Conversations with Zeno: A Dream in Motion

Volume 3 transports us to the O2 Arena for a conversation which is equal parts inspiring and eye-opening. For new artists, it's a must read.

GK: What first sparked your passion for making music, and how has that drive evolved as you’ve grown as an artist?

Zeno: I grew up listening to a lot of RnB and rap. My mum would throw a CD into the player when she was cleaning the flat so I was playing with my Hot Wheels listening to Nelly, 50 Cent, Eve, Faith Evans, Lil’ Kim, Ashanti, honestly you name it and it was probably in that CD book.

The older I got, the more I got curious about how these songs were made. I remember asking for a £30 Amazon mic for Christmas at 13 and from there it was just this snowball of passion that I never lost.

Your music carries a strong influence from early 2000s US Hip-Hop, with traces of artists like 50 Cent. What is it about that era and sound that resonates with you the most?

The bounce, the bop, it gets everyone moving and it’s guaranteed. Have you seen the crowd at a house party when ‘Disco Inferno’ comes on? It’s chaos. The 2000s was the era of bopping and moving because that’s how they used to market songs. Getting your tune played in the club was the equivalent of getting a viral TikTok! But to get your shit played in the club, you had to make it move people.

Something about that ethos behind making music is amazing to me. I carry that ethos to this day. In the studio, I’ll be making something and if it doesn’t make me want to move and bop, then it doesn’t leave the demo stage.

Your latest tunes show your development in sound. How has your music evolved, and where do you see it heading in the future?

Music is never a linear process man, it’s evolving, moving, and interests shift. When I first went viral, it was over a Grungy Madlib beat and people all around me told me to stick to grungy rap because it’s “what sticks” but it’s in my nature to experiment. I’ve dropped everything from UK rap, Detroit rap, Pharrell style stuff and grungy east coast stuff.

Versatility is definitely something vital to my music evolution. I like to think I’m fairly unpredictable. My listeners never know what I’m going to come out with, but they know it’ll make them move. I like to think that I’ll stay innovative and keep trying new things and learning. I don’t see a world where I stick to purely one style, flow, cadence, or sub genre.

Headlining the O2 is a massive goal of yours. How did it feel standing outside this iconic space, knowing that’s your ultimate dream?

It makes me happy, I know I’ll get there. Maybe not this year, the next or within the next decade but I know eventually my time will come as long as I stay passionate and driven.

Bloom is all about supporting young and independent artists on their journey to achieving their dreams. What advice would you give to other emerging artists who share that same ambition?

There’s three big things. Most importantly, stop comparing yourself to other artists. Music isn’t linear, success isn’t linear. I’ve had times where 11 months out of the year nothing will happen and I’ll feel like I’m just not getting anywhere, and then on the 12th month something big happens and it suddenly makes the 11 months of struggle worth it.

Second thing is to learn how powerful social media is. Leverage it, network, comment, share work you like, engage with other artists / producers / promoters and make content that reflects on the music you make. Don’t sell people your song, sell them the feeling your song makes. Most of all, don’t be afraid to show love to other artists - it’s free.

Finally, keep experimenting. You don’t need to pigeon hole yourself too early. Of course, you want to develop a brand, but the brand will make itself. Make shit you like making, release what you like. If you focus on making good music then the success will eventually follow. Leading off that, too many artists view their music as a product, including myself. It’s hard to shift out that mindset since almost every measure of success is through numbers or data.

Conclusively, just stay passionate, have fun, experiment, and know that numbers don’t measure how good a song is.