Who is Glastonbury headliner SZA? Star, 34, dated Drake

She spent her early years on the gross sales ground at Sephora and dreamed of turning into a scientist by a level in marine biology. 

Now American singer SZA, 34, is ready to headline Glastonbury this summer season alongside international superstars Coldplay and Dua Lipa. 

The star rose to fame after her independently launched work caught the eye of Top Dawg Entertainment, making her the label’s first feminine artist in 2013. 

Raised in New Jersey as a Muslim by her Christian mom and Muslim father, SZA – whose actual title is Solána Imani Rowe – described her upbringing as ‘actually conservative’ – including that her mom is ‘probably the most conservative lady you have ever met’. 

She wore a hijab by elementary and center college and fasted together with her father, whereas the music she was most uncovered to as a toddler was traditional jazz. 

Now, SZA is understood for her edgy, daring glamour whereas her music type combines components of rhythm and blues, hip-hop and soul. 

Her most beloved songs by followers embody ‘Good Days’, ‘Snooze’ and ‘Kill Bill’ – the latter impressed by the well-known Quentin Tarantino movie and sees SZA overtly fantasising about killing her ex and his new girlfriend. 

The singer’s homicide ballad was the second most-played track on Valentine’s Day – second to Miley Cyrus’s ‘Flowers’ – in keeping with Spotify, with some listeners questioning why SZA would echo the ideas and behavior’s of home abusers. 

Lyrics from the track embody: ‘I simply killed my ex / Not the perfect concept / Killed his girlfriend subsequent, how’d I get there?’ 

SZA provides: ‘I do not need none, I simply need you / If I am unable to have you ever, nobody ought to.’ 

The star beforehand advised the Los Angeles Times: ‘It doesn’t suggest I’m supporting violence. 

‘The actualization of a human being is when the Buddha and the demon meet one another – they’re two ends of the identical spectrum. 

‘You cannot kill your shadow, it simply needs to be a part of you. Cleansing oneself of unfavourable emotions is an act of therapeutic. I want therapeutic for everyone.’

Written in lower than an hour by the star, the lyrics of ‘Kill Bill’ think about SZA mending her damaged coronary heart by murdering her ex-boyfriend for shifting on from their relationship too shortly. 

Due to the violent nature of the track, some radio stations opted for a censored model of ‘Kill Bill’ when enjoying the monitor by changing ‘kill’ with the sounds of a slashing blade. 

The singer even dated international famous person Drake in 2009, however claimed the connection ‘wasn’t scorching and heavy or something’. 

SZA confirmed her temporary relationship with Drake once more in October final yr however downplayed its seriousness, in keeping with the information web site Complex.  

Other rumoured companions of the star embody rapper and former accomplice of Kylie Jenner, Travis Scott, and American singer-songwriter Kehlani – though SZA has by no means publicly mentioned her sexuality, BAZAAR reported. 

After leaving Columbia High School in 2008, SZA went to 3 totally different faculties earlier than settling down at Delaware State University to enrol on a marine biology course.

However, she left Delaware State University throughout her final semester after realising a school diploma was not meant for her. 

The star-to-be spent her early years on the gross sales ground at a coach store and wonder retailer Sephora earlier than lastly deciding to pursue a profession in singing. 

Since then, she has gone on to launch two vastly profitable albums named Ctrl and SOS, in addition to one stay album and 44 singles. 

The first letter of her title stands for saviour and sovereign, while the next letters are for Zig-Zag and Allah, taking inspiration from her spiritual childhood. 

Before she signed with Top Dawg Entertainment, who boasts an iconic Hip-Hop roster together with Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q, SZA launched two EPs See.SZA.Runin in 2012 and S a yr later.

She was the primary ever feminine to be signed to the label, and launched her third EP Z by them.

Z garnered fairly a little bit of success for the singer, shifting 6,980 copies in its first week and incomes a quantity 9 spot on The Billboard Hip Hop/R&B chart.

However SZA astronomical rise to fame didn’t start till she entered a joint recording contract with RCA Records and shortly thereafter launched her debut album Ctrl.

The licensed triple platinum album included hits like Drew Barrymore and Love Galore.