Exzenya Unveils "Scansion" with a Captivating New Release and an In-Depth Look at the Artist Behind the Music
- STAFF
- 19 hours ago
- 13 min read
By: Staff
Exzenya’s "Scansion" is a genre-defying masterpiece that pulses with raw emotion, unstoppable energy, and unrivaled depth.
We recently spoke with the bold, genre-defying artist Exzenya, whose latest single "Scansion" is creating waves across the music scene. With a hypnotic blend of Spanish-infused pop-R&B, the track is a magnetic exploration of primal attraction, vulnerability, and connection. From the moment the beat kicks in, Scansion takes you on an emotional ride, balancing sensuality with fierce independence in a way that feels both timeless and fresh. It’s the kind of song that demands attention, with an infectious hook and evocative rhythms that are impossible to ignore.
Known for her unapologetically fearless approach to music, Exzenya’s artistry is a fusion of personal experiences and universal truths. As someone who has lived and worked across borders, cultures, and languages, her sound is as much a reflection of her multifaceted life as it is of the intricate emotional landscapes she explores in her songwriting. In this interview, she opens up about the inspiration behind Scansion, revealing the deeper emotional currents that informed its creation. From discussing her journey of self-discovery to sharing how her diverse background in psychology and behavioral analysis shapes her creative process, Exzenya pulls back the curtain on what makes her music resonate so deeply with listeners around the globe.
Her music is more than just sound, it’s an invitation to experience a story, to feel something real, and to connect with emotions that are often left unspoken. Exzenya’s bold new single Scansion is a perfect example of that, showcasing her incredible vocal talent, her unique perspective, and her commitment to creating music that speaks to the soul.
We got together with Exzenya for an exciting interview to delve into the stories and happenings behind the making of this and learn more about the artist in "The Cage" Music Blog and we are excited to share it with you!
Begin Interview:
Hello Exzenya, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. For fans encountering you for the first time, is Exzenya your birth name or a stage name? What inspired you to adopt this persona and how does it reflect who you are as an artist?
A. Exzenya is a stage name I created with intention. I’m open and honest about the music, and I keep clear, respectful boundaries so everyone around the work stays safe. That balance—radical transparency in the art, thoughtful privacy in life—is core to the EXZENYA EXPERIENCE™. The name “Exzenya” has been with me for years; it captures the qualities I lead with: graceful, sleek, fearless, and primally exotic. It isn’t a character—it’s the focused, braver version of me that helped me move through stage fright and step fully into the artist I’ve always been. The name is original and currently in the trademark process.
Q. Your vocal presence is both expansive and captivating. When did you first truly discover your voice as an artist, from singing in private moments to stepping into a professional studio setting? How did that transition shape the way you perform today?
A. I began formal vocal lessons in October—about a year and a half ago—and I work live with my instructor while we record as the music is being made. The first time I heard my voice back, I hated it. Like a lot of artists, I struggled with hearing myself objectively. Training my ear to hear what others hear took reps: listening back, wincing, making adjustments, trying again.
When I received the first mix of “Drunk Texting,” I sat on it for two and a half months. I didn’t like my voice, and the production felt different from what I’d imagined. It was my first release and I didn’t have the experience yet. Since then, steady coaching and a lot of honest playback have helped me start to find my voice—and even find parts of it I like. The self-doubt and perfectionism are still there, but I don’t see them as negatives; they keep me curious, coachable, and focused on getting better.
Today I approach recording and performance the same way: breathe, place the vowels, mean the words, and keep what feels true. I’m still becoming the voice I hear in my head, but every session brings me closer—and that growth is part of what I want listeners to experience with me.
Q. What is the core message or meaning behind “Scansion”? Can you walk us through the inspiration or emotional journey behind the track?
A. “Scansion” is a bold, magnetic fusion of Spanish-tinged pop, R&B sensuality, and world-influenced vocal artistry. The title borrows from the musical term—scanning the lines of a verse to determine its rhythm—and I flip that idea into something primal and physical. In my world, scansion means scanning a person’s body, movement, and energy until you lock into their rhythm with instinctive precision.
