Meet Z the Stranger | Producer, Rapper, Singer & Songwriter

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

Hi Z, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Music has always been a part of my life. I grew up surrounded by so many different styles just from my immediate family and the more I heard, the more passion I developed for it. It was some time in my freshman year of high school that I purchased my first DAW (digital audio workstation), Acoustica Mixcraft 6. I was quickly able to take all that passion and put it more productively toward expression. I still use Mixcraft to this day, now up to it’s 10th iteration. As far as I can tell it’s a pretty uncommon DAW compared to the likes of FL Studio and Ableton, but it’s the one I got comfortable with first so I stand by it. I think sticking with this program allows me to focus primarily on the art itself without having to adjust to a new toolset, even if there’s some objective statistic that would make something like Ableton categorically better. If I encounter a snag, I’ll figure out a way to resolve it with the tools I already have at my disposal. At the end of the day, this is all just fun for me. Even if there was no career opportunity to pursue, I’d still be making beats, writing songs, releasing albums, all that. I’m chasing this creative endeavor because it’s a chance to make a living off of my passion.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I believe I have a particularly unique catalogue of influences that coalesce into my work. I’ve been told that I was ahead of the curve on the hyperpop sound with the music I made, melding Aphex Twin’s electronic production style with Hip-Hop, and I’m continuing to follow whatever muse leads me forward. Most recently, I’ve been into sample-based production. It’s a more classic style of beat-making, all history of the genre considered, but I’m doing my best to keep it fresh and (relatively) current.
Admittedly, I’m far more attached to my work and skill as a producer than a rapper. I do still enjoy rapping and writing, as it is a concise way to express precisely what I’m feeling and how I want to communicate such things, but I always find myself almost jumping out of my seat when I finish a great beat while completing a great verse fills me with quieter contentment.
I started pursuing music seriously in high school, and thankfully I had friends around me at the time looking toward the same goal. I was able to get involved in my local DIY music scene and play shows in back yards. When the pandemic hit, I had a lot of alone time to work on new material and ended up beginning a streak of putting out at least two projects a year since then. (Stay tuned, because that streak isn’t about to end in 2024.) Recently I’ve found much more opportunities to perform as I’ve become a regular at an open mic in the city. I definitely feel like my confidence and ability to put myself out there has greatly increased since my time trying to do so back in high school.
Regardless of how difficult it could be to find shows or find an audience, there was always one thing that was never difficult: the creative process itself. I adore the process. I love making beats. I love rapping and singing my heart. Even with no opportunities in front of me, My love for what I do would not change.
It’s hard to say exactly what I’ve learned in all this, because aside from technical info about production or industry involvement, the knowledge I’ve gained isn’t specifically related to my music and more just life in general. I’ve learned to speak louder and love harder. I’ve learned to be happy.
What I hope ends up being anyone’s takeaway from my work is two-fold: keep your sense of humor intact and approach any and all situations with compassion and empathy, especially for the marginalized.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Here’s the thing about the city of Denver and my inexplicable appearance in this interview. I’ve never been to Denver. In fact, there are very few places in America that are further away from Denver than where I live. I’m from Boston. I was directly invited to do this interview and appreciate the invitation, but I unfortunately cannot in good faith speak to Denver as anything I do say would be based on no actual experiences. I hope the Broncos have a better season next year.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are almost too many to count. My good friends Justin Arena and Ian Garland were the first to give me the opportunity to play shows when I was just starting out, and even before that my friend Sidnie was the one who introduced me to Mixcraft 6 in the first place. As time has gone on I’ve just met more and more people who’ve helped me along the way in various places, from local spaces to the internet at large.

Website: https://zthestranger.bandcamp.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZtheStranger

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zthestranger9840

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6gEgGKEcpwbmTDjsDt25gy?si=7vp21smZQ9KnmaHZxTdQmw

Image Credits
Alicia LaPorta
Wilbur Jones
Sidnie Howell
Alex Cross
Cameron Francisco