Today we’d like to introduce you to Zane Durham.
Hi Zane, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a multidisciplinary creative looking to allow the next generation of creatives to make new mistakes. I started out writing poetry as a kid then moved on to writing music and playing instruments. I started to take my creative passions seriously in high school, from doing poetry slams at sixteen to joining a band with my brother and selling out shows. In college, I put those passions to rest for two years to study law, and although I was good at it, I didn’t love it. I took a bet on myself and dropped everything to continue down a path through music and other means of creation. I started gaining knowledge within the industry and gained mentors that showed me the path to success not just financially but mentally as well.
That was 2016 since then, I’ve been able to lead ideations and creative processes for multiple F500 companies as a strategist, writer, and composer. Whether it’s building with non-profits such as Foundation Of Freedom to create change within our communities or working with Kendrick and Pg Lang to make moments that last throughout the culture, the goal stays the same.
To make sure we cut the time in half for black creatives to go twice as far in half time.
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?
I think as creatives, you already deal with some form of imposter syndrome, but once you add in being 1st gen American and black, it definitely becomes amplified. At the start of my journey, I second-guessed myself a lot on why I was in certain rooms or spaces or if wouldn’t it just be easier to do something I know would make a lot of money that wasn’t creative. I didn’t have any examples of what success as a creative looked like so it’s tough to keep going without faith in yourself.
What I learned is that even those at the highest level feel imposter syndrome at times it doesn’t go away but it also doesn’t define or control your worth either.
The goal isn’t perfection but accepting where you are so you can continue to get where you’re going.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Right now, I’m working as a creative for Spotify while still continuing to be an accomplished music producer and composer. My specialty is making moments within the culture musically but my superpower is ensuring I stay authentically myself no matter what room I’m in.
I’m most proud of the work I’m doing with emerging artists and creatives honestly, it’s the most fulfilling work I’ve been able to execute to date. The biggest hurdle you will face as a creative is visibility, and my job in life as I continue this journey is to champion the next creative coming up and make sure they have that shot at the same opportunities or even better ones.
If I had to pick a project I worked on that I love, it would have to be collaborating to create the look, feel, and tone for Spotify’s Top 5: Kendrick Lamar projects. It was my first project with them and I got to work with a living legend and his team to create a great moment for hip-hop fans worldwide.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I was just starting to play the keyboard and teaching myself because we couldn’t afford a teacher yet. I taught myself how to play If I ain’t got you by Alicia Keys by ear. I felt like that was a crazy personal win for me and it made me fall in love with the keys and creation itself even more.
Contact Info:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MixedByZane
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
mixedby.zane/
Image Credits
Deandre Spencer & Dennis Metoyer