This isn’t a love song; it’s about primal passion—syncing so completely that you move in time before words are ever spoken. It’s a meeting of frequencies that’s physical, musical, and electric. The production leans moody and hypnotic; the vocal shifts through vibrato textures, flips, and primally exotic growls, with riffs drawn from Arabian scales. Every note is placed with intention so the cultural colors sit naturally inside contemporary pop/R&B. The result is both primal and sophisticated—fierce yet vulnerable—the sound of attraction decoded through rhythm.
Track Summary
Title: Scansion
Genre Identity: Spanish-Influenced Pop & Contemporary R&B with World Vocal Elements
Hook Concept: Scanning a person’s rhythm like a musician scans a verse—locking in before words are spoken.
For Fans Of: Shakira, Teddy Swims, Toni Braxton, Ricky Martin, Rosalía
Style Tags: Spanish Pop, R&B Fusion, World Vocal Elements, Female Vocals, Sensual Storytelling
Moods: Seductive, Primal, Hypnotic, Confident, Magnetic
Pitch Tags: Spanish Pop, Latin Pop, Electro-Pop, Rhythmic Pop, World Music Fusion
Q. When it comes to crafting your music, do you typically start by working solo in your home studio, or do you collaborate with external producers? And once the track is done, do you mix and master it yourself, or do you hand it off to another expert?
A. I write alone, and the lyrics come first. The words tell me the tempo, mood, and colors, and I build the music around that—drums, bass, chords, and textures. Once the track is taking shape, I work with my vocal instructor to shape the vocal arrangement and performance—she helps me explore the vocal delivery to the lyrics I’ve created and the sound I’ve built (phrasing, tone, dynamics, where to sit in the groove). We record live as the song comes together to capture real performances. When everything is in place, I send the full session to my producer; his role is to mix and master what I’ve created and add the final polish so it translates everywhere. I keep creative control of the writing and arrangement; he brings out the best in the sound.
Q. Exzenya has become a voice that celebrates the boldness of living authentically, no matter your age. How do your experience and age shape your creative approach and the music you produce today?
A. Stage fright didn’t silence me, but it’s a big part of why I waited until later to step forward. What changed is maturity: life experience pushed me toward my goals because leaving them undone would mean living with “what-ifs.” I believe everyone should reach for their goals—you don’t have to put all your eggs in one basket, but you should give yourself the chance.
Age, for me, means a broader acceptance of people and life—more empathy, more understanding. That shows up in the songs: I write alone, I’m intentional, I don’t chase trends, and I finish what I start. I keep clear, respectful boundaries so the space around the music stays safe; that’s part of the EXZENYA EXPERIENCE™. The result is work that’s honest and welcoming—confident without being arrogant, focused without losing heart.
Q. How does your background in psychology and behavioral analysis influence your songwriting process?
A. I don’t practice as a psychologist. My background is broader: multiple bachelor’s degrees and a master’s across psychology, applied behavior analysis, communications, and conflict/dispute resolution, plus college-level study in world religions and cultures, over 20 years working in developmental disabilities, exposure to the medical field, elements of law, and a lot of time learning inside other cultures. I write from both lived and observed experience, informed by that education.
I do use psychological terms in my songs—then I explain them in plain language inside the lyric so listeners don’t need a textbook to follow the idea.
“Intermittent Love” uses intermittent reinforcement/punishment to show why on–off cycles keep people stuck.
“Regulator of My Dopamine” explores the reward system and stability—too much or too little throws you off; balance lets you breathe.
“Scansion” takes the musical idea of scanning a line to determine its rhythm and applies it to bodies and energy—locking into someone’s rhythm before words.
My goal isn’t to diagnose—it’s to connect. I want someone to feel, “I’m not alone,” and to have language for what’s happening to them, not “what’s wrong with me.” That blend of radical transparency in the art and respectful boundaries in life is core to the EXZENYA EXPERIENCE™.
Q. How do you define your musical style, especially considering your genre-fluid approach? What influences are at play in creating something that speaks to a global audience?
