Interview with Kevin Zulueta (KZ)

Today we are meeting with Kevin Zulueta, aka KZ for an interview in his home studio located in Miami. Kevin is 20 years old, and has been producing/song writing his entire life. He is world known producers Cool and Dre’s sound engineer for the past 2 years and has worked with many other artists/producers during his time there, including C-Ride, Drew Money, and Eddie Montilla. With sometimes controversial, and always inspiring lyrics, he is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Producing all of his own beats, his style varies and is influenced by anything and everything. Sometimes they can be very upbeat and commercial, while at other times very ambient and melodic. Now, with out further a due, let’s meet the artist KZ, and have a few unanswered questions…answered.

ArtMiami.Tv: When was the moment in your life when you realized you wanted to be a musician? Was it a specific person/event that influenced you, if so, who/what was it?

KZ: The moment I realized I wanted to be a musician was when my mother bought me my first stereo, I was fascinated by the way the sound came through the speakers, and was hooked. Major influence would be Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. I remember playing that album over and over, studying and listening to every song on the album, until I knew every instrument, lyric, and melody by heart. This is what sparked my creative interest in the field of music initially.

ArtMiami.Tv: What was it that initially sparked the fuse that will one day cause you to blow up?

KZ: It was the hunger and determination to succeed that sparked the fuse because many people had their doubts of me even persuing music as the path I would walk for the rest of my life on this earth. I use their negative thoughts and energy as fuel to work even harder to reach my goal every single day.

ArtMiami.Tv: How long have you been song writing/producing for?

KZ: Ever since I can remember. When I was little I used to listen to music in the car with my mother, and I would hear the melodies and words in my head but I didn’t seriously get a concrete understanding of producing and song writing until I started interning with my brothers, Cool and Dre.

ArtMiami.Tv: What genre would you say your music is, if you had to choose only one?

KZ: I wouldn’t be able to put my music into any single category because I’m constantly being exposed to other genres everyday and listening to various music, which in turn influences the way my music sounds. I would just say, music that makes people feel good.

ArtMiami.Tv: When was Brainstorm formed, and who are the members of this group?

KZ: Just recently I had a vision of putting together a group of artists from Miami who are dedicated to bringing the pure sound of hip-hop back. We had 4 members, but were always looking to make new additions to the roster with anyone who shared the same vision. The members of Brainstorm are, myself as KZ, Nick London, Rick Brown, and Trill Nill. Furthermore, we were also looking to work with and mold sound engineers as well as producers to have a really solid camp.

ArtMiami.Tv: What sets Brainstorm apart from the rest of the music groups in the world?

KZ: We all share the same vision of what it means to be an artist and each member of the group has a vision/picture that they want to convey to the listeners. It’s all just a matter of time, just know that we will continue to creating and putting out good music until people begin to take notice.

ArtMiami.Tv: Are you currently working with any labels or established artists?

KZ: Yes, I actually have the pleasure of working with world known hip hop producers, Cool and Dre, as their full time sound engineer. I have recorded many already established artists such as C-Ride and Fat Joe, just to name a few.

ArtMiami.Tv: What venues/events have you performed at?

KZ: Most recently I performed at the Miami Music Festival in South Beach. It was a great experience, it had been a while since I had been on stage so it felt good to get back into the swing of things. I also performed with Trill Nill on Miami Music TV which should be out soon, so look out for that and many more performances in the future.

After the interview, I think we can conclude one thing. This kid is here to stay. He loves music and has a deeply rooted passion for producing it, plus he is in a position that most people would KILL to be in (Cool and Dre’s sound engineer, in case you forgot already). Acting as a sponge and soaking up everything he sees/hears in the studio while working everyday, is sure to be a concrete foundation for the launch of his music career.