Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Zarou.
Hi Anthony, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a kid, I was heavily influenced by music. I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where it’s cold all the time, and my mom signed me up for classical violin when I was four, which I hated profusely. I decided it wasn’t that I hated music but rather that I hated music theory/rules. I was far more interested in artists like Biggie, Fleetwood Mac, and Skrillex. By the time I turned 13, I started gaining more excitement for electronic music, which I began making on a system called Ableton. I took after some of my favorite artists, including those previously mentioned, as well as XXXTENTACION, Lil Peep, and Frank Ocean. As I worked to better my production, I learned to capture my sound a little more and make things weird and different rather than coherent and pop-like. Part of my music’s uniqueness is the fact that it doesn’t make a lot of sense in terms of song structure most of the time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Throughout High School, I struggled with self-esteem issues and bullying, as all kids pursuing music do. But gradually as I found my sound, I started to grow and attract more attention, which kind of shut the bullies up. I’d say the most real and significant difficulty I’ve faced is explaining to my parents that I’m not going to college, rather to move across the US to one of the most dangerous cities and pursue the riskiest career known to man. That definitely took some convincing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I describe my songs as “worlds for people to escape” because each one contains something that makes it drastically different from other artists. The goal behind my music is to provide solace to those who are broken or in need of a place to get away from their thoughts. In doing this, I’ve found that while my name stirs up controversy, the ones who are interested enough to learn about me as a person have continued to gravitate towards me. I’m very interactive with my followers, and I keep in constant communication with them. We’re like a family. As I continue to grow, so will the family. The goal of my music platform is to promote positivity and awaken those who are stuck in their own heads. There’s so much that society does to keep us trapped and distracted. We have to figure our way out of it as a group.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Do not compromise that which you love for the opinions of others. This creates disharmony and will lead to your downfall. Cultivate your mind, grow in your surroundings, and keep your circle tight. Your purpose as a human is to create and think. Study yourself and your internal world, and it will make the external world that much easier to understand. With the right mindset, you can reach unfathomable heights.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aziruth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uhhkenji/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/uhhkenji
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG7c1deMrxjnJU4_DbBW37A
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-786218592
- Other: https://sparta.ffm.to/kenji-violet
Image Credits
Zac Richards, Matthew Crawford, Katy Ferris
