Today we’d like to introduce you to Zakk Emery.
Hi Zakk , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Grew up in a sheltered Mormon Household. My heart always longed for the opposing world of hard rock and heavy metal with the accompanying sound, chaos, and freedom it promised. I played in bands all through high school and my late teens/early 20s. Soon I became infatuated with the EDM, more specifically Heavy Bass Music. And the way it paired harmoniously with Heavy Metal. Took my songwriting techniques and evolved them into songs I could play at raves and rock shows. I intended to further implement the two.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The struggle comes from inserting myself into an already over-saturated market of everyone turning into a DJ. It is very hard to find shows that will include me on the lineup.
Sound designing has also continued to be a huge struggle, I can write riffs, melodies, vocals and breakdowns all day long. But when it comes to adding the electronic elements, that’s a learning curve I’m still figuring out.
Since I am not able to perform on a stage as often as I’d like. I take to social media where I can “broadcast myself” and perform everyday for new faces. However the struggle on that end is learning what keeps peoples attention and staying uptodate with an ever changing algorithm and whatever is trending.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singing, screaming, guitar playing DJ/Producer. I am simply not content with just standing there pressing buttons and turning knobs. I want to get really into the music I’m playing and act as an almost Orchestral Conductor to get the audience to understand what they’re supposed to do while I’m on.
I set myself apart by being an actual performer. I will sing and scream my vocals live, when I’m able to bring my guitar I will play the riffs and solos live, even if they’re not my songs, ill just look at the key and know what to play. That is what I’m known for, being the one who brings physical/practical energy without just relying on the music I’ve chosen.
I also almost exclusively play/write/remix rock songs or turn EDM classics into rock/dubstep ‘rockstep’. *see my CRACKS remix by Freestylers/Flux Pavilion
I produce a song every few months and dare I say each is better than the last. I recently dropped a “Welcome Home” remix by Coheed and Cambria, that has gathered a fair amount of attention on TikTok, which has helped by the fact that the band themselves reposted my video.
I have a catalog of original work as well.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck has nothing to do with anything, although I will still say things like “I got lucky” or “just my luck”. However luck is simply when preparation meets opportunity. Without all the work I’ve done tirelessly over the past several years with the thousands of dollars I’ve spent with the all the early mornings and nights out I’ve opted out of in pursuit of getting my work done. That has all been preparation for when I meet opportunity.
One example being I was at a show watching my friends open for Jason Leech, a show I otherwise would not have been at. However I got to meet Jason after his performance and told him I enjoyed his “Welcome Home” remix (he played everything live!) and proceeded to show him my own remix. He told me to send that to him when it was done.
Without the preparation, that opportunity would not have presented itself. Always keep your work with you and ready to present. You never know who you are going to meet.
Pricing:
- Music Streaming Subscription
- Merch (T-Shirts) $20.00
- Meet and Greet $0.00
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @zakkemery
- Facebook: @zakkemery
- Youtube: @zakkemery
- Soundcloud: @zakkemery
