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Introduce yourself to people not familiar with your career so far.
My name is Neda Zehra, and I’m a singer, songwriter, international fashion model, performer, author, and CEO of Neda Zehra Model & Co. based in the United States. I’ve spent most of my life in front of the camera as a professional model, working in fashion shows and publications around the world.
Music became the space where I could finally express the deeper parts of myself. It’s where I feel spiritually connected and aligned.
My sound blends pop, a little R&B, Bollywood influence, and feminine empowerment energy. My latest release, “Call Me Tina,” introduces my alter ego Tina. A character was born during a time when I was rebuilding myself after life had broken me down.
Everything I create is about transformation, confidence, and reminding people that they have the power to rewrite their own story.
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How would you describe your sound or artistic style to someone hearing you for the first time?
My sound lives somewhere between confident pop, sultry R&B, and powerful feminine energy. It’s music that makes you feel bold, a little rebellious, and completely in your power while also being inspirational.
I love blending catchy hooks with attitude and storytelling. My songs often feel like stepping into a character like my alter ego Tina who represents the fearless version of myself that emerged after rebuilding my life.
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When did you first realize you wanted to pursue music seriously?
Music was always something I loved privately. As a child I wrote poetry and lyrics, but I didn’t pursue it seriously until a few years ago when I realized how powerful music was as a form of healing and expression.
After going through personal challenges and rebuilding my life as a single mother and entrepreneur, I found myself writing constantly. The songs began to feel like messages I needed to share not just something for myself.
That’s when I realized music wasn’t just a hobby. It was part of my purpose.
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Who or what are your biggest influences, both musically and outside of music?
Musically, I’ve always been drawn to strong performers who combine confidence, performance, and storytelling. I grew up listening to artists like Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, the Spice Girls, the Pussycat Dolls, Eminem, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson. They each brought something powerful to the stage not just music, but presence and identity.
Outside of music, my biggest influences are my children and my life experiences. Being a mother, building businesses, and navigating difficult moments in life taught me resilience and strength. That perspective naturally shows up in my music and the stories I tell.
My music producer Steve Miglorie and music distributor Robert Schwartz have also played a huge role in my journey. From the moment I stepped into the studio, they believed in me and my vision. That kind of support can change everything for an artist. Their belief pushed me to take my music seriously and trust my voice. Steve in particular has always encouraged me to stay authentic and show the real version of myself as an artist.
My professional backup dancers have also been an incredibly important part of my journey. Many of them are professional dancers and cheerleaders from major sports teams, and working together created something really special. Over time we became more than collaborators, we became family. They are like sisters to me. They bring so much energy, joy, and support into my life, and they always show up believing in me. A group that understood me and my dream.
A huge shoutout to a few of the incredible women who have been part of this journey: Ria Troilo, Angelica Bua, Peyton Smith, Emily Pelletier, Paige DeAngelo, Ashley Hillis, Marissa Danielle, Ashlynn Widger, and Emily Yi, along with so many others dancers who have performed with me. Thank you. I’m incredibly grateful for them all. My shows truly wouldn’t be the same without these amazing women.
I’m also deeply inspired by the larger creative community that surrounds my work, my models who continue to believe in my vision, the designers who help create the glamorous looks I wear on stage, the DJs who bring new energy and inspiration into performances , make up artists and hairstylists who make me feel sexy and the photographers and content creators who capture the moments and help bring the visual side of my artistry to life. Most important my family and friends !
And finally, my soul sister Sara Rizvi has always been one of my biggest role models and my biggest cheerleaders. Since I was young she has always believed that I was meant for big things. Her belief in me has been a constant reminder to keep pushing forward and never stop chasing my dreams. Thank you for always believing in me.
All of these people the ones who believed in me, supported me, and helped shape my journey are part of the creative energy that fuels everything I do.
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How does your personal life or background shape your creative process?
My background shapes everything I create.
I’m an American Muslim woman who has gone through many transformations from difficult relationships to rebuilding my life independently while raising my children.
Those experiences taught me about strength, rebirth, and self-worth. When I write music, I’m not just writing lyrics , I’m channeling moments of growth, pain, healing, and empowerment.
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Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished project?
Everything usually starts with a feeling or concept.
Sometimes it’s a phrase that pops into my head, sometimes it’s an emotion or moment I experienced. From there I start writing melodies and lyrics, often building a character or perspective around the idea.
