Picasso once said, “An artist cannot fail, it is a success to be one.” And while 18-year-old Jamila Ali could already be called successful, especially considering her accomplishments to date and dedication to her craft, her wide array of talents, her passion for the many interests she has and her humble and bubbly personality will undoubtedly see success continue to follow her in the foreseeable future – a future that is just beginning.
Having taken her first music class when she was just two-years-old, creativity has been a part of Ali’s life for as long as she can remember. Growing up with artistic parents, first in Toronto and currently in New Westminster, Ali’s artistic abilities were encouraged at a young age and she hasn’t stopped since. As a self-described painter, writer and musician, Ali is an artist with a style all her own. She has a unique way of expressing her many cultural influences combined with an imagination that puts an unusual spin on the everyday. While mainly self taught with the exception of a few high school art classes, Ali sings, plays bass and guitar among other instruments, writes her own songs and creates mixed-media paintings.
To be able to express your story, your thoughts and your views in one medium is challenge enough. But for Ali, being able to use her talents in several techniques allows for her expressions of herself to develop in a variety of ways; expressions that one medium may not be able to convey on its own.
Her art, a mix of fantastical creatures among brightly coloured abstract backgrounds, allows her to tell not only her story but the story of her ancestors and their influence on her life. One look at her artwork paints a picture of varied influences, like that of her heritage. With a mother of mixed descent including Irish, Norwegian and First Nations and a father from Kenya with South Asian and Middle Eastern ties, it is clear that Ali has taken her family’s history and incorporated her pride in her past throughout her artistic endeavours. “Different cultures have always really fascinated me – especially my own,” Ali explains.
An eclectic mix of tradition and imagination, Ali’s paintings evoke a curiosity in the viewer, taking them on a journey through her past that is intertwined with her present. Her method of creation is one of amalgamation as well. “I’ll walk down the street and find a frame in the alley and have to run home and bring it back so I can work on it or go into an antique store and find something broken and I’ll bring it home and make it into something.” Her recycled finds combined with acrylic paints, gold leaf, beads and jewels are just another way that Ali has incorporated the new with the old, mixing mediums to combine existing pieces with her incredible imagination.
So while her art displays a past of combined cultures, her music tells a similar tale. Influenced by both jazz and reggae, two seemingly different styles, Ali’s music is a masterful mix of the music that made an impact on her life from a young age. It is another outlet to share her story and explain her point of view. To take listeners on a journey through both her lyrics and her music allows an intimate look into her life and how she has been shaped by the many people, places and cultures that make her who she is today.
Zanderline, Ali’s Vancouver-based band, is categorized as psychedelic rock and it’d be hard to argue otherwise. With bandmate Dylan Bibby, Ali has created a unique sound, one that is soft as influenced by the sweet serenade of Ali’s voice but with a hard edge created by the strong sounds of the guitar. Evoking a dream-like state, Zanderline’s latest self-titled EP was just released at the beginning of June and features the creative sound that Ali and Bibby have found to be their own. It’s a sound that feels strangely familiar yet completely unknown.
There is life outside her art as well. Ali just recently graduated high school and is now looking towards her future education. “I’m either going to go into archaeology and anthropology or become a teacher,” Ali says about her future. “I can’t totally decide – and they’re totally different.” She also makes a lot of her own clothing and has a love for gardening which has seen her take family trips down to the US to volunteer building community gardens. While Ali has done a fair bit of traveling, she has dreams of biking down the California coast, camping and filming along the way, or visiting her grandparents’ new apple orchard in Halifax. And amidst all her interests and artistic abilities, Ali is working as well, including her favourite part of her morning that sees her feeding Toby, a young calf, his bottle followed by crafts and games with children in the park.
“I don’t know if you’ve seen any of my videos that I’ve done,” Ali wonders with enthusiasm. Paintings, songs, clothes – of course she’d make her own videos as well. With a strong interest in cinematography, Ali has created and produced several of her own videos featuring Zanderline’s music, including a claymation production set to the band’s recently released ‘Plasticine Dream.’ Being able to combine her words, music and artistic abilities; it’s no surprise Ali has created several visual and thought-provoking stories through her videos, which she both films and produces.
Ali’s impressive list of talents is enough to make anyone envious of all she can do, especially when she does it so well. And according to Picasso, she was a success long before anyone may have recognized her talents. But what does it mean to Ali? “I know there’s definitely a lot more room to grow and a lot more I can still achieve with my music and art.” And Ali has the drive to achieve, wisely noting that success is fleeting yet obviously determined by such a thought. “I don’t think there’s ever going to be a point where I can say, yes, I’m super successful and, yes, I feel like I reached that point of satisfaction that I’m looking for.”
Ali has found a way to challenge conventional beauty. Through her artistic creations, musical productions and cinematography, Ali has successfully showcased the natural beauty of the world she has been brought up in but presented it in an unusual and more imaginative way. She has brought colour and contrast to her story, taking viewers and listeners on a ride through history all while keeping them thinking about the future. Her paintings, songs and videos tell a story of someone who has accomplished so much but is capable of so much more. Which works well for Ali, because at only 18, her story is just getting started.
