A Chat with ZT (22.10.25)
ZT is a rising artist who is carving out his own space in the modern R&B landscape, while making comparisons to the likes of The Weeknd and Giveon. With the release of his second single ‘AFTER PARTY / AFTER HOURS’, we chat with ZT about all things music below.
OSR: How did you get into music and what made you want to pursue it professionally?
ZT: I got into music at a very young age, probably from when I was around five years old. I come from a long line of musicians on my Dad’s side of the family in the US, so being surrounded by music was inevitable. Growing up there was always a lot of singing around the piano or at family gatherings and it’s moments like this which made me fall in love with singing. I think it was very easy for me to make the decision that I wanted to do it long term, as when you do something you love, it never feels like work. Whenever I’m in the studio or singing at the piano, I’m always reminded that I’ve made the right decision to pursue a career in music.
OSR: How does your half-English, half-American background influence your music and storytelling?
ZT: I think the way in which it influences my music is based on my experiences in both of those places. I’ve spent a lot of my life in both the UK and the US, and experienced and lived the different culture and vibe that you get, and you end up having a lot of stories to tell as a result of this. Whether that be the party scene of LA, or some of the troubles with love and relationships with girls back in London, both shape me as a person and allow me to tell my story.
OSR: Which artists or genres have shaped your sound the most?
ZT: The Weeknd and Giveon are the two artists that have shaped my sound the most. Both sing with their heart on their sleeve, and that’s something which I try and strive for whenever I sing or make music. The way in which they can sing about the most heart-wrenching parts of life and still make it into a beautiful masterpiece that really connects is something which I truly admire, and what I want to emulate in my music. One name that really shaped the sound of my latest song, ‘AFTER PARTY/ AFTER HOURS’, is Chris Brown. My producer, Riley Urick, has a great relationship with Chris and has produced many of his tracks, so this song was inevitably going to have that party vibe, which Chris always brings to a track.
OSR: When you write a song, do you start with the lyrics, melody or concept first?
ZT: For me, the creation of a song isn’t always the same, and I think that’s a good thing, as it doesn’t limit you to doing it one way and stopping yourself from making something better. For ‘AFTER PARTY / AFTER HOURS’, we sat down in the studio, and I started talking about and sharing my experiences of the wild after parties in LA. We thought this was a really good concept and could make a great song, so we built it up, added more layers, and before you know it, we had the track. However, with my first single ‘BLINDED BY YOUR BLAME’, we took a different approach and actually started by focusing on the melody and the beat surrounding it and then built the song up and the lyrics from there. I think if I stuck to the same game plan all the time, the outcome would never be as good as it could be. I genuinely believe you can’t force a song; it just has to flow.
OSR: And how do you handle creative blocks or moments of doubt during songwriting?
ZT: For me, the best way of handing this is by trying not to force things. Song writing should flow, and it should be a natural process. A song could take 30 minutes, or it could take a number of days and that’s fine. I think as an artist and musician you’ve got to accept this, not beat yourself up and just go with the flow.
OSR: What role do your personal experiences play in shaping your songs?
ZT: Personal experiences are everything in my music. Every song that I have made and will make will be based on real things that I’ve experienced in life in some shape or form, and to me, that’s super important. That’s what makes my songs real, authentic and relatable. Ultimately, I want my listeners to resonate and personally connect with my music, and the only way they can genuinely do that is if the music is based on real truths.
OSR: Can you walk us through the inspiration behind your latest single ‘AFTER PARTY / AFTER HOURS’?
ZT: The main inspiration behind the song is my experiences of the LA nightlife. It’s safe to say that I made the most of my most recent trip out there. Recording and making music in the day and driving down the coast and going out in the evenings, with the after parties in the Hollywood Hills following soon after.
OSR: Can you share a memorable studio moment while recording this track?
ZT: The most memorable moment was definitely when we had finished recording and we just stood and listened to what we had created. It was a really profound moment, and everyone was there vibing, enjoying the track, and we all had this realisation that we had an absolute gem on our hands.
OSR: What has been the biggest challenge in navigating the music industry so far?
ZT: The biggest challenge is definitely the admin! It’s all starting to build up more and more as my career progresses, whether that’s sorting out travel, or dealing with contracts, record labels, publicity and promotion; basically, all the stuff that you have to do that’s outside the studio and the process of making the music. The work is ramping up, but it’s very exciting at the same time, and I’m just really pleased and thankful that my career is definitely going in the right direction.
OSR: What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?
ZT: Fundamentally, I want my listeners to just go and enjoy it. A lot of the things that I sing about are based on day-to-day experiences that they may have been through or are going through right now. If they can connect with that and relate to that emotion, and it makes them feel something, and they enjoy it, then that’s brilliant and all I can ask for.
Many thanks to ZT for speaking with us. Find out more about ZT on his Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify
