"To define is to stagnate. So I probably would say I don’t define myself, says Zanillya. She may avoid defining herself, but her music does it for her. Zanillya is a rapper, singer-songwriter, producer based in Amsterdam. Beloved by tastemakers across the board from Sway Calloway, Toddla T, Jack Saunders, Jamz Supernova to Future Classic, Wonderland, Fred Perry, i-D and DUMMY as well as receiving radio support from the likes of BBC 1Xtra and BBC 6 Music.
Zanillya needs to be true to herself. Releasing a slew of dancehall-tinged tropical pop burners, she's marked herself out as a vocalist to watch, with her hook-heavy R&B approach blessed with colossal potential. The result is curiously idiosyncratic, the sound of a newcomer taking club tropes and melding them to her own life, her own outlook.
- CLASH
Working tirelessly on her music over the last few years, Zanillya music has been used by major brands like FIFA, UEFA, Nike, Colgate, Vodafone, Smilf, Showtime, MTV, River Island, Grown - Ish, Ray Ban and many more.
From capturing the attention of music listeners since 2018 with “For You” and “In It 4 a Lifetime”, to accumulating support from key tastemakers and a dedicated fan base alike, it’s just the start for this emerging artist, as the triple threat’s passion and creative abilities see her stand firm in her notable presence in the scene.
Zanillya and Humphrey Dennis have been working together for almost a decade now. They officially formed the group MariaDennis in 2020 to get out some of the more playful, fun, dance and pop-oriented ideas that didn’t necessarily fit their solo projects. Their first single ‘You Extra’ was the soundtrack to the 2020/ 2021 SEAT Ibiza & Arona worldwide ad. Their sophomore single ‘Hold On’ was released in June of 2020 on the iconic Australian label Future Classic (Flume, Nick Murphy, SOPHIE, Flight Facilities, Ta-ku).