Emerging from Allentown, AZA approaches songwriting as excavation. The single “Time” is not a casual reflection; it is a deliberate confrontation with memory, injury, isolation, and the fragile architecture of existence. Rooted in personal history yet open to interpretation, the track positions AZA as an artist committed to emotional precision rather than surface aesthetics.
Influenced directly by Prince, particularly the existential weight of “Sign O’ The Times,” AZA channels a similar willingness to question reality. A lyrical nod to Prince appears in the line referencing “SIGN,” serving not as imitation but as homage. The influence lies in courage, the readiness to ask difficult questions about fate and consequence. “Time” circles a central idea: if moments shape us irrevocably, can they ever be reclaimed, rewritten, or spiritually reinterpreted.
The song’s origins are equally intentional. After exclusively purchasing a beat from producer Lebanon Don Beats, AZA wrote and arranged the melody independently, shaping structure and phrasing with poetic instinct. Recording took place at MB Pro Studios in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Remarkably, the vocal performance was captured in roughly an hour. Few takes were required. That immediacy preserved vulnerability rather than polishing it away. The session felt intuitive, almost urgent, as though the emotions demanded release without overanalysis.
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| AZA (US) Confronts Memory and Mortality on the Single “Time” |
“Time” addresses lived trauma without spectacle. References to concussion and whiplash speak to physical disruption, while lines about seclusion reflect experiences in mental health facilities during AZA’s twenties. Instead of dramatizing pain, the song contemplates it. The hook’s meditation on isolation becomes universal: everyone has confronted moments where time felt suspended or distorted. AZA transforms those experiences into melody, allowing listeners to project their own histories onto the framework.
What distinguishes “Time” is its balance of abstraction and clarity. AZA is also a poet and painter, and that multidisciplinary sensibility informs the songwriting. Images feel layered, occasionally enigmatic, yet grounded in authentic memory. The vocal delivery carries controlled intensity, drawing the listener inward rather than overwhelming them.
“Time” represents artistic philosophy. AZA writes, arranges, and performs independently, prioritizing introspection over trend alignment. A guiding principle echoes through the journey: never abandon creative purpose, even when doubt intervenes. In an industry driven by immediacy, AZA offers contemplation. “Time” does not rush toward resolution; it invites reflection. That patience may ultimately define their longevity.