Meet ENZI | Artist & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with ENZI and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi ENZI, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I believe the most important factor behind my success so far is a combination of perseverance and humility. There have been so many obstacles on my journey so far, from malicious industry people all the way to even a disease I was born with that could’ve paralyzed me. It’s all about pushing past those things. And you don’t have to do it with vengeance either. A lot of the obstacles I faced as a kid made me bitter and that’s where the humility comes in. I have to remember that my success isn’t about shoving it in the face of haters, or even proving to myself that I could do it, it’s all about the people who listen. They are who I write for, they are who my community is for. If I let the haters or the glamor of fame get to me, I’d lose sight of what’s most important to me, and that’s community.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have overcome a whole lot on my journey to where I am today. When I was 4, I was nearly paralyzed from a condition I was born with, that would’ve taken away my ability to sing. I struggled (and still struggle) with social anxiety, I’ve been through wretched heartbreak after wretched heartbreak. I’ve fought my way through sexism and discrimination. And I’m still going through it all. But if I’ve learned anything along the way, it’s that, when something moves you, like really moves your soul, you go in that direction. Music was there for me in my hospital bed. It was there for me when I felt like I could disappear and no one would notice. It was there for me when my heart was shattered. Music propelled me forward through every hardship in my life, so I have no choice but to go wherever it’s taking me. All of what music did for me is what I want to do for other people. I want to write the song you scream in your car with your best friends. I want to write the song you sing with tears running down your face while you cut up all the photos of your ex. I want to write the songs for the wallflowers, for the misfits, for the heartbroken, for the manic pixie dream people. It doesn’t matter what you’ve been through, you belong here. I belong here. We made it this far by ourselves, imagine how far we could make it together. We’re being moved, now we have to go chase it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh boy do I have my list. First, morning coffee at Dutch Bros, but not just any Dutch, specifically, the one by my house in Loveland. I’m not sure why, but the people there are always the best and they always ask about my music. For lunch, we’re going to Masterpiece deli. The turkey brie and cranberry sandwich simply can’t be beat. I’m serious, I’ve tried to replicate it but no one does it like Masterpiece. We’d have to throw it back to 2016 and go play Pokémon Go around the botanical gardens, and get all the pokéstops inside. Then, I’d order you my favorite drink at my favorite café ever, The Haunted Game Café (and if you’re curious, my favorite drink is the vampire’s kiss). We’d play some Dungeons and Dragons or Magic: The Gathering before heading out to see a show and end the night. Some of my favorite local venues include Lost Lake, The Gothic, and The Artery (Downtown Foco). It’s way too late at this point, but not too late for Insomnia Cookies and DP Dough’s. It would take an extreme act of nature to keep me from having DP Dough’s at least once per trip home. And that’s about all I can pull from my brain at the moment! I’m sure I’ll think of a million other favorite places I have later, but these are the best of the best in my opinion, and are the defining features of my Colorado heritage.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I absolutely have to dedicate this space to Blue Star Connection and it’s founder, John Catt. Blue Star Connection is a local organization dedicated to providing instruments to children in need. They believe music is healing and that kids deserve to just make noise and express themselves through music. I was asked to be the ambassador for Blue Star when I was 14 and worked alongside John for several years, hand delivering instruments across the state. As a surprise gift, John and Blue Star gifted me my very first guitar and microphone. The guitar is sitting next to me as I write this, and that microphone comes with me to every live show, no matter what. John and Blue Star not only believed in me but they encouraged me and so many other children to make noise, make mistakes, and have a damn good time doing it. I wouldn’t be where I am today without John Catt’s mentorship. Rest in peace, John. Blue Star lives on because of you.

Website: https://www.iamenzi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamenzi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamenzi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamENZI/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/iamenzi

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamenzi?lang=en

Image Credits
All images are credited to Jordan Altergott of Altr.Wrks