{"id":674,"date":"2025-02-10T14:38:25","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T15:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pilotshopworld.com\/?p=674"},"modified":"2025-02-26T18:35:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T18:35:05","slug":"zoras-act-of-resistance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/10\/zoras-act-of-resistance\/","title":{"rendered":"ZORA's Act of Resistance"},"content":{"rendered":"

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ZORA\u2019s<\/u><\/a> voice is needed now more than ever \u2014 and on her sophomore album BELLAdonna<\/a> <\/em><\/em>(via Get Better Records<\/a>), the Minneapolis<\/a> transgender artist has taken hold of the mic.<\/p>\n

A follow-up to her 2022 breakout Z1, <\/em><\/em>ZORA’s latest LP was also self-produced and self-written, developed over the course of seven years in her bedroom in response to traumatic experiences with exploitation and abuse. \u201cThis album goes into a lot of details about myself,\u201d Zora says, knocking open the story of her life and facing her past head-on. <\/p>\n

Belladonna, the titular character and title, became something of a supernatural alter ego for ZORA to step into throughout this concept album, as she seeks revenge on women who\u2019ve also been harmed. Divided into two discs, Belladonna\u2019s journey is one of \u201chealing and love,\u201d Zora explains, as she ultimately wanted her to find \u201cpeace and a kindred spirit\u201d within this process. \u201cWhile this album is dark, I want to also make sure it ends on a positive note,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

The result is a \u201ccollective voice of resilience and empowerment,\u201d as told through ZORA\u2019s powerful voice. On BELLAdonna<\/em><\/em>, she traverses the sounds of hip-hop and pop to create a “Black gothic horror” across 16 different tracks. Below, PAPER<\/em><\/em> learns more about the album from ZORA, who considers it “an act of resistance.”<\/p>\n

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This album is self-produced, which is so impressive and rare. What does the process look like for you, as far as creating beats and writing the material? Does one come first typically?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It really depends on what the vibe is for that specific song. There are certain songs that have started with me just humming a tune in the shower and making a beat over that. Other times, I\u2019ve started by writing a couple chords, either on piano or guitar, and adapting that live sound into an electronic setting. It really just depends on how I\u2019m feeling in that moment.<\/p>\n

This album is being released in a time that’s especially volatile for the trans community. <\/strong>How do you want it to exist in the world and be received by listeners?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For real, tell me about it. I would like this album to stand as an act of trans resistance \u2014 in a time where we are being silenced, told that we don\u2019t even exist and violence is at an all time high. To me, this album is my way of saying, \u201cI\u2019m not letting you get away with that shit.\u201d My community sees you, I see you and transsexualism will always triumph over bigotry \u2014 sorry.<\/p>\n

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