Zsela

Emerging from Brooklyn as Zsela Thompson, the artist who performs under the stylized name Zsela (ZHAY-la) introduced her recorded work in early 2019 via the dreamy ballad “Noise.” The track generated considerable online attention and accumulated hundreds of thousands of streams, setting the stage for her April 2020 output: the three-song Live! EP, where she acknowledged Talk Talk, Nina Simone, and Tim Buckley, alongside the self-released five-track studio EP Ache of Victory. The latter project was captured in collaboration with producer Daniel Aged (Frank Ocean, Kelela). Anchored by her smoky vocals, these releases showcased her approach to art songs that blend wispy dream pop with intimate bedroom R&B, earning widespread critical praise and attracting industry supporters drawn to her haunting, sophisticated slow songs. Momentum from this period also secured appearances at Carnegie Hall and MoMA PS1.

Following her move to Los Angeles, Zsela entered a recording agreement with Mexican Summer, which brought forth her debut full-length, Big for You, in June 2024. Co-produced by the artist herself together with Aged and Gabe Wax (Beirut, Soccer Mommy), the album expanded her sound with more vulnerable and artfully layered arrangements, incorporating contributions from guests such as Marc Ribot, Nick Hakim, and Slauson Malone 1’s Jasper Marsalis.