A day with Orgesa Zaimi - The Rocky Mama

Orgesa Zaimi is an Albanian singer. I personally always loved her because she is so simple and spontaneous in stage, at her videos etc. This summer I had the pleasure of knowing her in person and being able to have an interview with her. I sent the first message to her and it happens all the time : i get a bit nervous because I don't know if the person will approve my offer or not. But with her it was different, she sent me back the message talking to me as a friend of hers. We met and had a really nice time; she was a mommy on the way that time and looked so cute besides all the other things. Now she has a beautiful baby girl named "Bora" (in English means snow, it's a really cute name over here). I had the pleasure to have some pics with Orgesa and knowing her from close!

Her official website : www.oz-rocks.com

-At what age did you start your singing career?

I started singing when I was 5 years old, but my career (when I became popular) started in 2005 when I was part of the “Etheve te se premtes mbrema” show, it then continued in 2006 with my participation in “Star Akademi”. It was then that I was affirmed as a singer, because at “Etheve te se premtes mbrema” I was part of the Engjëj dhe Djaj group and I didn’t have much opportunity to sing as a soloist. Instead, being part of the “Star Akademi”, I started to taste success, or that people knew me. It was that time that I sang my first song, which was a collaboration with Ronela – it was our first song, “Rekuijem” (Requiem) – and then we continued further work. But I still haven`t released any albums.

-Did you always dream about becoming a singer or did you fantasize about something different?

I don`t think you can call it a dream, because a person is cooked in a certain way and he/she cannot escape from destiny, because this is how we were created, God has given a special talent to each one of us. I believe that even if you try to run away and do something very different, like work in a firm or in administration, it still follows you, it reaches out for you, it is like a call.

-Do you see singing as a future profession or a passion or choise of the moment?

As I previously highlighted, I have been singing since when I was very young and I was brought up right for this since from the childhood, so it was something that I was sure about. Even though I studied Literature in university and it might not be so tightly connected to music, I see quite a connection between singing and poetry, lyrics. I work as a singer mostly, and I get paid for it, so it has many benefits, but I like to call myself an artist in general, not just a singer.

-Taking about lyrics, do you write your own?

My biggest problem so far has been adapting my lyrics to the songs I have been working with and sadly I still haven`t overcome it. Maybe it is just because I want things to be perfect, or at least the best and it has somehow stopped me from experimenting and being brave enough to go past the worry of not being good enough, or being judged. 

-What is your general inspiration?

I think from now on it is going to be my unborn daughter, because I have gone through so much change in the pregnancy period. From a very dynamic person, I have become more quiet and softened, more sensitive and this has definitely influenced my creativity and I expect to release a song about this period of pregnancy soon, about the sweet waiting.

-You are becoming a mum, how do you intend to manage time?

Frankly, right now I`m feeling super selfish and like a maniac and I determined to continue my career. I know I will gladly sacrifice many things for my daughter, to stay with her, but I believe that everything works out in the end. With a little bit of wishing, will and organization everything can be achieved, therefor being a successful professional musician and a family person.

(this picture is shot, nowadays, few days after she gave birth to Bora)

-How much do you care about outer appearance?

Well since when I was little I had a fondness of combining colors, clothing and many people that know me for years now say that I always had a good taste in fashion, i.e. when I was in high school, though it was an economically struggling moment for all Albanians, I didn`t like to wear two days in a row the same outfit, it was kind of a rule of mine. Just like at the movie “These girls”, along with a group of friends, we wore specific t-shirts at specific days. I generally try to have a curated look and I don`t like to go out looking indecent. I like a casual look but which is still well combined; you never know who you are going to run into. As Coco Chanel said you should never go out unprepared, because you never know what is expecting you, it can be the most important day of your life therefor you ought to look decent. But I don`t generally think much about clothes, I think about a dress or a t-shirt in the morning and I just go and wear that. Sometimes my clothing depends from my mood, so practically everything is related to emotional and physical condition. (laughs)

-How would you describe your style? 

My style is hardly describable. I like to be affected by the summer, spring tendencies, though I prefer mostly an androgynous look. Since when I was little I liked to put on my dad`s shirts. I like a masculine style combined with a feminine one, so you don`t look like a boy, but adapting some details that make your look more rebel. Though my style has changed a bit, I used to wear only dark shades – like dark blue, green and black - but I wear colorful clothes in the summer now. I think if I had to describe my style I would say rebel and a little rock, due to my music, which is rock or pop rock. I get influenced by so many things, that`s why I don`t want to describe it with one word. I like to adjust myself to different things and experiment, or create something new once you are inspired by another singer/actor, but without coping.

-Your clips are always simple and original, do you get advised about your outfit or is it your choice?

The biggest problem in Albanian clips is that you cannot escape copping foreign models and you often see an Albanian singer wearing a cloth custom tailored to copy big singers like Rihanna or Beyonce. They copy practically everything at times. In my clips I don`t think too much about the clothes and they are not the first thing crossing my mind not even in life. It is more important the product I`m introducing than what I am wearing. Fashion is a very important part but not the most important one, because as I said before, some singers pay more attention to clothing then to what they are producing and bringing to the audience. In any case, simplicity is the best thing because you can never go wrong, i.e. it is never a mistake wearing black and white, like in one of my clips. In one clip I did in Geneva, “Every Minute”, everything was so spontaneous, it was just something I started with friend Stela. We had the camera ready, everything ready to shoot, and that is the first phase, then we worried about clothes and fashion. We went in front of the mirror and experimented with each other`s clothes, we did our make-up and that was it. I think spontaneity is the best thing, rather than spending 3 whole months worrying about what you are going to wear, to get a model in the internet and tailor it, copy. Spontaneity, originality and simple things are the best.

-What do you like to shop, brands or it doesn't matter?

For every woman it is quite a drug – I mean from the moment you have a credit card. Though I am not a big fan of brands, but I like more the popular ones likes Zara, H&M, Bershka. I also like buying online. I am obsessed with underwear and I spend quite a lot on them. I think people generally don`t spend too much on underwear. Commodity in the clothes right on your flesh is very important afterwards come the other clothing pieces. I do buy a lot of clothes, especially when I am abroad, if I start I can`t stop. (laughs). When I was in England, for about one week, I shopped more than ever, it was even June so there was a massive sale.

-Let`s talk about commercialism, it has a big impact on Albanian singers, including both their clothing and creations  what is your opinion on the matter?

My personal opinion, as someone completely free from the super luxurious shopping is that as artists we have to appear in different clothes, which means that we should have quite a large budget so we can start spending, and have the possibility not to be seen twice in the same outfit. So many singers are self-sacrificing, so much that they do huge spending. I think it is not so important to buy from the most famous brands. I`d rather wear something casual and “normal” under the brand of Bershka, Zara or so on. Everything can be managed with a certain budget, which doesn`t exceed your income.

-Who would you rather be for one day? 

For one day I would like to be the character of Charlie Chaplin, to stay in the street with that cute costume, the walking stick and hat. It is one of my favorite characters.

-What is your message to your fans?

I don`t like the term fans, because in Albania it doesn't really work like that. They are more people who like your work and appreciate it. Fan is a very big word for Albania, because the market doesn`t work that way, and you don`t have the luxury to have actual fans. There are people who admire your songs, you as an individual. Fans usually follow the artists they prefer wherever they are. Although, for everyone who likes my work, my advice for this summer is to drink as much water as they can, because that is what I am doing (laughs) and to think positively. There are more important things than shopping, clothes and outer appearance. It is a cliché, but what`s inside counts most.

Here is one of my favorite songs of hers:

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Love, Kiki