dear diary,
Found an outtake from my ‘Shameless’ album cover photo shoot I did with photographer Najhan Yassin in 2005. Back then, I was obsessed with my pink afro, the 70s, the rainbows, the stars and looking like a drag queen. I guess I still do… so what?
And kids, this is what happens when you use the wrong shampoo.
(more ’shameless’ photos on my facebook)
ze.
dear diary,
4 years ago, i called myself Saer Ze and was obsessed with rainbows, stars, wands, and wigs. It might have been the fact that I had a nice boyfriend and did not see the point of obsessing over boys then. Looking back at the pictures of my debut album launch, I suppose there couldn’t have been a more appropriate name for the album. It sure has been a long journey from the day of the launch now and so much of my music and image has changed! I’m very excited about my new baby coming along and nothing’s better than looking back at the faces that have always been there through it all to support me.
You guys rock socks.
p/s: Saer Ze still remains as my songwriter pseudonym.
ze.
x
dear diary,
A review by We Heart Music today! 
“When bands submit one or two songs, we generally just ignore them. We seem to get a lot of demos, remixes, or a random b-side from a 6-track EP (talk about odd). And I would’ve ignored Ze! altogether, if not for her funky MIA-esque look.
You know that saying, “never judge a book by its cover”? It doesn’t apply here, she’s what you’ll expect, and that’s not a bad a thing. I mean it would be awful if it turned out she was singing polka or something (which actually now that I think about it, that would sound cool).
Ze! (pronounced “zay”), according to her biography is influenced by (who else?) MIA, Santigold, Yelle and Peaches (whom, for one year I saw saw her and Gonzales play four times at different dates). Her background is from television commercials, before venturing to rapper then to hip hop/drum ‘n bass.
It said she’s released a full length, Shameless, in 2005 and an EP in 2003, but those releases sounds very different than her current music. And currently, “I am Glam” and “Hello Disco” are both excellent electroclash dance songs. The lyrics are simple and not to mention catchy (”I am glam, glam is what I am” and “take me to the disco/bring me to the disco“) which suits this style of music. You’re not really concern with what she’s singing, only that it sounds good (however “Disco” sounds deep in some parts).
I think Ze! has a lot of potential, but people might be turned off by the MIA-crazy-outfits-look. You can pick up her latest songs from popcuts.com. She’s doing some live dates through the UK.”
x
dear diary,
I am featured on Charts in France today… how fabulous! I am aware that the first commenter decided to say ‘pas terrible’, but hey, at least he felt the need to say something. So thanks for saying SOMETHING. It has made my day!
“Partageant sa vie entre Bruxelles et Londres, Zé! est originaire de Malaisie. La jeune chanteuse est également auteur et compositeur. Se reconnaissant dans des artistes telles que Lady Gaga, Yelle mais aussi M.I.A., Santigold et Madonna, Zé! est prête à conquérir l’Europe. Zé! (prononcer « zay ») est une jeune artiste de Kuala Lumpur. Collaborant avec le producteur belge Ruben Debusschere, la chanteuse écrit et compose une musique bien à elle dans laquelle elle se reconnaît, cependant influencée par Lady Gaga, Yelle, MIA, Santigold, New Young Pony Club, Peaches mais aussi Madonna.
Ses chansons électropop (”I Am Glam”, “Candy”, “Boys I Like”…) sont intégrées dans un univers coloré et excentrique qui n’est pas sans rappeler Lady Gaga et Yelle. L’artiste n’en est pas à son coup d’essai et n’a pas attendu le succès de ses consœurs pour faire sa musique. De nombreuses participations à des publicités, à un trio RNB mais aussi de nombreuses collaborations musicales lui ont permis de s’affirmer et de se lancer en solo. Un premier EP “My Make-Believe” en 2003, un premier album “Shameless” en 2005 ont permis de se faire connaître mais aussi d’être nommé à des prix encourageant les jeunes artistes.
