Meet Marianna Zappi

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marianna Zappi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marianna below.

Hi Marianna , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I think my work ethic comes from a mix of upbringing and purpose. Growing up in Italy, I was surrounded by people who worked hard out of necessity, not ambition — and that taught me the value of showing up and doing things properly. My parents instilled in me that if you do something, you do it with care and intention, no matter how small it seems.

Over the years, that’s evolved into a sense of responsibility and gratitude — for the opportunities I’ve had, for the people I get to collaborate with, and for the impact my work can have. Whether I’m mentoring an artist, or writing music, I approach it with the same mindset: consistency is a form of respect. For me, a strong work ethic isn’t about being busy; it’s about integrity, follow-through, and doing things that actually mean something.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I wear a few hats, but everything I do connects back to creativity, purpose, and community. I’m a London-based Italian singer-songwriter, author, vocal coach, and founder of RZN Records, an independent label I co-founded with Raggo Zulu Rebel. We built RZN on the belief that independence isn’t just about doing things alone — it’s about doing them right, with fairness, inclusion, and ownership at the heart. Through RZN, we support artists with music production, live performances, workshops, and artist development programmes that help them build real, lasting independence.

Alongside that, I run Sing It Right, my vocal coaching platform, where I help singers connect technique with authenticity. For me, teaching isn’t just about range or control — it’s about helping people find their voice, not just use it. I work with artists and creatives at every level, helping them unlock confidence, storytelling, and emotional truth in their performance.

I also wrote a book called “Collectively Independent,” a practical and philosophical guide for artists navigating the modern music industry. It’s been beautiful to see it inspire independent creatives to take ownership of their craft and careers.

What excites me most right now is how these worlds are beginning to merge — from launching new RZN releases to expanding Sing It Right into group workshops and creative retreats that combine artistry, wellbeing, and purpose. Everything I do comes back to one idea: empowering people to own their voice and use it with intention — whether that’s through a song, a story, or a community.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful things in my journey have been resilience, self-awareness, and communication.

Resilience because the creative and charity worlds both test you constantly. Things rarely go as planned — funding falls through, songs don’t land, projects get delayed. Learning to adapt without losing faith in your purpose has been essential. I’ve learned that resilience isn’t just about pushing through; it’s about resting wisely and starting again with clarity.

Self-awareness because your career, especially in creative or mission-driven work, will only grow as much as you know yourself. Understanding your strengths, your limits, and what truly drives you helps you make aligned choices — not just busy ones.

And communication — being able to connect with people, manage expectations, and translate ideas into something others can believe in. Whether I’m leading a campaign, coaching a singer, or co-writing a song, everything starts with listening.

For anyone at the start of their journey: protect your curiosity, learn to pause, and surround yourself with people who remind you why you started — not just how far you’ve got to go.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely. Collaboration is at the heart of everything I do. Whether it’s through RZN Records, Sing It Right, or my creative projects like Collectively Independent, I’m always looking to connect with people who value purpose as much as passion.

I love collaborating with artists, producers, songwriters, and creatives who are driven by honesty — people who care more about why they create than just what they create. On the other side, I’m also open to working with organisations, venues, and brands that share a commitment to empowerment, wellbeing, and community through music and the arts.

Right now, I’m especially excited about partnerships that bring together music, education, and social impact — from creative retreats and workshops to mentorship and live performance opportunities.

If anyone reading this feels aligned, I’d love to hear from them. The best way to connect is through [email protected] or [email protected] or directly via Instagram @therealmariannazappi or @singitright or @raggozulunation. I’m always open to meaningful conversations that lead to purposeful work.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @therealmariannazappi
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/@TheRealMariannaZappi/?hr=1&wtsid=rdr_1mXd6HQ6dmSKHZo4A
• Other: https://spotify.link/DTI1hwEtPXb

Image Credits

Marianna zappi