This is an interview done with Z By Z, read his story below! If you, or anyone you know, would like to be highlighted in The Zillennial Zine, shoot us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram!

Q: Tell us your story! Where did you begin and how did you reach the caliber you’re currently at?

A: Music has always been a part of my life. Some of my first words were the lyrics to “Hey Jude” by The Beatles. When I was eight years old, I started guitar lessons because I wanted to be like the members of the band Chicago. When I was young, I had a CD player in my room and whenever my dad would come back from a concert, he’d bring home a CD for me that I’d listen to on repeat for days. My dad introduced me to artists like The Beatles, Yes, and The Guess Who. One of the first albums I listened to that I thought was “Cool” was “Songs About Jane” by Maroon 5. Growing up, I did a lot of musical theater and I developed a knack for songwriting starting in middle school. At this time, I was connected with a music producer that I’d see every week for about a year and he taught me the art of songwriting. Going into high school, I went on a trip to Prince Edward Island and I couldn’t stop listening to the song “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove. It was then that I realized that I wanted to write music for a living. During my senior year of high school, I was a contestant on season XV of American Idol where me and my “Foxy Grandpa” made our TV debut. I then went to Drexel University to study music business. While attending Drexel, I started releasing music under the name Z by Z and played many shows across the east coast. How did I get to the caliber I am currently at? It’s a combination of hard work, persistence and a love for what I do.

Q: What makes you love what you do? How long have you been making music? Would you call it your passion?

A: I love the way music makes me feel. Music has always been an escape for me as well as a form of therapy. It’s one of the ways that I make sense of the world and my own emotions. There is nothing like the rush I get from performing my music to a crowd of people or the feeling I get from listening back to the final master of a song I’ve put my heart and soul into. I’ve been making music since I was a child and for sure I’d call it my passion!

Q: What are some accomplishments or milestones you’ve reached lately?

A: In February, my music reached over one million total Spotify streams and within the next month or two, the original version of “Searching” will most likely hit over one million total streams!

Q: Tell us about “Searching (Unplugged)”!!

A: I wrote “Searching” a few months after ending my first serious relationship. While I was writing the song, I started to think about how a lot of us are more in love with the thought of being in a relationship than the person we end up with. I realized that you don’t have to be alone to feel alone. It’s how “Searching” was born. It’s a journey that starts as a self-pity party and evolves into a song of hope for the future. 

During the pandemic, I got to spend a lot of time with my neighbor Steve Abrams who happens to be an excellent piano player. From the time I wrote “Searching,” I’ve always seen it as a piano ballad. The version that is currently out is very grand and epic. “Searching” is such a raw, emotional song at its core and I thought that doing a stripped-down rendition would best showcase the song’s truth.

Q: Do you have any advice for someone who is starting out in the music industry?

A: Yes. A few things. 1) Show up. To make it in the industry you need to put in the time, put in the work, and be consistent. There are so many incredibly talented people, but if you want to make it, you need to put your all into it. 2) Go to shows and network. I cannot emphasize this enough. It takes a village to make it in the music industry and it’s all about who you know. Shows are one of the best places to meet people in the industry/people who share a common passion for music. You never know who you will meet on a given night and if anything, by going to shows, you’ll become part of a great community!

Q: What do you want our readers to know about you and your music?

A: My songs are usually reflections of things that have happened in my life, things that I have experienced, or moments in time that I would like to capture. When people hear my music, I hope that it resonates with them on some personal level where they can apply the meaning to something in their own lives. Some of my favorite artists that inspire me on a daily basis are Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, Arctic Monkeys, Andrew Bird, Maroon 5, Paul Simon, and The Beatles. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Kings of Convenience and Broken Social Scene. Outside of music, I am a die-hard Detroit Pistons fan, an avid hiker, a lover of impressionist art, Wes Anderson movies, Scandinavian crime fiction, and anything on PBS Masterpiece. I enjoy visiting picturesque places and I currently have an addiction to Milk Bar cookies.

Check Out Z By Z!

Instagram: @zbyzmusic

Spotify: Z By Z

YouTube: Z By Z

Apple Music: Z By Z

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