SZA facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
SZA
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SZA in 2024
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Solána Imani Rowe
November 8, 1989 St. Louis, Missouri, US
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| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2011–present |
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Works
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| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Maplewood, New Jersey, US |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
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Solána Imani Rowe (born November 8, 1989), known professionally as SZA (pronounced SIZ-uh), is an American singer and songwriter. She is famous for her personal lyrics and for mixing different music styles. SZA has become a very important artist in modern R&B music. She also helped make alternative R&B popular.
SZA first became known with her self-released music collections called EPs. These were See.SZA.Run (2012) and S (2013). Because of these projects, she signed with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2013. She then released her third EP, Z (2014). Her first studio album, Ctrl (2017), was a huge success. It was nominated for four Grammy Awards in 2018. It also became one of the longest-charting R&B albums by a woman on the US Billboard 200 chart.
In 2018, her song "All the Stars" with Kendrick Lamar was a top-ten hit. This song earned her nominations for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. In 2021, SZA won her first Grammy Award for "Kiss Me More" with Doja Cat. Her second album, SOS (2022), explored many genres like rock, hip-hop, and pop. It spent thirteen weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. This album broke several chart records. Its songs "Kill Bill" and "Snooze" were among the best-selling songs of 2023.
The re-release of her album, Lana (2024), included the popular songs "Saturn" and "30 for 30". In 2024, SZA also worked with Kendrick Lamar on the song "Luther". This song was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for thirteen weeks. This made it her longest-running number one song in the US. SZA has won many awards, including five Grammy Awards. She has also written songs for famous artists like Beyoncé and Rihanna.
Early Life and Background
Solána Imani Rowe was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 8, 1989. She grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. Her parents are from the Southern United States. SZA's mother, Audrey, is Christian, and her father, Abdul, is Muslim. Her father worked as a video producer for CNN. As a child, SZA attended both Sunday school and Muslim school. She shared that her parents respected each other's religions.
SZA wore a hijab during elementary and early middle school. After the September 11 attacks, she stopped wearing it. This was because she was worried about bullying. She later went to Columbia High School. There, she was part of the gymnastics, cheerleading, and dance teams. After high school, she went to college to study marine biology. However, she left college to focus on her music career.
Her stage name, SZA, was inspired by a group called Nation of Islam. She took ideas from the Supreme Alphabet, similar to rappers RZA and GZA from Wu-Tang Clan. The last two letters in her name stand for Zig-Zag and Allah. The first letter S can mean savior or sovereign.
Music Career
Early Music and First EPs (2011–2014)
SZA met members of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2011. This happened at a music event where Kendrick Lamar was performing. SZA's early music was shared with TDE president Terrence "Punch" Henderson. He was very impressed by her songs. SZA recorded her first songs with friends. Many of the beats she used were found online.
She released her first music collection, See.SZA.Run, on October 29, 2012. This EP received good reviews. Critics praised its lyrics and sound. SZA then released her second EP, S, on April 10, 2013. This EP was also well-received. In July 2013, TDE signed SZA. She became the first female artist on their label.
In 2014, SZA was featured on songs by other artists from her label. She appeared on tracks by Isaiah Rashad and Schoolboy Q. She then released her third EP, Z, on April 8. This EP included the song "Babylon" with Kendrick Lamar. Z was SZA's first music to appear on charts in the UK and US. It helped her gain a small but dedicated group of fans online. Later that year, SZA opened for tours by Jhené Aiko and Coldplay.
Ctrl Album and Big Success (2015–2018)
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SZA's first full album, Ctrl, was planned for a long time. There were some delays in its release. SZA also wrote songs for other singers during this time. She co-wrote "Feeling Myself" for Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé. She also co-wrote "Consideration" for Rihanna. This song was originally meant for SZA's album. Being featured on Rihanna's song helped SZA become more widely known.
In 2017, SZA announced Ctrl as the new title for her album. It was released on June 9, 2017. The album mixed R&B with hints of rock music. To promote Ctrl, SZA released five songs: "Drew Barrymore", "Love Galore" with Travis Scott, "The Weekend", "Broken Clocks", and "Garden (Say It like Dat)". She also went on the Ctrl the Tour around the world.
Ctrl was highly praised by critics. It was listed as one of the best albums of 2017. In the US, Ctrl debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. It has remained on the charts for over seven years. In 2018, SZA received five Grammy nominations for her work on Ctrl. This included a nomination for Best New Artist.
