Zakhar has burst onto the UK scene with a unique sound, vocal tone, style and approach to the music and the industry. At such a young age Zakhar is a grounded and mature individual with a good grasp of goals and an incredible command of his talent.
The rave reviews and high hopes don’t phase him as he continues to establish himself within the scene. Zakhar is enjoying discovering the industry, his artistry and himself along the journey. We sat down with Zakhar after his single release to talk to him about his journey so far and future plans.
Tell us a bit about your background and when exactly you began to pursue music as a career?
“I think I first started when I was like 14 or something. I did an Instagram rap video about my broken heart. About a girl, I was in love with but we had to separate man.”
You can always rely on a heartbreak to bring out those lyrics.
“That’s exactly how it all started. Then from there, I did more of that and here I am today.”
We’ve learnt that your other passion was football and that was another avenue in life you could have followed professionally. So making the choice between your two passions, we can only imagine is a bittersweet feeling. Was it always just a choice between those two things or did you ever have other aspirations?
“It was always mainly between those two. But it actually wasn’t like I’m giving something up when I made the decision. I just made my mind up and said yeah I’m doing this.”
So where was your introduction to the industry, and how did you kick off on the career path?
“The first time I actually experienced the music industry was when I signed my deal. That was the first time I ever stepped into a boardroom with people that are higher than me if that makes sense. Everything has just progressed upwards on a steady slope since.”
And prior to you getting signed, did you ever do anything independently?
“Yeah, not much though, I think I had like two songs out. Then I just had a catalogue of songs I was just sitting on for a few months. That’s when I was like I want to get into seriously, I want to get management and stuff like that.”
Incredible. Now your vocal tone is one of the things that stands out about you, you sit in this very raspy place that is quite risky and you work incredibly well around that almost whisper tone. Were you aware of how unique your tone is when you started?
“I didn’t really realise that. Before my voice broke, my voice was really high-pitched like, really high like it was crazy. So I could hit notes that I shouldn’t be able to hit. And then when my voice broke, I stopped singing for a while and when I came back to singing it was it was hard because I had to get used to it again.
“But then when I’m in certain sessions with people, they say they like the tone of my voice. Then everyone in every session I went to was saying it. I was like, rah, there must be something about my voice that’s good. When I fully listened to my songs I was like oh yeah, I hear it. I think that’s just how my voice just naturally goes. I don’t necessarily try to do it or whatever, that’s just how it is.”
So have you trained your voice at all?
“No. I want to get a vocal coach just to tighten certain things up though. There are certain keys or notes I struggle to hit so I want to get a vocal coach just to build myself up a bit. But yeah, I’ve never had any vocal training at this point in my career.”
We do hear a few different elements in your sound. There’s the rap-infused melodic stuff and the parts that are more sung. Who would you say has influenced you?
“I would say, Justin Bieber. Justin Bieber is up there. A lot of people don’t expect the answer but I’m a big fan of Justin Bieber. I think other people that first got me excited to make music were Mo Stack, Stormzy and Dave, they’re like they’re my top three. That’d be the reason I got into music.”
Is that who you listened to growing up?
“I only really started listening to music in year nine. I didn’t really listen to a lot before then. When I was coming into the year nine everything on my playlist was Mo Stack, and back in the day Stormzy, that’s all it was. They’re the main people I listened to that inspired me.”
Who have you learned the most from on your journey so far?
“I had a camp with my label. There was an artist called Zaire and Lotto Ash was there. So there was three of us for four days. I think that those four days genuinely inspired me more than all the producers that I’ve worked with.
“It was my first time being in a room with more creatives than I can count on my fingers. So when I’m seeing he works this way, and he works this way and he’s hitting this melody, and that producer is playing this piano, there are so many minds working but it all comes to one. I just find that so beautiful that everyone works in their own unique way, but all know what sound we want to hear. Especially with Ash, how he hits these melodies. That’s definitely inspired me to just go harder and keep working.”
You’ve gotten into playing keys yourself if the clips from the video are correct?
“I don’t play the piano, but I’m learning. The video that I was playing the piano for was a music video. The song is a ballad. I said I wanted a grand piano in this music video. But I don’t know how to play the piano. I set myself a target, I had like three days left on the music video and I was like, I’m gonna learn this whole song by then. On the first day, I just learned what my hands needed to do. Then on the second day, I just had everything down. Then the third day was the video. So the parts for that video I learnt in a day, but I am taking actual lessons now.”
Do you feel pressure from all the positive feedback you are receiving, or is it fuelling your growth?