Once the song is written, I work closely with producers to shape the sound. After that, I think about the visual world of the song, the performance, aesthetic, and storytelling. For me, music isn’t just audio. It’s a full creative experience.
For example, “Call Me Tina” actually started from a photoshoot.
At the time I was going through a difficult period in my life and felt completely lost. My hair had been damaged from constant dyeing and I didn’t feel like myself anymore. The creative director of the shoot told me she had a look in mind and brought a wig for me to wear.
The moment I put on that wig something shifted. I suddenly felt confident again. I felt beautiful. I felt like I could see myself again , my inner child and the version of me that had been missing.
It felt like my spirit was reborn. That’s when I named her Tina.
People assumed it was inspired by Tina Turner, and eventually I embraced that connection because she represents strength and reinvention.
That wig ended up traveling with me everywhere such as Mexico, Canada, London, New York, Vegas, and Miami. My friends started wearing it too, and it became a fun trend. During COVID people even bought the wig for their Zoom meetings and jokingly called themselves Tina.
Then one Halloween I was with friends wearing the wig again and felt so happy. I realized , why isn’t there a song about this? That’s when “Call Me Tina” was born.
Everyone who knows me understands when Tina shows up — it means confidence, freedom, and stepping fully into yourself.
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What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far as an emerging artist?
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to navigate the music industry while building everything independently.
Funding projects, creating visuals, and promoting music requires a lot of work and resources. But those challenges also made me stronger and more creative. They forced me to wear many hats artist, creative director, entrepreneur and build my vision from the ground up.
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What moment in your journey made you feel like this could really become something big?
Performing and seeing the audience connect with the music in real time was a huge moment for me.
When people start singing your lyrics back to you or telling you that your song made them feel stronger or seen, that’s when you realize music has real impact.
That’s when it stopped feeling like a dream and started feeling like a real path.
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How do you balance staying authentic while also thinking about growth and visibility?
For me authenticity always comes first.
If the music is real and the story is honest, the right audience will find it. Of course I think about visibility and reaching more people, but I never want to lose the core of who I am as an artist.
Growth should amplify your voice not change it.
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What themes or emotions do you find yourself returning to in your work?
A lot of my music centers around rebirth, confidence, independence, and feminine power.
I love telling stories about transformation, the moment when someone decides they’re no longer going to shrink themselves for the world.
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What sets you apart from other artists coming up right now?
I think what sets me apart is the combination of my life experience and my creative world.
I’ve spent years working in fashion, performance, and visual storytelling as an international model and performer. Because of that background, when I create music it naturally expands beyond just the song, it becomes a full artistic vision with visuals, performance, and storytelling.
Also, my journey into music came after a lot of real life experience. I didn’t step into this industry straight out of childhood. I’ve lived through transformation, challenges, rebuilding my life, and learning who I really am. That life experience gives my music a deeper perspective and authenticity that people can feel.
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Is there a song, project, or piece of work of yours that feels especially personal to you? Why?
“Call Me Tina” is extremely personal to me.
Tina represents the version of myself that emerged after rebuilding my life. She’s confident, bold, and unapologetic. The song is about stepping into that power and not letting anyone define who you are.
In many ways, Tina is the woman I had to become to survive and grow.
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What have you learned about yourself since starting to share your work publicly?
I’ve learned that vulnerability can actually be a strength.
Sharing music means sharing parts of yourself, and that can feel scary. But I’ve also seen how honesty creates connection. When people relate to something you’ve created, it reminds you that art has the power to bring people together.
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If you could collaborate with any artist right now, who would it be and why?
I would love to collaborate with Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, or Eminem.
They represent confidence, individuality, and evolution not only as artists but also as entrepreneurs. They’ve built entire creative worlds around their artistry, and I admire that.
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What can listeners or viewers expect from your upcoming releases?
Listeners can expect bold energy, powerful visuals, and music that makes people feel confident and unstoppable.
I’m excited to continue expanding the world around Tina and bringing listeners deeper into that energy , music that celebrates transformation, independence, and stepping fully into who you’re meant to be.
More than anything, I want people to walk away from my music feeling empowered. I want them to understand that no matter what they’ve been through, they have the power to recreate themselves and rewrite their story as long as they believe in themselves.
Linktree link https://linktr.ee/nedazehra