The Art of Belonging with Zora Jones
For Austrian-born producer, vocalist and multidisciplinary artist Zora Jones, Barcelona isn't just where she lives. It's where she learned to trust herself. After years spent between Austria, Montreal, Japan and Spain, the city has become something deeper than a base. It's home. The place where she rebuilt her confidence, reconnected with her instincts and finished her upcoming project, 50 Bullets To The Heart. We caught up with Zora to talk about travel, vulnerability, creativity and the Barcelona spots she keeps returning to.
You've lived in a lot of places. What is it about Barcelona that feels like home?
Austria never really felt like home to me. I moved to Barcelona when I was 18 and immediately felt like, "Okay, this is my place." I've spent a huge part of my life here now and I still feel that way. It's a very magical city. If you're open to experiences, anything can happen to you here. You have the sea, you can bike everywhere, and people are incredibly warm. I don't know exactly why, but I feel at home here.
Has living here changed the way you see the world?
Travel in general has changed the way I see the world. The more you travel, the more you realise your point of view is just one very small point. There are so many other ways of seeing things. You learn tolerance, empathy and respect for different cultures. One thing I really noticed when I moved to Spain was how kind people are to each other. Spanish people often have more challenges politically and economically than people in some Northern European countries, but they seem happier with what they have. There's a sweetness in the culture. Even in the language.
Does creativity come from movement or routine?
Both. You need experiences. The people I meet and the things I live through absolutely shape my music. But routine is what allows the work to happen. I wake up ridiculously early. My alarm is currently set for 5.30am. I try to be in the studio before 9am. Mornings are for learning — piano, vocals, studying. That's when my brain is fresh. People always think they'll make loads of music while travelling or touring, but creativity needs space. It needs routine. You need time to really disappear into the work.
You've always followed your own path. Has trusting your instincts become easier over time?
Definitely. For a long time I struggled with insecurity. But over the last year and a half I've been in a place of complete trust in myself. My mindset now is very simple: everything is going to be fine, just do what you need to do. Since I started following my own path and trusting myself, everything has worked out better. It's scary sometimes, but I think our instincts know more than we give them credit for.
You've spoken before about vulnerability. Has it become easier to embrace?
Recently I've been incorporating live vocals into my DJ sets. It's terrifying. Singing live feels like open-heart surgery because you're sharing something very personal and putting yourself in a position where you can fail. Sometimes you'll feel a crowd isn't fully open and that's exactly when I know I need to do it. I've realised vulnerability is what creates connection. Usually those are the moments that end up transforming a difficult crowd. Fear, vulnerability and uncertainty are all things worth listening to.
50 Bullets To The Heart has been years in the making. What does the project represent for you now?
More than becoming a different person, it's about becoming more myself. I feel like I got my voice back. For a while it was muted. Now I feel completely free to express myself exactly how I want to. That freedom feels beautiful.
You've never seemed interested in staying within one genre. Has that freedom always come naturally to you?
I've always felt very free in that sense. I listen to music obsessively. Sometimes I'll get stuck on a single song and play it all day. When I make music, it doesn't feel like I'm consciously pulling from different influences. It feels more like everything flows through you. It's like entering a flow state. Something opens and the ideas arrive. You're almost just the vessel carrying them.
We'd love to hear some of your favourite spots in Barcelona. First up, where's your go-to coffee spot?
Coffee Bari at the moment. I end up there all the time because they keep me fuelled with caffeine during studio time.
Where do you go when you need a bit of perspective?
I'd probably say Parc del Guinardó. I used to walk up there and just look at Barcelona from the top. It's a really beautiful spot.
Where do you go when you need inspiration?
Definitely Barceloneta Beach. There's something really magical about the sea. It's calming and grounding.
If I'm after somewhere a little quieter, I'll head to Garraf Beach just outside the city.
Is there somewhere in Barcelona that always sparks your creativity?
For me, it's Tres Xemeneies. I've always been drawn to it. There's something about the scale and the history of the place that feels really inspiring.
Which place feels most like Barcelona to you?
I'd have to say Casa Gispert It feels very, very Barcelona to me because it's my mum's favourite shop in the city. I always love coming here when she visits.
Which neighbourhood should everyone wander through at least once?
Gràcia, for me, is Barcelona. Just walking around there immediately puts me in the city's energy.
Who's changing Barcelona's music scene right now?
Without hesitation, Marina Herlop. She's 1000% the person changing the game here and setting the bar very high for everyone else.
Is there a person you’d like to spotlight?
Fran. He's one of the purest people I know. He puts his whole heart into music and works incredibly hard.