Unhinged & Immoral: Unplugged with Zae France

Hosts: Jamila Bell & Mecca Evans
Guest: Zae France
Date: September 4, 2025
Production: Diamond MPrint Productions

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jamila and Mecca welcome rising R&B star Zae France for a candid, hilarious, and insightful conversation. The trio dives deep into Zae’s musical inspirations, the realities of blowing up during the pandemic, the nuances of R&B culture, and plenty of unfiltered talk about dating, sex, astrology, and navigating independence as an artist. Zae treats listeners to two live performances, giving a taste of his musical prowess and authenticity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Getting to Know Zae France

• Intro and Background (00:27)

  • From Waterbury, CT by way of Mount Airy, NC, Zae is fresh off a 25-city tour with Eric Bellinger, known for his smooth melodies and songwriting skills.
  • Zae’s roots: “I grew up in church. My mom sings… My mom didn’t even know I sung till my freshman year... She heard me singing in the shower.” (01:32)

• Pandemic as a Breakthrough (02:41)

  • Leg Day went viral during COVID: “I was just stuck in the house, recording on TikTok Live… I was low key depressed… But, yeah. Shout out to Covid, I guess for that.” (02:54)

• Songwriting Process (04:22)

  • Pulls inspiration from both personal experience and others’. “The first song I performed, 'Baby,' was about my best friend’s situation… Sometimes I don’t even realize what the song’s about until I’m done.” (04:38–05:06)
  • Most of his biggest records were self-written but acknowledges R&B collaboration: “My biggest records I wrote myself, for sure… I don’t see the problem with collabing, especially in R&B.”

R&B, Inspirations, and Style

• Thoughts on Collaboration (06:05)

  • Responds to public criticism of artists like Beyoncé for having multiple collaborators: “She’s feeding families… When you get to that point, why would I write if I know you can? I like that, honestly.” (07:16)

• Musical Influences (07:39)

  • Old school: Al Green
  • 90s: Usher, D’Angelo (“his swag”), Tank
  • Modern: Eric Bellinger, Chris Brown, SZA, Erykah Badu (“I want to do a song with her—I just know she’ll do it”). (07:51–08:47)

• On the Evolution/Categories of R&B (12:18–13:35)

  • Chimes in on the blurring lines in R&B: “There’s a lot of R&B out, and I feel like R&B is like a Black person that can sing.”
  • Questions audience contradictions: “How are these songs so popular if we say we want the ‘real’ R&B back?” (13:35)

• Style Inspirations & Aesthetic (15:23)

  • Not directly influenced or copying style: “I just be wearing what I like… I can’t just go on Pinterest and [recreate someone’s whole swag].”
  • Loves boots: “Middle of the summer, I’m going Prada boot every chance I get.” (17:02)

Life as an Independent Artist

• Navigating Independence (23:46–25:55)

  • Left Def Jam for more creative control: “He [Tunji] really signed me off talent… but I wasn’t ready… I didn’t have the leverage.”
  • Pros: Freedom, able to create best work (“I did [my latest project] in 8 days”).
  • Cons: Financial pressure and hustle: “Now it’s waking up every day and putting your real own money into this… not guaranteed that it comes back.” (27:00–27:50)

• Current State & Upcoming EP (25:48–26:05, 75:53)

  • New project: Final Say (exclusive reveal)
  • Lead single “Rex” drops August 14 (first solo single since Def Jam).

Dating, Sex, and Relationships: Keeping it Unfiltered

• Dating & Fan Interactions (19:28–21:27, 60:21–62:08)

  • Onstage persona: “Anyone that’s dating me is gonna see me picking up thick on stage… you have to be comfortable.”
  • Not interested in women chasing/approaching him unless it’s organic: “I just gotta know that you want me to entertain you… Like if you give me the eyes, I’m on you.” (60:39–61:00)
  • About fans approaching: Not a turn off unless it’s “fanned out” or over-the-top.

• Favorite Physical Trait (37:41–38:07)

  • “Probably lips… and eyes. Women really be beautiful though.” – Zae France

• Sex, Sex Playlists, and Toys (43:01–54:14)

  • Song that best describes him in bed: “I guess ‘Leg Day’... but people think my songs are freakier than they are.”
  • Sex playlist: “I have [had sex to my own music]... but it kinda blew me… like, this ain’t even the vibe.”
  • Sex positions: “Probably missionary. I like to take control, tight shit... That’s my program.” (52:40)
  • On sex toys: “Little rose, never more than that… I’m not going to buy a cock ring. That’s crazy. Maybe if my girl wanted me to.” (54:07, 55:53)

• Approaching Women & Pick Up Lines (46:04–48:40)

  • No pick-up lines: “I just talk... Real talk, I only ever ‘ran down’ after a girl gave me the eyes... I know women get hit on every day.”
  • Jamila: “All I got on me is my eyes. But mind you, much like Zae, he came right over there.”

