Title: The Path to Stardom: Lessons from SZA's Humble Beginnings
Navigating the limelight like a seasoned pro, SZA has managed to carve out a monumental career for herself in the music scene. In 2020, her single "Good Days" hit the one-billion stream mark on Spotify, making it her fifth song to accomplish this feat. This impressive achievement came alongside the release of an expanded version of her 2022 album SOS, titled SOS Deluxe: Lana. This updated album stormed its way back to the top of the Billboard 200 chart in the same year, marking its 11th non-consecutive week at number one. With 220.22 million on-demand streams in that week alone, it's clear that SZA's journey is far from over.
But what makes SZA's story truly remarkable is that it's not fueled by a major-label hype machine or an overnight viral moment. Instead, she's a shining example of how slow and steady often wins the race. Her rise to fame is a testament to starting small, building credibility, and growing a dedicated fanbase at an intentional pace.
Slowing Down and Speeding Up Wisely
This principle transcends the realm of music. Take the example of Sara Blakely, who sought a solution for smoother silhouettes underneath clothing in the late 1990s. Inspired, she cut the feet off her pantyhose and invented the prototype for Spanx. With just $5,000 in savings, she transformed her idea into a multi-billion-dollar empire.
Similarly, before she took the stage at the Super Bowl alongside Kendrick Lamar in 2023, SZA was a genre-bending SoundCloud artist who held down odd jobs and cultivated an online community. In 2013, she became the first female artist to join Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), a label renowned for its roster of celebrated artists like Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q. While her first release with TDE, Z (2014), bore a more polished sound, it still undeniably echoed her signature sound. Then, in 2017, her album Ctrl emerged as a genre-defining body of work that solidified her as an influential artist.
Patience and Persistence Pay Off
Take note of the time period between Ctrl and SOS (2022). During this span, SZA didn't drop a barrage of new music; instead, she trickled out select singles, such as "Good Days," "Hit Different," and "I Hate U." This strategic pacing allowed her to showcase her growth as an artist while ensuring each release generated buzz and excitement.
The culmination of this intentional approach was evident in the success of SOS. The album spent 20 weeks atop the Billboard 200, a testament to the trust and loyalty SZA had built with her core fanbase. Heeding this, she became the first Black female artist to have multiple songs amass two billion streams on Spotify, cementing her place in music history.
Embrace the Authentic Path
Unlike the fast-paced, algorithm-driven charts that dominate the music industry today, SZA's career journey is built on authenticity. Her unique artist-audience dynamic is one that algorithms simply can't replicate.
In essence, starting small doesn't equate to thinking small. Rather, prioritizing substance over spectacle, relying on one's creative instincts, and realizing that meaningful growth necessitates time are the keys to a rewarding and effective strategy, no matter the industry.
In light of her Super Bowl LVII performance alongside Kendrick Lamar in 2023, many were reminded of SZA's humble beginnings as a genre-bending SoundCloud artist. Prior to this, she was a dedicated artist who held down various jobs and cultivated a dedicated online community. (sza, superbowl, kendrick lamar)
The music industry has seen SZA's strategic pacing pay off, with her singles "Good Days" and "Hit Different" generating excitement before the release of her album SOS. This intentional approach allowed her to showcase her growth as an artist and solidify her place in music history as the first Black female artist to have multiple songs amass two billion streams on Spotify. (sza, good days, hit different, sos)
