ZSZN: more than just music
For Wisconsin artist ZSZN, music has never been simply about creating songs. It has become a reflection of his life, his growth, his faith, and the lessons he has learned along the way.
Based in Milwaukee, ZSZN is establishing himself as a recording artist, producer, and engineer with a vision that extends beyond music. His brand is centered around identity, purpose, faith, and the idea that every opportunity can become another step toward becoming something greater.
His music is created for people who know what it feels like to feel alone, doubt themselves, chase dreams that seem distant, or move forward despite fear. With every song, ZSZN aims to capture another piece of that journey.
A Foundation Built Around Music
Music has been part of ZSZN’s life for as long as he can remember. Growing up singing and experimenting with piano and guitar, he developed a natural relationship with music before ever considering where it might eventually take him.
Around seven years ago, he began sitting down at a DAW and learning how to create music himself. What started as curiosity eventually became a serious form of self-expression.
“I’ve experienced seasons where I didn’t know where my life was going,” ZSZN explains, reflecting on some of the more difficult chapters of his journey.
At one point, he spent approximately six months homeless. Rather than allowing those circumstances to define him, the experience became part of a much deeper personal transformation.
Those difficult seasons ultimately brought him closer to God and helped him develop a stronger understanding of his identity and purpose. As that understanding developed, so did his music.
For ZSZN, the two journeys became inseparable.
Learning Every Part of the Process
One of the defining characteristics of ZSZN’s development has been his willingness to teach himself.
He has spent years learning piano, guitar, vocals, recording, production, and engineering through a combination of watching others, experimenting independently, and asking questions whenever an opportunity presented itself.
Recording remains his favorite part of the creative process. He enjoys discovering different ways to make vocals, melodies, and sounds work together, finding harmonies and combinations that might not have been obvious at first.
Production gives him another form of creative freedom, allowing him to experiment with sound selection and variety. Engineering then becomes the final stage of bringing those ideas together through layering, reverb, delay, and other effects.
The satisfaction comes from hearing all of those individual pieces finally become one complete record.
Some of his most valuable lessons came from professional studio environments. Early experiences working with No-B at Hi-Five, followed later by working with Eli, gave ZSZN opportunities to observe professionals firsthand and bring those lessons back into his own creative process.
Instead of simply being present in those rooms, he made a point of absorbing as much knowledge as possible.
From Makeshift Setups to Milwaukee Stages
ZSZN’s progression has been built through years of consistency.
Since 2022, he has committed himself to music every day. The journey has included late nights making beats with friends, recording on makeshift equipment, and finding creative ways to keep working even when the circumstances weren’t ideal.
Sometimes, the setup was literally held together with tape.
But the imperfect circumstances didn’t stop the process.
They became part of it.
Over time, that persistence translated into opportunities to perform throughout Milwaukee, Green Bay, Chicago, and New York. One of his proudest accomplishments came when he organized and headlined his own Milwaukee show for more than 75 people.
The event required ZSZN and his team to handle virtually everything themselves—from securing the venue and promoting the show to coordinating performers, arranging the DJ, and managing setup.
Watching the entire event come together became one of his favorite experiences to date.
His performances have also placed him in rooms with representatives from Sony A&R, while conversations with representatives from two major labels have provided valuable insight into the music industry and helped him develop a clearer understanding of the career he wants to build.
The Challenge of Turning Vision Into Reality
Like many independent artists, ZSZN’s biggest challenge hasn’t necessarily been finding inspiration. It’s been translating the vision in his head into something tangible.
Artist development has required constant experimentation, adjustment, and patience.
At the same time, there are releases to prepare, content to create, promotions to manage, and everyday responsibilities that don’t stop simply because an artist has a vision.
Through that experience, ZSZN has learned that discipline and consistency often accomplish more than trying to do everything simultaneously.
Staying organized, trusting God for direction, and continuing to chip away at the bigger picture have allowed him to keep moving forward.
The process has taught him that progression isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes, it’s simply continuing to work when nobody else can see how much you’re improving.
Building Something Bigger Than Music
ZSZN’s ambitions extend well beyond releasing songs.
He wants to reach millions of people, tour, perform on major stages, collaborate with artists he has looked up to, and ultimately create music that leaves a lasting impact.
But the larger vision is about building a community around the same principles that have shaped his own journey: identity, faith, purpose, and becoming something greater.
He also hopes to create opportunities for other artists and people pursuing dreams of their own.
That sense of community has already played an important role in his development. ZSZN emphasizes the value of surrounding yourself with people who believe in you, challenge you, and genuinely want to see you grow.
He currently has upcoming music with 414BigFrank and has recently begun working with manager Radaya Ellis, better known as 4waukee, as he enters another stage of his career.
“I Am” Marks the Next Chapter
Now, ZSZN is preparing for the release of his five-track EP, I Am, scheduled for September 30.
The project centers around identity, reflection, and accepting where he has been while recognizing who he is today.
In many ways, that concept represents the progression behind ZSZN’s entire story.
The artist who once spent late nights learning how to create music on a makeshift setup is now preparing to introduce a more developed version of himself to a wider audience. Yet despite the growth, he remains committed to preserving the curiosity and enjoyment that made him fall in love with music in the first place.
He wants to continue experimenting. He wants to continue learning. And most importantly, he wants to create music that his younger self would be proud of.
For ZSZN, the journey itself has been the lesson.
His story demonstrates that purpose doesn’t always arrive fully formed. Sometimes, it develops through uncertainty, hardship, experimentation, failure, faith, and the decision to keep going anyway.
As I Am approaches, ZSZN isn’t simply introducing listeners to a new project. He’s giving them another look into who he has become—and an invitation to follow wherever the journey goes next.