After Ctrl, SZA worked on many collaborations. Her songs "What Lovers Do" (2017) with Maroon 5 and "All the Stars" (2018) with Kendrick Lamar became top-ten hits. "All the Stars" was part of the soundtrack for the movie Black Panther. This song earned SZA nominations for major film awards, including an Academy Award.
Collaborations and SOS Album (2019–2023)
SZA took five years to release her second album, SOS (2022). She felt a lot of pressure while working on it. She was worried about how people would react to the album. While working on SOS, SZA continued to collaborate with other artists. Her song "Kiss Me More" with Doja Cat was very successful in 2021. It won SZA her first Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
SZA also released new songs as a lead artist. Many of these songs became popular on TikTok. This helped build excitement for SOS. The first of these was "Good Days" in December 2020. It became her first solo top-10 song in the US. Other popular songs like "I Hate U" (2021) and "Shirt" (2022) also became hits.
In 2022, SZA released a special version of Ctrl to celebrate its five-year anniversary. The standard version of SOS was released on December 9, 2022. Critics loved the album. SOS combined R&B with many other genres like rap, rock, and pop. SZA wanted to show that she could sing different styles of music.
SOS spent over ten weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. It broke records for how long an album by a woman or a Black artist stayed in the top 10. It was also one of the most streamed albums globally in 2023. After its release, SOS had three more popular songs: "Nobody Gets Me", "Kill Bill", and "Snooze". "Kill Bill" was one of the best-selling songs of 2023. At the 2024 Grammy Awards, SZA was nominated for many awards. SOS won Best Progressive R&B Album, and "Snooze" won Best R&B Song. SZA went on the SOS Tour from 2023 to 2024 to promote the album.
In September 2023, SZA performed some new songs. She announced that a deluxe version of SOS, called Lana, would be coming soon. She later said that Lana was almost like a new album with many new songs.
Lana Album and Acting Debut (2024–Present)
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Lana was one of the most anticipated albums of 2024. It was released on December 20, 2024. A re-release with four more songs came out on February 9, 2025. The main song from Lana was "Saturn". SZA performed it at the 2024 Grammy Awards. It reached number six on the Hot 100 chart. Other songs like "Diamond Boy (DTM)" and "BMF" were also on Lana. A collaboration with Kendrick Lamar called "30 for 30" was also released. After the re-release, SOS returned to the top of the Billboard 200 chart.
In November 2024, Kendrick Lamar released his album GNX. SZA was featured on two songs: "Luther" and "Gloria". SZA and Lamar went on the Grand National Tour together. This tour became the highest-earning co-headlining tour ever. "Luther" reached number one on the Hot 100 chart. It became SZA's longest-running number one song in the US.
SZA made her acting debut in the film One of Them Days (2025). She starred alongside Keke Palmer. Critics praised their acting together. In March 2025, SZA announced her own line of lip products called Not Beauty.
Artistic Style
Musical Influences
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SZA grew up listening to many different types of music. Her mother liked R&B and church music. Her father enjoyed jazz and funk artists like Miles Davis and Billie Holiday. Her sister listened to hip-hop artists like Tupac Shakur. SZA listens to Ella Fitzgerald to help with her singing. She also says Lauryn Hill is a big personal influence. SZA admires singer Ashanti and has loved her music since she was a child.
SZA also gets ideas from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Macy Gray, Common, Björk, and Wu-Tang Clan. She has said that Beyoncé is one of the most inspiring women she has ever met. SZA also admires Rihanna for her strong and confident attitude.
SZA often mentions movies and TV shows in her songs. For example, "Drew Barrymore" is named after the actress. "Go Gina" refers to a character from the TV show Martin. In her album SOS, she named "Kill Bill" after the famous movie. She also references characters from Star Wars and The Simpsons in her lyrics.
Music Style
Genre
Critics often describe SZA as an R&B singer. However, SZA has said she doesn't like being limited to just one genre. She prefers to be seen as someone who simply makes music. Her early songs had a dreamy and unique sound.
SZA identifies with "alternative" music. This style mixes R&B with other genres like rock. Many songs from her album Ctrl have rock influences. One song from SOS, "F2F", is a pop rock song. SZA believes that limiting Black artists to R&B categories is unfair. She says that Black music has always been diverse.
