In this interview spotlight, I chat with Arlene Zelina about her new release, technology, challenges and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

I’m originally from Melbourne, Australia! I’ve always been into pop music with urban and soulful undertones. I like to create music that is vocally driven. Where the vocals lead the song rather than the production overpowering the vocals. I love to use different elements from different genres and mix it all into a catchy pop song.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?

I started singing and dancing when I was 3 years old. From that point on, absolutely nothing has changed. I’ve known nothing different so it’s almost a lifestyle where I don’t ever have to force myself to do it. Of course there are times when I feel less inspired, but continually listening to new music and seeing what different artists are doing and achieving keeps me motivated to better myself.

How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?

My upcoming song, Dream Of Me, is a little bit of a new direction for me. I was always a little nervous to be vocal about certain topics but as I have grown and developed as an artist, I am so much more confident and unapologetic about who I am and what I stand for. The sound has a more urban/R&B vibe compared to my previous singles. It isn’t a complete departure but definitely has a more mature sound. What I wanted to achieve from this song was to empower woman to explore their imagination and the idea of who they are.

Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?

Technology has completely revolutionized the music industry. It makes it so much easier to be an independent artist but also means that the industry is more saturated than ever. It’s taken a lot of experimentation but you have to continually develop new ideas on how to promote your music – because technology is changing so quickly. For me, it’s allowed me to reach audiences worldwide and directly interact with my fans!

Where can we follow you online and hear more music?

For my cover songs: youtube.com/arlenezelina

For my originals: Arlene Zelina on Spotify/iTunes

instagram.com/arlenezelina

Anything else before we sign off?

It’s a very exciting time for women in music and I am so glad I can be a part of it.