“Zaga’s ability to fuse her vision with the expertise of her collaborators results in a track that resonates on both an artistic and emotional level.”
— Canadian Beats on “Written in the Earth”
“[Zaga’s] voice, ethereal and evocative, over an experimental art-pop backdrop, preaching resilience and seeking balance. Together, forming a riveting sound that is dramatic and spiritual.”
— The Permanent Rain Press on “Written in the Earth”
Biography
Aileé Zaga [I-leh Saga] is an independent artist, songwriter, and music producer based in British Columbia, Canada. She defies expectations by constantly incorporating contrasting concepts and sounds, taking the audience on a journey that flirts with the surrealistic landscapes of their imagination.
Her sound is influenced by a wide spectrum of genres, ranging from classical music and various sub-genres of rock and metal to electronic music. She creates a balance between memorable pop melodies and experimental sounds and structures. Industrial and glitch-infused beats enveloped in ethereal soundscapes are a staple of her productions. Somber guitars often juxtapose with dreamy vocal harmonies, all fused in an intricate blend of styles that accompanies her mezzo-soprano vocals. Her contemplative lyrics frequently explore the topics of life, love, and death through the lens of her experiences as a woman and an immigrant. Inspiration comes from women powerhouses such as Agnes Obel, Anna von Hausswolff, AURORA, Björk, Chelsea Wolfe, Grimes, and Zola Jesus.
Originally from Mexico City, Zaga moved to British Columbia, Canada in 2010. She has studied Bel Canto for the past 9 years under the tutelage of Lyric Soprano, Alexandra Kosachukova Babbel. In 2016, she graduated from the Center for Arts and Technology with a diploma in Audio Engineering and Music Production.
In January 2022, Zaga released her debut song “Goddess of the Dawn,” an instrumental dark ambient track inspired by cinematic soundtracks. The song features ethereal vocal soundscapes, atmospheric drone layers, slow, heavy guitars, violins, and a jarring electric cello solo. “The piece is about owning all parts of who you are and stepping into your power as a woman,” Zaga said of the song in a press release.
Zaga is beginning to carve her own space in her local music scene along with the underground music scene. She has been featured on Canadian Beats, Chill Rose Radio, KelownaNow, Kelowna10, and interFACE, as well as on Terra Relicta Dark Music Magazine, and Women of Noise. In 2022, her track “Goddess of the Dawn” was selected by London-based, avant-garde art curators “The Judgement Hall” as part of the soundtrack for one of their live events. In 2023, she was featured in “The Art of Pressing Play,” a documentary series directed by Fatiha Rezwan which explores the underground electronic music scene in Calgary.
Zaga emphasizes using her work and platform to talk about women’s empowerment as well as to increase the visibility of women in the audio and music production industries. Her YouTube channel, which has amassed over 76,000 views, featured the first all-female lineup of the popular music production challenge “4 Producers 1 Sample,” originally created by music producer and YouTuber Andrew Huang. In early 2021, she participated in the project “Ninety,” a collaboration between 90 women and non-binary music producers. The revenue from the project went towards organizations that educate and empower gender minorities in the audio industry. Zaga has also collaborated with “Music Production for Women” by contributing to their library of audio production tutorials and their MPW Sample Pack.
Shows
