She spent her early years on the sales floor at Sephora and dreamed of becoming a scientist through a degree in marine biology.
Now American singer SZA, 34, is set to headline Glastonbury this summer alongside global superstars Coldplay and Dua Lipa.
The star rose to fame after her independently released work caught the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment, making her the label’s first female artist in 2013.
Raised in New Jersey as a Muslim by her Christian mother and Muslim father, SZA – whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe – described her upbringing as ‘really conservative’ – adding that her mother is ‘the most conservative woman you’ve ever met’.
She wore a hijab through elementary school and middle school, revealing in recent years how she decided to remove it after the 9/11 attacks.
‘I stopped covering after 9/11,’ she said. ‘I was in Middle school, and I regret so much being afraid of what people said about me – that I let somebody dictate how I was.’
Brought up listening to classic jazz, SZA’s music now combines elements of rhythm and blues, hip-hop and soul.
Her most loved songs by fans include ‘Good Days’, ‘Snooze’ and ‘Kill Bill’ – the latter inspired by the famous Quentin Tarantino film and sees SZA openly fantasising about killing her ex and his new girlfriend.
SZA , 34, (pictured) is set to headline Glastonbury this summer alongside global superstars Coldplay and Dua Lipa
SZA is known for her edgy, bold glamour while her music style combines elements of rhythm and blues, hip-hop and soul
SZA is pictured with a Grammy award alongside singer Doja Cat at the 2022 awards
Dua Lipa, 28, (pictured) is also headlining Glastonbury music festival this summer
Coldplay (pictured) is one of the three acts to headline Glastonbury this year, alongside SZA and Dua Lipa
The singer’s murder ballad was the second most-played song on Valentine’s Day – second to Miley Cyrus’s ‘Flowers’ – according to Spotify, with some listeners questioning why SZA would echo the thoughts and behaviour’s of domestic abusers.
Lyrics from the song include: ‘I just killed my ex / Not the best idea / Killed his girlfriend next, how’d I get there?’
SZA adds: ‘I don’t want none, I just want you / If I can’t have you, no one should.’
The star previously told the Los Angeles Times: ‘It doesn’t mean I’m supporting violence.
‘The actualization of a human being is when the Buddha and the demon meet each other – they’re two ends of the same spectrum.
‘You can’t kill your shadow, it just has to be part of you. Cleansing oneself of negative feelings is an act of healing. I wish healing for everybody.’
Written in less than an hour by the star, the lyrics of ‘Kill Bill’ imagine SZA mending her broken heart by murdering her ex-boyfriend for moving on from their relationship too quickly.
Due to the violent nature of the song, some radio stations opted for a censored version of ‘Kill Bill’ when playing the track by replacing ‘kill’ with the sounds of a slashing blade.
The singer even dated global superstar Drake in 2009, but claimed the relationship ‘wasn’t hot and heavy or anything’.
SZA confirmed her brief relationship with Drake again in October last year but downplayed its seriousness, according to the news website Complex.
SZA rose to fame after her independently released work caught the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment, making her the label’s first female artist in 2013
SZA and Doja Cat accept the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance awards at the Grammy Awards 2022
SZA’s musical style combines elements of rhythm and blues, hip-hop and soul
SZA has released two hugely successful albums named Ctrl and SOS, as well as one live album and 44 singles
Other rumoured partners of the star include rapper and former partner of Kylie Jenner, Travis Scott, and American singer-songwriter Kehlani – although SZA has never publicly discussed her sexuality, BAZAAR reported.
After leaving Columbia High School in 2008, SZA went to three different colleges before settling down at Delaware State University to enrol on a marine biology course.
However, she left Delaware State University during her last semester after realising a college degree was not meant for her.
The star-to-be spent her early years on the sales floor at a trainer shop and beauty retailer Sephora before finally deciding to pursue a career in singing.
Since then, she has gone on to release two hugely successful albums named Ctrl and SOS, as well as one live album and 44 singles.
The first letter of her name stands for saviour and sovereign, whilst the following letters are for Zig-Zag and Allah, taking inspiration from her religious childhood.
Before she signed with Top Dawg Entertainment, SZA released two EPs See.SZA.Runin in 2012 and S a year later
SZA is known for her edgy and glamorous clothes and her soulful music
SZA at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles
Before she signed with Top Dawg Entertainment, who boasts an iconic Hip-Hop roster including Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q, SZA released two EPs See.SZA.Runin in 2012 and S a year later.
She was the first ever female to be signed to the label, and released her third EP Z through them.
Z garnered quite a bit of success for the singer, shifting 6,980 copies in its first week and earning a number nine spot on The Billboard Hip Hop/R&B chart.
However SZA astronomical rise to fame did not begin until she entered a joint recording contract with RCA Records and shortly thereafter launched her debut album Ctrl.
The certified triple platinum album included hits like Drew Barrymore and Love Galore.
