Today we’d like to introduce you to Ziggy Stry.
Hi Ziggy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Ziggy Stry, and I’m an artist/producer from Portland, Oregon, now based in Los Angeles, California. Music has been a huge part of my life since I was young. Portland has a vibrant independent music scene and an appreciation for the arts, so for me that interest was always there. My parents used to play me the music they loved from when they were growing up, and although I briefly took a handful of piano lessons when I was young, the instrument didn’t fully catch on until I began producing. My passion for music really began after a friend showed me GarageBand sometime in elementary school. It opened up my mind and curiosity to what went into the making of music, and ever since then, I haven’t stopped.
Primarily focused on hip-hop and RnB back in Portland, I continued to write and produce with a variety of different artists and groups across the area. In 2017 working with the group Urban Etiquette, our song “Theme Song” reached Spotify’s viral Top 50 as a completely independent release. Around that same time, I was introduced to a production duo here in Los Angeles, leading to an opportunity to move to California interning and working under them until 2019. At the start of the pandemic, I helped co-found the collective GROUPCHAT, releasing songs with Casey Veggies, Mark Battles, and more, and as of late have been releasing more of my own music as Ziggy Stry. I recently co-produced Duckwrth and Clay’s last single “Beg” off of Duckwrth’s newest EP Chrome Bull and have continued to collaborate with lots of great artists around LA and beyond.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned since moving to Los Angeles, it’s that no one has a particularly “smooth road”. I’ve definitely faced my share of challenges and struggles on my journey, but I meet people here every day who are going through the same thing. Especially since the pandemic, we’ve all faced unprecedented challenges. People come from all over the world just to be in Los Angeles, and everyone you’ll ever meet has gone through their own struggles and persevered. For me, going through rough patches has led to some of my strongest personal growth.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I make music, mostly Hip-Hop, RnB, and Pop. More importantly, as an artist, producer, songwriter, and overall person, I hope to inspire people to embrace their own originality and authenticity. As a collaborator, I try to help artists find their authentic voice in crafting music that resonates with their purpose. I’m proud that I’ve been able to continually work in and pursue my passion, and I’m inspired by people who are pursuing their goals, whatever that may be, as I know all of the doubt and struggle that goes into it. Being able to wake up every day and continue to have the ambition and drive to create is something that I’m thankful for, and I never take it for granted.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
That’s a difficult question to answer because I feel like I’m constantly learning things every day. For me, one thing I’ve been trying to keep in mind is to continue to trust my instinct and gut, and to lean into what feels right and brings me energy and enthusiasm. I feel like it’s easy to get wrapped up in the whirlwind of feeling like you’re being pulled in all different directions, but I’ve found that really trusting myself and doing what feels right and natural to me is what will not only help me in achieving my goals but most importantly bring me joy. Another important lesson I’ve learned and seen from others I’ve looked up to is to be consistent, and simply try to do something every day. The growth and improvement is in the consistency.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ziggystry.com/
- Instagram: @ziggystry
- Twitter: @ziggystry
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ziggystry
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ziggystry1
Image Credits
Summer Dean
Henry Cromett
