The Sound Diaries #01: Brian “Z” Zisook
Brian “Z” Zisook, the co-founder of music discovery app Audiomack, Editor-In-Chief of DJBooth, a Recording Academy member, and the impressive list goes on! In all aspects, he has been an outspoken champion and constant source of light for musicians working hard to share their art in an ever-evolving landscape.
We caught up with Z to learn a little more about his passion for music, the soundtrack to his journey, and find out what he’s been listening too lately:
You've spoken on the 70+ hour weeks required to make it all happen, but also referred to your career as a passion rather than a job. Where does the unwavering love of music that drives you to take it all on stem from?
I’ve always found music and music discovery thrilling. Starting at a young age, I took pride in informing family and friends about the newest artists before they were famous. There’s something special about sharing art and seeing the pleasure it brings someone else, knowing you experienced that same pleasure. It’s highly addictive and immensely satisfying.
Can you share a specific memory, moment, or period when a particular song or album had a profound impact on your life?
One of my favorite albums of all time is Maxwell’s Embrya. I remember pressing play on that album the summer before I started high school and feeling like I was being transported to another world. A few months before its release, my parents bought me a new stereo system and headphones for my eighth-grade graduation. I’m not sure I played anything but that album for three months. When I think back to that time in my life, that transition from middle to high school, I really only remember that album.
In a show about your life thus far, what would be the theme song and why?
These are great questions. My theme song would be “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba! I’ve gotten knocked down a lot but keep getting up again. I credit that resilience to my late mother, who died last year after battling multiple sclerosis and lung cancer. She is the strongest person I’ve ever met, and through helping to care for her for many years, I learned how to overcome life’s challenges and obstacles and wake up fighting for those you love.
What guilty pleasure song might people be most surprised to find on your playlist?
I have a six-year-old daughter who exposes me to many fun, danceable records that she finds on YouTube Kids and YouTube Shorts. One of them is “The Mango Song” by Romeo Eats. It’s so dumb and yet insanely catchy — so much so that I find myself humming the chorus all the time. It’s borderline embarrassing.
Audiomack continues to be at the forefront of artist discovery and helps us find a ton of music we haven’t heard before. Can you share 3 rising artists from outside of the US that you’re excited about?
Man, I could give you 50! But for the sake of brevity, I’m very excited about Bloody Civilian, a Nigerian singer with a dynamic pen and captivating delivery; Navy Kenzo, an incredible Afro Pop duo from Tanzania with a penchant for crafting feel-good tunes; and Byron Messia, a singer from St. Kitts with soul and warmth and profound depth.