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Interview with zekiizo

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your story with us, Zoe. To start things off, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and introduce us to the artist behind zekiizo?

Hi! My name is Zoe Jean Chronberg. I go by the artist name "zekiizo" im based out of New York city currently, but am from Boston and just moved from Paris, France. I am a self produced independent artist focusing on dark electronic music. Some of my influences are Yoko Ono, Melanie Martinez, Boy Harsher, and Sohodolls. I have been producing since I was 17. I started on garage band and now call Logic Pro my home. People ask me to categorize my music often, and its difficult to because it doesn't always fit into one category, but staying authentic to my sound is always the priority. Not only am I a musician, but I am also a visual artist, photographer, and designer. Because of my background in art, I am able to creatively brand my self independently, and manage all of my own content, from cover art to video work.


What inspired you to start creating music, and how has your journey evolved since you began?

I started to make music because I needed a way to express how I felt. I started like most people learning on the guitar and piano, and then got into music production when I wanted to make things that sounded more like "real" songs. Its been a journey the last few years as Ive entered a part of my life where I know what genre and catagory I fit into, and its all because I absorb so much music all the time. As I began to find electronic artists like me, I realized there is a space for what I want to curate and create.


How would you describe your sound and style to someone who has never heard your music before?

I would call it dark electronic music, with a touch of trip hop, and experimental sounds. I enjoy catchy melodies, but I love the production of more industrial, and darker sounding synths. I do a lot of speaking/rapping along with singing, so all together it really has this psychedelic dream like sense to some of the music.


What’s your creative process like when producing a track or writing music? Do you have any unique rituals or habits?

Most of my music comes from a creative sprint, where I feel very inspired to create something. My music almost always reflects my life in real time and I draw from relationships, and feelings from my life. I try to be very raw in my lyrics, because as a person I am more reserved. zekiizo is a sort of alter ego for my self and I really love playing around with a part of me that doesn't really come to the forefront often. I start mainly with production, trying to bring a vibe across and then will write and build lyrics over it. Ive become very aware of my creative process over the years as it has changed as Ive become older. It takes longer to make something now, but the quality is exponentially better. Intent is always a key word for me, and sometimes the best thing between an okay demo and perfect demo is time. I have really learned to appreciate time and taking space from my work when I am in too deep with it.


Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound or approach to production?

Some of my favorite musical influences are Sohodolls, Boy Harsher, Melanie Martinez, Eartheater, and Lana del Rey. They are all very different but I take different aspects of their sounds and find inspiration in all of them. The female electronic music scene is something I really have come to appreciate and love the past couple years, and I find them very powerful.


What challenges have you faced as an independent artist, and how have you overcome them?

Being an independent artist is difficult because it requires a lot of work. You are constantly your own advocate, yet there is a freedom involved because you are working for your self. Not a manager or label. Half the work of being an artist is having the ambition to persue your work, and truthfully its not until this past year that I have really found that motivation and drive to take things more seriously.


What’s been the most memorable moment in your music career so far?

I think the most memorable moment in my career has been my recent album release Final Fantasy. It was a project that came from a lot of pain, but I absolutely love the work that came out of it. It has really catapulted my career and has made me feel a sense of arrival for who I am and what I want to do.


What can fans expect from you in the near future, and how can they best support your work?

I have several projects in the future coming! Including new singles, and maybe even a short film for my album Final Fantasy in collabortion with a local video producer in NYC. My next single will be coming out July 18th. Its called "kiss" and the campaign around it has been the biggest one of mine yet. Iam very excited for its release and hope it reaches people.


Before we let you go, we’ve got one last question—what’s the sci-fi movie that’s stuck with you the most? We ask every artist—call it a little Beats Freaks Geeks ritual.

Hmmm.. I am not a huge fan of sci-fi as a genre but I would say the closest thing to it could be Alien or episodes from the Twilight Zone. I love out of the box stuff!


Zoe, thank you again for taking the time to share your journey, your creative process, and the story behind zekiizo. We’re wishing you nothing but continued success and can’t wait to see where your art takes you next!


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