Zola Steelpan on being a creative chameleon and becoming a freelance pannist
Ayeshah’s journey into the steelpan world began at the age of six, attending practice at her local African Caribbean community centre in Leicester. Ten years later, her dedication and skill earned her a spot in Contrast, the band led by her pan teacher, which eventually paved the way for her to go freelance as Zola Steelpan, performing at events from weddings to festivals.
Although steelpan started as a hobby, Ayeshah pursued a degree in Fashion, with the initial goal of becoming a designer due to her creativity. However, her career path led her into fashion merchandising, a role she soon realised didn’t align with her passion. Despite this, Ayeshah values the skills she gained, including creativity, graphic design, and hands-on garment creation, all of which have been beneficial as she transitioned into freelance work. She remains open to returning to fashion, but likely not in merchandising, suggesting she may explore other areas of her creative background in the future.
When Ayeshah went freelance with her music, she didn’t expect how emotionally draining it could be or how much burnout could result from being around people all the time. As a performer, she feels a great responsibility to give
her best at every gig, which means taking care of herself, eating well and getting enough sleep is crucial. “I’m not just selling a product,” she says. “I’m the performer and I want to do the best job possible.” Every time she plays, she sees it as a way to not only develop her skills but also make someone’s day or event special. Reflecting on her previous role in fashion, she explains, “I felt like working in fashion, morally and ethically, wasn’t sitting right with me,” adding that the satisfaction she gets from her music is far more rewarding.
Ayeshah’s freelance journey as Zola Steelpan began with her busking on the streets. It was here she figured out her repertoire, testing different songs and noticing which ones got people dancing and clapping. This helped her build the perfect setlist over time.
When she’s booked for events now, Ayeshah always asks about the dress code and theme so she can tailor her performance to match the vibe, often including special song requests. “I want to give customers what they’ve imagined in their heads,” she says, especially when it comes to learning first dance songs for weddings, which she finds incredibly meaningful.
One of her favourite events is Notting Hill Carnival, where she performs for free every year. Although she’s frustrated that steelpan players don’t always get the respect or pay they deserve, she’s passionate about the culture and celebration. “It’s not about making money” she explains. “It’s about bringing music to people.” Ayeshah encourages everyone to check out Panorama, the UK’s biggest steelpan competition, held the day before Carnival. “You’ll never see so many pans in your whole life,” she says, describing the hundreds involved.
Beyond music, Ayeshah has countless creative ideas she wants to explore. One project in development is Zola Retna, which will incorporate her creativity with fashion and graphic design. She envisions it as an art shop where she can explore a new style of creativity.
Ayeshah’s biggest piece of advice for anyone pursuing their passion is simple but powerful: “You have to believe that you have something to offer, something good, and that the world needs to hear it.” She stresses the importance of confidence, adding that you have to play like you mean it and, if mistakes happen, it’s not the end of the world. Patience is key too, and she emphasises the importance of treating your craft like a business with goals so you can learn from what works and make improvements.
Her philosophy? “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Looking ahead, Ayeshah is excited about expanding her music on Spotify, both as a producer and as an independent artist. Her original music, released under her artist name ZOLATEC, blends a mix of underground, alternative, electronic, witchy, dreamy, and emo influences, with steelpan woven into the sound. It’s still a work in progress as she figures out the direction she wants to take it in, but she’s passionate about getting a festival gig with her own music and reaching more people. “There’s a community around ZOLATEC and a message I’m trying to build as well,” she says, hinting at exciting developments in her music career.
Everything Ayeshah does is music-related; when she’s not working, she’s either practising, making music or attending music events.
To learn more about Ayeshah’s work, visit her website at zolatec.co.uk, and follow her on Instagram at @zolatec and @zolasteelpan.
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