Amariyah Mallory 
The next artist in our FTG Spotlight Feature is Zion Ali. This Chicago singer/actor won over the True Star Open Mic audience with his smooth R&B vocals that earned him a spot on the From The ‘Go stage. Keep reading to find out more about this up and coming artist!
What does it mean to you to perform at the From The Go Fest?
To perform at the From The ‘Go Fest means the absolute world to me because it gives me another platform to showcase my talent to the youth to show them that we don’t have to be what the media is portraying us to be.
How do you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe myself as a youth empowering, self-believer, self-love advocate, just elevating self and making sure that we all have the confidence to do whatever we want to pursue.
How did your passion for music begin?
I was first a producer. I produced on this tablet. I forgot what it was, I think the app was called GarageBand, and I composed songs/recomposed songs that I’ve heard before, like The Wiz songs and songs from movies and other scores. My father saw that I had a niche for that, so he got me the studio software Reason, and then I elevated to a different software. That’s when I started to sing and I started singing at Seven.
Who are your musical influences?
Chance the Rapper, MC Hammer, and Michael Jackson.
How did you come up with your stage name?
I had a different stage name, but I chose my name because it had power to it. Zion [means] God’s holy mountain and Ali means champion.
What are your main goals for your music career?
Just to make this my main thing, and to have a stadium filled with everyone. I’m talking about kids from the age of three to people to the age of 70, and just everybody vibing, everybody safe. Everybody, nobody getting trampled on. Everybody filling up football stadiums, and just changing the world with positive music.
What artists would you like to collaborate with in the future?
I’d love to collab with Chance (the Rapper). I would love to collab with the greats that are still alive, like Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Jay Z. I’m really abroad. Like people from Chicago, just everybody who’s aligned with my message of positivity.
What advice would you give the other emerging artists?
Be yourself! I know that sounds cliche, but being yourself is your lane, because you grow up watching what you watched and listening to what you listen to, you can get inspired. You can gain inspiration to make music from a TV show or a kids’ show or a score at the end of a movie that made you feel inspired. So being yourself is the most beneficial way of being successful or finding your lane or your niche.
Where do you hope to have the opportunity to perform one day?
The From ‘Go Fest is lovely. I’m very grateful for From the Go Fest. I would love to fill up football stadiums and to do a youth tour for the different schools. Just to showcase my talents and show the children that we don’t have to be, what the media is trying to get us to be.
What has been the highlight of your musical career thus far?
From The ‘Go Fest for sure, and just me breathing, me being alive, me being here. It takes a lot to do what I do; the patience and the grace. And I feel like that’s for anybody else who’s trying to do it, because everybody has a different story. People come from different backgrounds.
What are your hobbies outside of music?
Music is really it. I make music to heal myself actually, for the stress. There’s a bunch of stuff. I could say I can rap. I can really rap. But I choose to create positive music because sometimes I really need it. And I play my songs when I’m on the way to go anywhere. I play my songs to uplift me. I put my headphones in when I’m around a bunch of people and I just feel like my ego has been tested or something like that. So I need my music for myself just as much as I feel other people would need my music to go and help them throughout their day.
When did you know that you wanted to pursue music?
When I started producing music and I started singing, when I started rapping, um, I felt that I was different.
How do you describe your style when it comes to making music?
Peace, love, and positivity and motivation. Uplifting yourself and just self-love.
Make sure you come out to the annual From The ‘Go Fest, July 27th from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the DuSable Museum campus. Get your FREE festival pass by clicking here.
By Amariyah Mallory, Junior, Whitney Young
IG| Dancemari_
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