“No, I think it’s a bit of both. I don’t really get nervous. I think for my age because I’m only 17 I think I am quite mature for my age. So I’m able to talk to people. But I think yeah, it’s a bit of both because I can only believe in myself so much. I can believe it’s 100% but if no one else has believed in me, and no one’s agreeing I have good music what’s the point? But because I’m getting all this good feedback, you know, I have a chance to be something. So it helps me push more.
“Then at the same time, it’s pressure because now every song I make if it’s not to this standard I don’t like it. And you see me, I’m an over-thinker. So, I stress about a lot of things. So even in my songs if there’s one minor thing I don’t like it will just throw me off completely from the whole song. So positive feedback is good, but I think it does put me under a little bit of pressure but it’s good pressure. I take it in a good way.”
What’s the reaction from friends and family to how you’re doing now and your music?
“Everyone’s so proud. I’m trying to get more into properly singing and tapping into that world. I think it’s different because when you’re coming from the ends, everyone’s rapping and everyone’s doing Drill.
“No one’s really standing out and doing things differently. I wasn’t expecting all the love that I’m receiving. I thought it was going to be why are you doing this, why are you not rapping. Everyone’s mad supportive, like, you know, you’ve got this. So I think it’s good, and like everyone’s showing me proper love.”
That tone is no joke, you have got to sing! In terms of your aspirations, what do you hope to achieve in six months?
“I think just to be more noticed. I think as an artist, actually, I’m emerging. I think right now, money is not important. It’s just about moves. I can have all the money in the world but that’s not my goal. I want to have a legacy, and so I want this first year to just be like, the starting foundation.
“People now know who I am, like they’re going to be watching out for me next year. I’m not expecting to do crazy numbers this year or to be worldwide. That’s unrealistic, but I just want it to be where our foundation starts.”
Who would you really want to work with?
“I think my end goal is Justin Bieber, I don’t even want to do a song, I want to do a whole Album. But in terms of the UK, I think B Young would be sick to work with”
Okay, so now in terms of your messaging and mindset, what subjects and issues do you like to talk about?
“I haven’t necessarily bought it up in any of my songs, but one of the messages I always want to put across is just to be yourself. I think that there are a lot of people that will put on a mask to make other people feel happy, or to make other people think of them in a different light than what really are.
“So I think me coming from the ends, and then slowly progressing into doing ballad songs, no one’s really doing that right now. I want to be the guy that says yeah, look, I’ve come from the same place as you. I’ve done certain things that man regrets, but at the end of the day, I’m doing this just for me. If you want to be a part of the story, then you can. I feel a lot of people just do certain things to make other people happy rather than doing what makes them happy.”
Sometimes you have to live your message not just talk about it. Do you let that come through in all areas of your creativity and are you very hands-on in the process?
“I like being hands-on, I like to know a lot of things – in fact, I need to know what’s going on. Even when it comes to writing songs, this may sound dumb, but when the beat is getting made usually it starts with drums, guitar or piano and as I’m writing in my head, I’ll hear certain things.
“My producer is amazing at working with me because I’m rubbish at explaining things but he will get it. I just describe stuff to him and he will put it together, that’s how we make the songs. With videos it’s the same, I have a vision in my head of what I want but obviously, I’m not a trained director or producer, so the team brings my ideas to life.”
And outside of your team are you, friends, with any other emerging artists?
“One of my closest bredrins Swifts. He hasn’t released anything yet, but he’s emerging and he has a lot of material on the way, he definitely has a great career ahead of him.”
Now, in terms of personal goals is there anything within the industry that is on a bucket list of what you would like to achieve?
“I don’t you know. I’ve watched a lot of artist documentaries and one thing people always say is that they set a goal and when they get to it, they want the next thing. They don’t even appreciate it, and they want the next thing.
“I think, personally, I would rather enjoy the journey and be happier with the outcome rather than work so hard toward the outcome that I don’t even enjoy what I did to get there. As I am elevating, every time I progress, I just give thanks. I’m thankful for every new thing I experience and I think that’s the way I’m going to move.”
Final question why should we connect with your music this year?
“I think because I’m relatable, I don’t think I’m anything special, I genuinely don’t. I just think I’m a normal person that has a nice voice and I’m using the talent.
I’m not really into designer and all that stuff. I’m just a plain tracksuit guy, a white tee that’s all I wear and that’s the image I’m trying to portray. If you have more money than me or less money than me you can relate to me in some type of way. I’m just a relatable person.”