ZIVA

ZIVA is the eclectic R&B solo project of artist Khayla Gale. Her songs carry a spirit of independence, blending character-driven storytelling with elegant melodies and elastic, genre-bending beats.
Since adopting her college nickname "ZIVA" (meaning "radiance" in Hebrew) in 2017, she’s been crafting vivid soundscapes where spirit, style, and self-discovery collide.

Her first single, "Wind," introduced listeners to her sharp lyricism and effortless emotional pull, followed by the hip-hop-leaning “Party” and her sultry, R&B-heavy debut EP, Mood. The video for Mood's standout track "Alone" premiered on BET Jams and BET Soul, carving ZIVA’s place as an artist to watch.

In February 2020, ZIVA released DKWTD, a textured, idiosyncratic track with crisp beats, relaxed guitar riffs, and soaring vocal melodies. She released her second EP, Candid, in 2024 — a four-song project exploring themes of stepping into your power, facing your shadows, and radical self-love. ZIVA also made her directorial debut, co-directing the music video for the EP’s punchy anthem, “Sound the Gong.”

ZIVA’s sound evokes power and control as well as the laid-back attitude of 90s icons like Brandy and Aaliyah. Her songwriting varies in style from hip-hop to pop-rock, neo-soul, and classic R&B. She’s not afraid to take risks or assume characters, and the resulting music stays fresh, smooth, and distinct.