percent of recorded music income. She said it’s a major issue because musicians struggle to book big shows or get as much money. Sometimes they have to pay a manager a lot of money, eating into their profit. Through her work at Silver Arrow, she helps musicians get bigger gigs and keep more of the profit. “It’s really tough to pursue music as a career but for, many, it’s also more than a hobby. How do you get the career you envision?” She added, explaining that Black musicians are 270
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often more likely to be discriminated against or typecast. “There’s this idea that because you’re Black, you play certain types of music and that’s just not true but the truth is that sometimes when you play other kinds of music, the support is less likely to be there.” Long-term, Rolle wants to break these barriers down. By working with artists and venues, she’s able to connect different parts of her network, all while performing and having fun herself.
“I always have these ideas in my head and it can be difficult to just turn them off,” she laughed. “I’m used to going a million miles per hour. “To be honest, I don’t sleep a lot. There are trade-offs but I know what’s important to me: my family, my music, my emotional and spiritual well-being and so that’s what I put my energy behind.” To learn more about Zahyia, you can visit her on Instagram at @zahyia.