connect with the people. If you`ve chosen a path of an artist, you will need their full support and attention, cause honestly, they`re the ones who put clothes on your back and pay your bills. So… take on every gig, wherever it is, focus on your work, stay humble and believe in yourself and your calling. If you do, sooner or later you will start to attract like minded people, get new connections and everything will just start evolving on it`s own, to get you where you need to be.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Zana: I am a perfectionist, but I`m sure I make mistakes here and there. But being so relaxed when I am on stage and joke a lot, the small mistakes sometimes come in handy, cause I can make people laugh and they can see I am just a human being. That actually connects you even closer to the audience. So, if you look at it that way, small mistakes are welcome I guess 🙂
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Zana: I am singing with a cover band right now and we are performing all over Europe. With the release of my new album, I hope I can visit as many countries as possible. I am allready making plans for the concerts and it will definitely be a great show, so I hope to see you there!
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Zana: I guess life inspires me. Every day. I always take things that happen to me or things I witness and the songs just kinda come together like a puzzle in my head. I usualy hear the song in my mind from start to finnish, so I have to be quick in writing them down. Then I take my Ipad, who has really been very helpfull in the last few years, cause I can make a quick idea for a song literally in minutes. So maybe it`s even channeling of some sorts, I don`t know. I just love the process. And I am quite surprised to see how many great songs I have written in the last few years. A lot of great things start happening once we put our barriers down.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Zana: Yes, my website is http://www.zanasalobir.com and people can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, of course Youtube and Soundcloud under the name Zana Salobir. When my album 11:11 is out, you will be able to find it on iTunes as well as other online platforms.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Zana: Probably my Devdas movie song collection. If you`re a musician, you will find the music is absolutely fantastic. But I did get a few laughs when someone caught me cleaning and singing indinan songs. Now I know, indian accapella sounds kind of funny 🙂
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Zana: I don`t think I could have a year off. I like to be creative and I love what I do. Right now, I am working hard to provide for my family and invest in the making of my album. So I would probably spend it to make 11:11 sound and look even better, make some great music videos ang get prepared for a tour.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Zana: I`m currently spending a lot of time in the studio, recording vocals for my new album 11:11. I had a lot of fun writing it and I`m having even more fun making it. It`s being produced by the amazingly talented 1500 or nothin. I just love how they`re upgrading the songs. Very exciting process and I can`t wait to share it with you.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Zana: Concerts, I think, are the best promotion, where people can see, hear and feel you. Can`t beat that. But of course online platforms, radio, interviews…All that stuff helps too 🙂
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Zana: I would have to say Lauryn Hill. I grew up listening to her and learned quite a lot. I don`t think it really matters where, the Super Bowl or in the basement. I would enjoy it just as much.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Zana: As I mentioned earlier, all my focus is on the upcoming album, which should be out at the beginning of 2017, as well as a movie premiere for Iron Sky the Coming Race, where I played a small part.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Zana: Hm…I tried that… Didn`t work 🙂
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Zana: Of course I do. It was “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”. I still know it by heart. I can`t even describe how that made me feel at that time.She brought me light, awareness…still does. And that voice…
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Zana:This is a question I get asked a lot. I guess it looks kind of impossible, but when you love what you do, when it`s a part of you, it stops being work, it becomes a way of living. I guess that way you can juggle smoother 🙂
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
Zana: Well, for now all I can say is, my album 11:11 is coming. I will most certainly be performing a lot, you can keep track of that on my website, be sure to check out Iron Sky the Coming Race next year. Everyone can find me on those social hangouts… You know…add me, poke me, like me, whatever. Let`s hang out!
