Today we’d like to introduce you to ZÓRA.
Hi Zóra, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Zóra Urbányi. Zóra means ‘dawn’ and I joined my family in 1997. I was born in Palo Alto, California. I remember the first time I watched old family footage of my two older brothers throwing big pillows at me because I just wouldn’t stop singing. I probably found my voice because since the age of 4, I did not listen to or acknowledge anything else in the outside world. I just kept singing… Now from the corner of my eyes, I’m watching two sparrows fighting over a piece of bread. I’m sitting in the grass at Elysian Park, recording take 16 of a “thank you” video in response to receiving Hungary’s New Artist of the Year Award. Of course, I used the first take…
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I was 13, a manager in Hungary approached me and seemed to have the answers of how to become a singer. I was given a song, an award-winning music video, and a lot of makeup. This effectively pulled me into the media world with a lot of pressure. Though the lyrics stayed with me, my singing voice rebelled and left me by the time I realized this is not for me. My voice didn’t come back until we moved to Kansas City at age 17 where I walked into a small restaurant, a tiny stage in the back and two older men singing and playing guitar. I asked if I could sing a song, but I got more from them; support, confidence, and friendship. A safe place and time to build myself back up to music. The place was called Karma…
Five years ago I visited a friend in Los Angeles. The energy in the air and in the people was so exciting to me, I had to jump in. So I moved and I started working at a downtown restaurant as a hostess. I enjoyed everyone: the guests, the servers, even my boss. I loved listening to the stories of the Uber drivers, even when the carpooling people with me were like “ah, just shut up”. I’ve always been very interested in other people and their stories. My secret when I first moved here was that I had no expectations. I really didn’t want anything.
Opening from an alley behind La Cienega Boulevard, the walls of the room I moved into, basically a garage made into an apartment, were thin. It was my place to sleep. My place to live was outside, I was always outside. One Tuesday night I found an open door and on the other side, a bunch of retro rockstar type musicians jamming 80s music all night. The stage was their living room, but it’s actually called the Kibitz room. The next day I woke up and started walking into bars and restaurants saying, “I want to sing.”
I had a Saturday night residency at Heritage Fine Wines for over a year, the most European atmosphere in Beverly Hills where a unique crowd, artists, and community liked to gather. This is where I learned the most. The smoke of sage, candle lights, servers in a rush, smell of red wine, and low notes of John Legend’s piano. Guests sat at the piano with a drink, listening to my music and connecting with me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve been writing songs since I moved to Los Angeles, and they’ve been weighing down my drawer and my phone as voice memos. They come easily, but I can’t release them so easily. I usually record a live take of a song with piano then take away the chords rebuilding a sound to hold it, layer by layer. I keep looking for the right people to work with. Kristóf, my oldest brother, was in film school in San Francisco when I moved to LA and we became close friends. He understood where I was with my songs and became the person that I could share my process with. He encouraged me to experiment with production because it opens up my creative process and gives a direction of the sound to producers.
Though I grew up in Budapest, I mainly write in English, especially when I just improvise and the words are naturally finding their meaning, but there are some feelings I can only write about in Hungarian.
Two years ago, I uploaded a live video under my artist name ZÓRA from a small concert I had in Budapest. Within a year, it organically reached over 2 million views, receiving a handful of encouraging comments and messages. This really gave me momentum and confidence that my music can reach people around the world and make them feel deeply.
March 2022, I’m at the House of Music in Hungary, one of the world’s most unique concert halls, in front of a sold-out audience. This is my first real concert since people started to discover me online. There was a beautiful grand piano in the middle of the room and an audience sitting tight; during the piano intro of the first song, I stopped, “My legs are shaking so hard, I can’t hold the pedal down.” – that was my introduction… “It’s not me, only my body is nervous.” Everyone started laughing and then stayed with me for the whole night, and ever since then. In the fall of 2022, I’ve had several sold-out concerts all over Hungary.
Any big plans?
Sometimes I feel so painfully moved by music. I want to spend more time in this space and create within it. If someone hears my voice and it makes them feel something, I want to reach them. If you hear my voice and it makes you feel something, I’d love to meet you, work with you, or sing to you. I can’t wait to collaborate, play live, find my band, a manager and a structure for my music here.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoraurbanyi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zoraurbanyiofficial
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@zoraurbanyi
Image Credits
Profile image: Kolos Urbanyi #1 & #2: Júlia Hegyi #3: András Jeli #5: Josh Webb