• Sexual Safety & Testing (64:28–65:39)

  • “Safe sex, everybody. Please… reminder to get tested.”
  • “I don’t be fucking raw like that, either. It’s got to make sense.”

Zodiac & Personality Deep Dive

• Virgo Stereotypes and Reality (28:59–35:36)

  • Hosts affectionately roast Zae for his “strict program” and Virgo perfectionism.
  • Zae: “I'm a little different... I'm very understanding... I can read yours and mine [minds].”
  • On personal standards and seriousness in relationships: “A relationship is supposed to lead to marriage… Only one woman’s met my mom.” (68:46–69:50)

• Hosts' Signs

  • Jamila: Gemini (“I get bored easily… ADHD boots!”)
  • Mecca: Aries (“Fire sign… loyal but passionate… have program too—game sees game.”)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The first song I performed… I wrote that about my best friend’s situation with his girl… Sometimes I don’t even know what the song is about until I’m done.” – Zae (04:38–05:06)
• “[Collaboration is] feeding families… When you get to that point, why would I write if I know you can?” – Zae, on Beyoncé and musical collabs (07:16)
• “My mom used to tell me Al Green was my dad.” – Zae (07:51)
• “R&B, to me, has always never really been a mainstream category. R&B has always been very, very unique to Black folks…” – Jamila (14:21)
• “I just wear what I like… If somebody wanna be like Zae France, cool inspiration, you feel me? But I’m not about to look at your mood board.” – Zae (17:10–17:44)
• “I was in Def Jam… but I wasn’t ready to sign a deal, I didn’t have the leverage… I literally do this dolo.” – Zae (23:55)
• “Missionary. I like to take control, tight shift. Strict program.” – Zae (52:40)
• “Pretty is not enough for me; it never has been. That’s why I don’t got kids.” – Zae (64:02)
• “Safe sex, everybody. Please get the greatest form of sexual intercourse. Reminder to get tested.” – Jamila & Mecca (64:28)
• “I just go in there, write what my heart is leading me to, sometimes I don’t even realize what the song’s about.” – Zae (05:06)
• “I want y’all to hear the EP. Send it over. I wanna hear before it’s released so I can say I heard it first—exclusive!” – Jamila (76:17)

Highlighted Segments & Timestamps

• Zae’s Church Roots & Start in Music – 01:32–02:20
• Blowing Up During the Pandemic – 02:41–03:57
• Songwriting Inspiration – 04:22–06:05
• On R&B, Collaboration, and Musical Influences – 07:16–08:47
• Discussion: What is ‘Real’ R&B? – 13:35–14:21
• Zae’s Style and Audience Perception – 15:23–18:01
• Life as an Independent Artist – 23:46–27:00
• The Unhinged Hot Seat (Dating/Sex Questions) – 37:41–55:07
• Zodiac Deep Dive & Self-Reflection – 29:00–35:36, 65:59–71:14
• Live Performance: “Baby” and “Too Much” – 76:29–82:22

Standout Moments

• Hosts and Zae joking about pandemic PPE loans. “I would have did real conservative. $9,000.” – Jamila, Zae chimes in: “A calm 10.” (04:08)
• Hilarious riff on d'Angelo’s iconic shirtless music video. “When d’Angelo did this [hip swirl]… At six years old, I knew.” (16:39)
• Real talk about testing and safe sex. “Safe sex, everybody… you need to go do that. And what month is this? Eight? My God, y’all burning.” (64:28–65:06)
• Zae’s self-awareness as an artist and individual. “Pretty is not enough for me… I do got a program. It’s gotta make sense.” (64:02)
• Hosts reveal their own style and approach to flirting. “All I got on me is my eyes.” – Jamila (49:40)
• Live intimacy & energy: Closing with acoustic performances. (76:29–82:22)

Tone & Takeaway

Playful, authentic, and deeply conversational, this episode gives fans a relatable look into Zae France—his passion for music, his sharp perspectives on authenticity and creativity, and his grounded, sometimes hilarious approach to life, love, and career. Jamila and Mecca’s signature chemistry keeps things bouncing from insightful to riotously funny, especially during uninhibited chat about sex, dating, and astrology.

Listen Further

• Follow Zae France on streaming & socials; look out for Final Say EP and the single Rex (August 14).
• Tune in weekly for more episodes with Jamila and Mecca, where nothing is off-limits and the mic is always on.

Essential Zae France Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “Sometimes I don’t even realize what the song’s about until I’m done.” (05:06)
• “I just started taking records from people… But my biggest records I wrote myself, for sure.” (05:57)
• “You have to be comfortable. This is a show.” (19:42)
• “Missionary. I like to take control, tight shift. Strict program.” (52:40)
• “Pretty is not enough for me; it never has been.” (64:02)
• “I want to be independent until I build the leverage again.” (23:55)
• “Safe sex, everybody... Get tested.” (64:28)

[End of summary]