Zonnique, one of the former members of the group The OMG Girlz, is back to making hits as a solo artist after a five-year hiatus. Being inspired by her mother Tameka ‘Tiny’ Harris and her step-father Clifford ‘T.I.’ Harris, she is redefining her sound and story with her latest EP, The Break Up.
Zonnique spoke to rolling out to share the inspiration behind her latest project, the relationship with her child’s father, and offered women some words of encouragement.
Was your new EP or a particular song inspired by a past relationship?
I was inspired by my relationship with my child’s father. That one song though, “One More Time,” that’s on there; that’s a song that we did just randomly. Even though we were broken up still, we did it. We still have a great relationship. We’re around each other all the time. So, one day we just got in the studio at my house and was like, ‘let’s just write about how our relationship [is] in the moment.
How did you pivot as an artist after The OMG Girlz parted ways?
I would say that it was a little bit challenging for me. I feel like when you’re in a group, one of the biggest things that people do is compare you with your group members. So, I think that finding my voice was a little challenging because I was so in love with Bahja’s voice. That was my favorite voice out of the group. So, when I was just hearing myself, I’m not liking this. That’s how I felt about my voice. I feel like it took me a while to like really get comfortable in my solo career and just figure out things that fit me, things that I like, and whatever. But I think that in all that time – that hiatus that I took – I was able to get comfortable in my craft.
What has been the biggest struggle with motherhood and how have you overcome it?
I would say the biggest struggle has been balancing all the things, motherhood, a career, and a relationship. I feel like you don’t think about time until you have a kid. It’s like, ‘Ooh, I don’t have any time.’ I’m always feeling like that like, ‘Oh, I do not have time.’ I feel like the biggest struggle has been balancing. But how I’ve overcome that, I’m still figuring it out day by day. I have to do this again tomorrow and I’m not sure if I’ll have a babysitter tomorrow like I did today. But motherhood is like rolling with the punches.
What message do you want to share for Women’s History Month?
Women, love yourself, baby. You are beautiful. Do not let social media make you feel like you have to rush to accomplish things in life, baby. Take your time, do your thing, live life, be young, be free, and be happy baby. Do your thing, you got this.