Son nouvel album devrait sortir à la fin de l’été. Le premier extrait “I Am Glam” est d’ores et déjà disponible.” – Nikolas LENOIR
I babelfish-ed this, and it translates to;
“Sharing its life between Brussels and London, Zé! is originating in Malaysia. The young singer is also author and type-setter. Recognizing itself in artists such as Lady Gaga, Yelle but also M.I.A., Santigold and Madonna, Zé! is ready to conquer l’ Europe. Zé! (to pronounce “zay”) is a young artist of Kuala Lumpur. Collaborating with the Belgian producer Ruben Debusschere, the singer written and a music well with it composes in which it is recognized, however influenced by Lady Gaga, Yelle, MIA, Santigold, New Young Pony Club, Peaches but also Madonna. Its songs électropop (” I Am Glam” , ” Candy” , ” Servant boys I Like” …) are integrated in a coloured universe and eccentric which n’ is not without pointing out Lady Gaga and Yelle. L’ artist n’ in is not with its blow d’ test and n’ the success of its colleagues did not wait to make her music. Many participations in publicities, with a trio RNB but also of many musical collaborations allowed him s’ to affirm and to launch out in solo. A first EP ” My Make-Believe” in 2003, a first album ” Shameless” in 2005 allowed to make known itself but also d’ to be named at prices encouraging the young artists. Its new album should leave at the end l’ summer. The first extract ” I Am Glam” is d’ now and already available.”
Read on here.
p/s: Thanks, Arnaud!
x
dear diary,
I was a lil obsessed with their ‘Gimme My Electro‘ track that I made this – about a year ago.
Yes, I have issues. Like you don’t?
x
Shop here.
dear diary,
new flash its official, i’ve begun with my plans for a next album. finally, a new baby! it is going to be crazy exciting and i hope to release it sometime early next year. it will be my 2nd (its been 3 years since Shameless!) but a very first all-electropop disco record for me. i think its perfect timing now that i am about done with my european adventure and recording new tracks with ruben. wooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh!
xx
dear diary,
as of today, it’s been exactly 3 years since i released my baby debut album Shameless. wow. cant believe it has been 3 years, but then again so much has changed. SO much. in such a short time. i’ve def outgrown the pink afro, and stripey socks to begin with. and the whole look that looks like a rainbow puked on me. or have i? haha. which means its only been that long that i’ve decided to do electropop – couldnt have made a better decision! electro music is zo awezome… i heart my electro yumness. i blame it on ruben. and in 3 years i’ve gone from being so-in-love-i’m-getting-married in love to im-so-single-i-need-a-vacation-from-being-single single woman. DAMN STRAIGHT, I SAID WOMAN. hah. which should explain the change of lyrics. lol. but i love it and enjoying it all cause i wouldnt have come up w such favulous lyrics without them favulous experiences of being a hopeful/obsessed/dumped/flinged/bitchslapped/heartbroken/stalked/stalking biatch. i admire myself for still believing in this crappy L word at all. my mind tells me its complete BS and i hear it say ‘I TOLD YOU SO’ every fucking time. i guess every girl has a ‘charlotte’ in them, as much as we all want to be ‘carrie’. so come on boys, bring on the heartbreaks. cant get enough of it.
xx
dear diary,
there once was a magazine who clearly hated me and my vision and basically made a review out of personal hatred by using my shameless album. and guess what? looks like i sustained longer than they have. their url no longer directs to anywhere, so i shall assume they’ve died a sufferably long and painful death. i thank my sister n friends who were there to keep me going… wooh!!
celebrate good times come on xx
year ends are hectic. ive not been busy w shows as i anticipated i wldve been but ive instead been caught up w setting up the boutique w my sister – which is going beyond our expectations thus far. although i must admit im missing the stage =[ hopefully im back out there in no time.
i was at the hitz awards, only to discover tht they actually had an award for malaysian english videos - too sexy wasnt even nominated. i was devastated, to say the least. but of course, im not fr the jakeman's fanclub. its all still clearly driven by men w only hannah tan being the only female nominee being mentioned. where r talents like jasemaine gan and izzy mohammad?
so muse is coming.. in feb? for real?
im certainly happy for pop shuvit , the 5 r actually in the running to b in Rolling Stone Magazine's top 25 myspace bands. Hw unreal is tht? im wishing them the best! you can also help trash the article w ur groupie shout outs on the rolling stone website.. www.rollingstone.com
i cant help but talk abt my next album... although its still very far fr being released. Ruben is working on the mixes, n things r looking good. 6 tracks at this point, and im still speaking to producers n musicians fr just abt anywhere who hv got the right chemistry to fit into this project. its gonna b a killer euro-electro party record - i promise u tht!
sigh. ive learnt so much fr releasing tht SHAMELESS cd - money just cldnt buy! ive suffered fr depression even, its crazy when u know too much. picking up the pieces... its better to fight than to sulk. let no mofo bring u down =p w all tht anger i cld prolly put out a gangster rap album or smthing. but im all abt showing some love baby. the world needs it.
ive got lotsa faith. smtimes maybe too much for my own gd. Here's hoping out loud... just like how bob sinclar puts it... WORLD, HOLD ON!
p/s: i hv just dicovered the gorgeousness of tht prison break guy. *yowza* id break into prison for him.
love. =]
