Atlantan rapper ZAIA brings the funk on smooth new offering “Innerstate”

Atlanta rapper ZAIA first got tongues wagging with his groove-inflected sound back in 2019 with the breakout single “BLUE”. With “Innerstate” he steps up again and further exemplifies his impressive knack for effortlessly merging the smoothest elements of hip-hop, soul and 70’s funk with his candid delivery.

ZAIA’s latest offering - taken from the upcoming EP entitled Very Alone - is an immediate standout, blasting straight in with a big bass riff that could easily be mistaken for the workings of Kevin Parker circa-Currents. Breezy synths reverberate against the unmistakable bass-line whilst ZAIA says “Trying to get away / I’m looking forwards / Ignoring all the lanes” as he hurtles forward with one eye kept keenly on his future and his goals.

Reflecting on what the track means to him, ZAIA says “‘Innerstate’ is about moving forward and paying attention to your inner mind and how you feel and how it’s affecting you. I made it as a reminder to myself to assess myself once in a while.”

It’s a track that works as an instant mood-booster, made for summertime car journeys with the roof down, yet simultaneously acts as a reminder to look after yourself as good things are still yet to come.