A. At the core it’s Spanish-influenced pop and contemporary R&B with world vocal elements—rhythm-first, hook-driven, and unapologetically emotional. I like grooves that travel and melodies you can carry without a translator.
I build around three pillars:
Rhythm: Latin-leaning percussion and modern R&B pulse—music you feel in your body first.
Voice: Big, expressive lead with textures (vibrato shifts, flips, primally exotic growls) and riffs informed by Arabian scales.
Language: Straight-talk lyrics that name real patterns and feelings, so the story lands clearly wherever you’re listening from.
Influence-wise, think the heat and drama of Shakira/Rosalía, the soul of Toni Braxton/Teddy Swims, the pop immediacy of Ricky Martin—filtered through my own lens. For a global audience, I focus on shared human themes (desire, boundaries, self-worth) and universal rhythm; I keep production clean and contemporary so the songs feel familiar yet fresh. The shorthand: pop/R&B built for movement, colored by world vocals, written to connect across borders.
Q. Your music often reflects themes of deep emotional connection and vulnerability. How do you balance the personal nature of your songs with the universal experiences you aim to capture?
A. It depends on the song, and I let the music choose the lens. When the track is satirical—like “Drunk Texting”—I lean into humor and exaggeration, and I’m fine leaving a few edges mysterious if the groove wants mischief. When the song is about deep connection and vulnerability, I’m direct—no coyness. I name the feeling and, where it helps, I name the pattern behind it.
I write from real life with respectful boundaries: the emotion is true; private, identifying details aren’t the point. The aim is a line that makes a listener think, “That’s it— that’s what I went through,” or “That’s what I’m going through now.” That balance—honest art with thoughtful privacy.
Q. Many artists face challenges and doubts along their path. Have there been moments when you questioned whether music was the right journey for you? What kept you going and pushed you through those tougher times?
A. Yes. I was nervous at every first step—sending my first track to a producer, hearing the first mix, releasing it. “Drunk Texting” felt different from what I’d imagined, and I wasn’t comfortable with my voice yet, so I set it aside for a while. With time, lessons, and honest listening, I heard what worked and put it out—and I’m glad I did.
What really kept me going was listeners. Their feedback has been my greatest strength. Watching the numbers move—~110K plays on AudioMack in 17 days with reach across 197/197 countries, Spotify reaching 185/185 countries in 45 days (and streams across my four Spotify tracks now just shy of 40K, climbing), and RadioAirplay hitting 114/114 countries in the first week—told me the songs were connecting. The press release and curator support helped too; I’m grateful for every positive note.
I also take the negatives seriously. Some comments are just unkind, but when there’s something useful in a critique, I use it. I ask, “Is there a reasonable improvement to make?” If yes, I make it. This is a hard business and the world can be hard, but looking at the good—which outweighs the bad—while staying open to improvement makes me better every time.
Q. Let’s talk about the healing aspect of your music. Do you feel that creating and performing your songs helps you process the emotions behind them, or do those feelings tend to resurface when you perform?
A. It depends on the song. A lot of what I write comes from the past—so I’m not re-living the pain, I’m remembering it with perspective. Other times it starts with something light or funny (like “Drunk Texting”), or a single word or melody that sparks a whole idea. I also write from empathy; people share their stories with me, I feel them, and I translate that into music.
When I perform, I don’t chase old wounds. I build a vivid scene in my head—the way a movie plays—and step into the persona of that moment, whether it’s past, present, or imagined. The picture guides my phrasing and delivery, so the performance feels true without dragging me back into turmoil.
Healing, for me, is shared. Writing organizes what happened; performing offers connection. If a listener hears a line and thinks, “That’s what I went through,” or “That’s what I’m going through now,” and feels less alone—or finally has language for it—that’s the point.
Q. Can you share some insight into your musical process? How do you move from an initial idea to a finished product? What role do collaboration, feedback, and iteration play in your work?
A. Ideas usually start fast—a word, a line, or a melody. I write the lyrics first, and the words tell me the tempo, mood, and colors. From there I build the music around the lyric (drums, bass, chords, and textures) until the track feels like the scene I’m seeing in my head.
