Ayla Zambetti

Ayla's Story

Born in Johannesburg and shaped by years of global travel and exploration, Ayla is now based in Plettenberg Bay. Her path is defined by the intentional construction of creative freedom and the curation of community-centric spaces that promote expression.

With a BA in Film and Television from Wits University—focusing on sustainability and cultural preservation—she operates as the strategic navigator of a multi-dimensional artistic landscape. This journey is rooted in the belief that art requires a robust, independent infrastructure to thrive. This awareness has led to the development of "The Hearth": a creative ecosystem designed to be a platform for artistic expression and breathe life into the cultural atmosphere.

The Creator

Ayla is an experimental artist and musician focused on the power of collective resonance and collaborative creation.

Her work explores the intersections of sound, self, and social architecture, manifesting, among other things, in large-scale painting experiments, music collaborations, and cinematic contemplations. Across 15 years of experience in fine art and design, she has viewed art not as a static product, but as a living system. By prioritizing creative freedom over traditional commercial constraints, she has cultivated an artistic character that is both deeply rooted in local soil and globally connected through her digital presence.

Ayla is opening up her Archive to share some of her artistic experiments.

View Ayla's Art

The Musician

Alongside her solo brand, Ayla Love, and her work with multiple music collaborations like the jazz experiment Siliolbé, Ayla is a lead curator of the "Live from the Archive" (LFTA) series.

She is dedicated to the preservation of local sound, focusing on the raw chemistry and spontaneous experimentation of the Garden Route's talent. Moving between the roles of performer and producer, she ensures that collaboration remains the driving force behind every session. Her focus is on bringing diverse musicians together under one banner to document the magic of the local scene in its most authentic form.

To listen to Ayla's music archive head over to Bandcamp.

Discography on Bandcamp Archive

The Producer/Director

Ayla is the architect of the production workflow, specializing in the transition from service-based models to creator independence.

Drawing on a background that ranges from launching artisan trade businesses like Magpies Perch to creating community upliftment projects like The Big Green Tree, she manages the "vision and flow" of every project. Whether handling complex business development or organizing a 48-hour film challenge, she approaches production with disciplined craftsmanship, ensuring every project is ethically grounded and professionally executed.

Ayla has been an active participant in Hermit State Productions. Head over to the YouTube channel to watch some videos she has collaborated on.

See Ayla's Projects Archive

The Asset

Ayla is the strategic engine that transforms creative concepts into sustainable realities. With over a decade of entrepreneurial experience in marketing strategy, project management, and business development, she has a rare ability to model complex systems that allow for both artistic expansion and professional stability. As the bridge between the technical world and the wider community, she is a vital asset for projects requiring high-level coordination, cultural depth, and an intellectual approach to resource management. She is an artist and an architect—she builds the systems that allow art to endure.

Ayla is excited to work with new collaborators. If you'd like to work with Ayla, reach out and let her know — ayla@thehearth.pro

Work with Ayla