ZHENYOK CHEM BRAT
Q: Where did the inspiration come from in writing “Of Your Touch”?
I wanted to write a song in both stemed in musical emotion snd words expressing a relationship from the beginning to end. Many of the magical moments came in production
Q: There is something raw and vulnerable in your lyrics-especially all the line and loneliness talk. How do you tap into all that into your songwriting?
I believe it is a combination of exercise and meditation that helps me stay in the flow during the creative process I write a page daily of both forgiveness and apologies and this consistently brings up a vunerableness in me
Q: The sensory detail is quite striking in “I still have the smell of you last night on me now”. Can you describe to us why you’ve used scent to bring in the memory through the song?
Most listeners generally only remember a couple key lines of a song, with the opening line being often the most important. I think smell is a powerful emotion that we dont usually think about, but it is a memory that i think is very relatable and so in thinking about the relationships in my life it is often those little things that stick in my memory.
Q: You’ve written about feeling like your mind isn’t exactly working right because of love. Can you talk a little bit about whether you have personally felt that way, and how that affects your creative process?
For sure any start of a new relationship makes me feel that way and those emotions help write music that is more heartfelt. Most inspiration for my songs often comes from dreams or an experience.
Q: There’s a line in there where you say you recognize love can be so cruel and fickle. Do you think pain and heartbreak are components of the love experience that are sort of necessary?
Of course! Opposites attract I think normal and pain Is a great place to grow from if you embrace it.
Q: Even with all of the pain that’s conveyed in this song, still such a desperate need to connect. Do you ever feel like longing for someone can sometimes conquer heartbreak?
It is possible but I think self acceptence is the key to get past this
Q: When writing with such strong emotions, do you feel the process helps you to understand or heal from them?
Any type of expression is healing but also by writing music both lyrically and musically that connects with people also allows others to heal which is why I produce and perform music.
Q: Would you say “Of Your Touch” is a reflection of your personal experience or does it lean more to a fictional narrative?
I would say I wrote it from personal feelings but a fictional narrative
Q: What message would you like to be delivered through the “Of Your Touch” lyrics?
To remind people how important touch is for all human beings in its many forms.
Q: Your lyrics paint these vivid emotional pictures. Are there any particular influences or inspirations when it comes to writing lyrics?
My general thoughts about music is we don’t write it but that it flows through us and our skills are what we add to create it. I find that by staying in the flow when creating helps in writing.
Q: When writing songs such as “Of Your Touch,” are you writing more from a reflective place or feeling it now?
I would say a reflective place is more accurate as most of my writing comes from inspiration
Q: How do you think that your songwriting has changed since you started? Are you able to get across different things now, whereas you may not have been when you first started?
I started as a professional drummer so most of my life I connected only with the music and groove. It took training and mentorship to get to the space now where I have a better understanding of the art of lyrics Every day I am learning.
Q: Are you one of those people who generally starts with a melody or starts with lyrics when it comes to writing?
Normally a melody or song title but I have actually woke up with a complete song including lyrics and one of my upcoming songs I have no conscious idea how I wrote it.
Q: What’s the most challenging part of your creative process?
Not being a perfectionist and trusting the process.
Q: Who are some artists or bands that have really inspired your sound and style?
Honestly too many as I am a total audiophile so I just write what I feel I love high energy positive music.
Q: What is there outside of music that inspires you? Other forms of art or experiences?
Meditation, cooking and helping people Also I have been learning Russian the last 7 years and reading in a different language is amazing
Q: What do you plan, as an artist? Is there anything new in the pipeline or any new releases forthcoming?
The next 4 songs are all completely different from each other in style and it is very fun to create this way.
The next song which I am in production with I co wrote with Steve Dean who is a top Nashville songwriter. Starting as a country song it is now an edm dance song which was very challenging to get right and is about a couple that moved from the midwest to New York What is interesting is I actually have a married couple singing it with a similar story.