Once the foundation is there, I shape the vocal arrangement and performance with my vocal instructor. She doesn’t touch the writing; she helps me explore delivery—phrasing, tone, dynamics, where to sit in the groove—so the vocal fits the song I’ve already created. We record live as the song comes together to capture real performances.
When the song matches my vision, I send the full session to my producer. His role is straightforward and essential: he mixes and masters what I’ve built and adds the final polish so it translates on every system.
For feedback, I keep a small trusted circle and I listen to what the audience tells me—both in comments and in how the numbers move. If a note points to a clear improvement, I make it. I’m disciplined about finishing: write → build → record → mix/master → quality check → release. Then I learn from the response and carry that into the next record.
Q. There’s often a sense of ‘firsts’ in an artist’s career. What do you envision as the next big milestone for you in your musical journey? What do you feel is the most exciting challenge waiting ahead?
A. My next milestone is finishing my first album by the end of this year. Beyond that, I plan to release one to two albums every year. I already have over a dozen albums fully written and organized—lyrics and concepts are complete; what’s left is building the music and recording the vocals. I’ve also released “Drunk Texting” from the second album, and I’m commissioning a suite of remixes (club/dance versions across the catalog, plus a tribal-flavored remix of “Scansion”). My producer handles those remixes and then mixes and masters the originals I create.
The challenge I’m excited about is turning that written catalog into a repeatable production pipeline—staying on schedule without sacrificing quality: sharper writing, stronger vocals, clean production, and thoughtful sequencing so each project stands as a body of work, not just a playlist of songs.
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the greatest impact on shaping your worldview or your artistic vision? How have those influences contributed to the way you create and share your music?
A. The biggest influence has been my work and study life outside the studio.
Developmental disabilities (20+ years): taught me patience, listening between the lines, and that communication has many forms. It’s why I write so people can recognize themselves—without judgment.
Education (psychology, applied behavior analysis, communications, conflict/dispute resolution; study of world religions and cultures): gave me language for patterns and a respect for different ways of seeing the world. That shows up in my lyrics and in the global colors I use in melody and rhythm.
Medical exposure: made me practical about breath, nerves, and the body—how performance lives in a real nervous system, not just in ideas.
Law/deception studies: sharpened my respect for precision; a single word can change a story.
Travel and culture: opened my ear to cadence, percussion, and vocal inflection from outside my own backyard.
All of that shapes how I share the work: I’m open, I keep healthy boundaries, and I try to make songs that offer clarity and connection—so a listener can say, “That’s what I went through,” or “That’s what I’m going through now.”
Q. What kind of legacy do you want your music to leave behind? After hearing this song and reading this interview, what do you hope people will remember most about you?
A. I want to be remembered for music that moves with people—through emotions, through situations, across cultures, and across time. Songs that can sit with you on a hard night, celebrate with you on a bright day, and still feel true years later. If my work gives someone language and courage—whether it’s “that’s what I went through” or “that’s what I’m going through now”—then it’s doing its job.
Sonically, I want to be known for breaking patterns. I’m consistent about care—writing that means what it says, honest vocals, clean production—but I’m intentionally unpredictable about genre and language. I cross wires: Spanish-influenced pop with contemporary R&B, world-vocal colors, and whatever else the song calls for. If a piece needs a left turn, I take it. If a precise psychological term helps, I’ll use it—and I’ll make the meaning clear inside the lyric. The goal is to give listeners something new, not another pass at the same industry template.
There’s also a family legacy I’m building. I’m learning guitar, ukulele, piano, and more so more of what you hear is played by me—and so I can pass real craft down. My son wants to sing and play, too. I’ve written songs for him (including “Drunk Texting”) that he can record in his own style when the timing and training line up. Even my four-year-old grandson is already picking up little techniques from being around the music. If, years from now, people can say “your songs walked with me”—and my family is still creating, carrying some of these songs forward in their own voices—that’s the legacy I want to leave.
Exzenya, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Exzenya’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.