“Songwriting is my way of storytelling, and it will always be my first and forever love.” These are words that 23-year-old Shareefa Aminah lives by. The trailblazing local musician goes by her stage moniker shazza—or Sha, as her friends call her—and has erupted onto the scene in the past year with her eclectic sounds and stirring lyrics. She has amassed a cult following of devoted fans, with her 2023 album titled Chapter One garnering well over two million listens on Spotify.
Shares shazza of her introduction to the music world: “I was exposed to a diverse mix of genres from a young age, which taught me that there are no limits to music. One of my favourite experiences as a creator now is looking at my work and finding traces of the genres I grew up listening to. It’s an irreplaceable feeling.”
A quick glance at shazza’s Instagram and one might immediately notice that the artist adopts a similar approach when it comes to her dressing. Maximalist and dispersed in aesthetic, her outfits are not shy of clashing prints and bold colours. “I like mixing masculine and feminine silhouettes, and accessorising with unique jewellery,” she muses. Layering is huge for her as well; think a long-sleeved, high-necked top underneath a sleeveless knit sweater, topped off with a silk hijab, beaded necklaces and her go-to gold hoops.
“Fashion is limitless, it allows me to convey my beliefs while staying creative and experimental.”
Regarding personal style and fashion, shazza emphasises that there’s a connection to the medium that extends beyond mere appearance. “I am a proud hijabi and modest fashion reflects many of my personal values and roots. Fashion is limitless. It means a lot to me as it allows me to convey my beliefs while staying creative and experimental.” She attributes much of her success today to women she looked up to as an adolescent, citing Malaysian singer Yuna and American fashion model Halima Aden as some of her role models. “Seeing her (Aden) on the cover of Vogue Arabia made me feel seen, which has made chasing my dreams feel that much more attainable. The power of representation is something I hold close to my heart and I want to be able to do this for other people, too.”
Photography Zantz Han
Styling Bryan Ho and Nicholas See
Producer David Bay
Make-up Lydia Thong/Makeup Entourage using Make Up Forever
Hair Hazel Tan/MakeupEntourage using Keune Haircosmetics
Photographer’s assistant Michelle Yap
The April ‘Pop’ issue of Vogue Singapore is available for sale online and in-store from April 2024.