Besides R&B, her music also combines hip-hop and pop. SZA feels that labeling music can make it seem less creative. She wants her music to be limitless.
Voice
SZA's voice can change from a soft, airy sound to a very high one. Her singing style has been described as having a jazz-like quality. SZA has a slight speech difference that affects how she sings. Her fans sometimes joke that she sings in "cursive and italics." However, her words have become clearer in her newer music.
Songwriting
Writing Process
SZA sees songwriting as a way to show her worth. She values her songwriting awards highly. She started writing songs because she loved poetry. SZA also uses songwriting to help herself. It helps her record and work through her feelings. Sometimes, the pain of her experiences can be too much. So, she sometimes writes from other people's points of view. This helps her say nicer things about herself. For example, the song "Joni" (2025) was written from the perspective of musician Joni Mitchell.
Many of SZA's songs are created by improvising. She writes whatever comes to her mind. She often freestyles and creates songs in a "stream-of-consciousness" way. She has said that she doesn't usually have a topic before starting a song. Some of her biggest hits, like "Kill Bill", were made this way.
Song Themes
SZA's songs often have a very open and personal tone. She explores common worries that young people face. These include fitting in or dealing with growing up. Much of her music is about heartbreak, missing the past, feeling left out, and self-worth. She is not afraid to show her true feelings in her music.
Critics have said that SZA creates a "girl next door" image through her music. Many people find her songwriting easy to relate to. This is especially true for Black women, as she explores feelings of insecurity. SZA has said that she grew up not seeing herself enough in media. She wants to create an inclusive space for herself and her fans. As her career has grown, her writing has become more confident.
Collaborations
SZA is well-known for her work with former labelmate Kendrick Lamar. They are often called a great rapper-singer duo. SZA calls Lamar her "sensei" (teacher). He has encouraged her to try new things in her music. They released their first song together, "Babylon", in 2014. They have three top-ten songs together: "All the Stars" (2018), "Luther" (2024), and "30 for 30" (2025).
SZA has worked with many other artists multiple times. One of her early collaborators was rapper Mac Miller. SZA and singer Lizzo once thought about starting a rock band. They co-wrote the song "F2F" from SOS based on this idea. Lizzo also released a remix of her song "Special" featuring SZA. SZA also often works with producers Carter Lang and ThankGod4Cody. They have produced many of her songs from Ctrl, SOS, and Lana.
SZA's maternal grandmother, Norma Rowe, appears on her albums Ctrl and SOS. Her voice recordings are sampled in the songs. SZA lovingly calls her "Granny" on the albums.
Personal Life
SZA has been open about her struggles with mental health. She has found comfort through prayer and music. These helped her accept herself. She also practices yoga to stay well.
SZA keeps her dating life private. She dated Drake in 2009. She was also in a long relationship with an unnamed fashion designer. She says he helped her at the start of her career. The song "Nobody Gets Me" was written about him.
SZA has practiced different religions. She believes in a "higher power" that guides the world. She has identified with Christianity and considers herself Muslim. She also includes ideas from Hinduism in her beliefs. In 2020, she hosted an online meditation session with Lizzo. In 2025, she went on a silent retreat in India.
Discography
- Ctrl (2017)
- SOS (2022; reissued in 2024 as Lana)
Filmography
- One of Them Days (2025)
Tours
Headlining
- Ctrl the Tour (2017–2018)
- Good Days Fall Tour (2021)
- SOS Tour (2023–2024)
Co-headlining
- The Championship Tour (with Top Dawg Entertainment artists) (2018)
- Grand National Tour (with Kendrick Lamar) (2025)
Supporting
- Coldplay – Ghost Stories Tour (2014)
- Jhené Aiko – Enter the Void Tour (2014)
- Jessie J – Sweet Talker Tour (2015)
- Bryson Tiller – Set It Off Tour (2017)
Achievements
SZA has received many awards in her career. These include five Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe nomination, and an Academy Award nomination. She has also won an American Music Award, six Billboard Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and six BET Awards. She was named "Woman of the Year" at the Billboard Women in Music event in 2023.
In September 2022, SZA was included on the Time 100 Next List. At the 2022 Grammy Awards, SZA won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Doja Cat for "Kiss Me More". In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked SZA among the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time". At the 2025 Grammy Awards, SZA won Best R&B Song for her single "Saturn".
See also
In Spanish: SZA para niños
