Interview: Zpextre

Zpextre, Can you tell us about your latest single, Save it for the Kids? 

     As a child, I was able to dream and imagine my future.  Innocence allowed me to wander through the development of my mind to be who I am today.  I wrote Save It For the Kids on March 15th 2020  as Trump continued to sell out the country for his political and financial gain.  I wanted to scream out to the world Save It For The Kids!  Save their innocence.  Save the environment. Save this Democracy. Save this trust that we have in humanity!  

     It takes a lifetime to build a home, but a single day to tear it down!   More criminal than all the countless institutions that he destroyed, is his blatant disregard for the social contracts that we have inplace.  In this case, the innocence of children is something that we all subconsciously agree upon.  That is, until Trump.

Is there a story behind the single?

The imagery of the song is reminiscent of a time I brought my 6 year old niece to a protest in San Francisco. On our way there, the bus door opens and so do the things in my backpack clanking around on the curb.  I’m fumbling to get everything together as others wait patiently.  All of the fussing was worth it as she slept on my shoulder and we explored life together.  As we arrived at the protest, my social duty was clear.  To preserve the path forward, so that innocence will shape the future.  At that moment, I swore that my actions in life would be to build a better world for her.  To be selfless.  Not only is she trusting me for her safety, but that I am trusting her to preserve a future for generations.  It will require more than algorithms and metrics.  It will require trust, humanity and love.

What do you want your legacy to be? 

That despite the mistakes I’ve made in my life, I’d like to make the world a better place.

In your opinion, what is music’s role in society?

There are many things in this existence that we do not fully understand.  For example, we spent almost half of our lives sleeping.  I appreciate all the discoveries that have been made up to this point, but I look in anticipation for the discoveries to come in the next 100 years.

Music is similar in this regard.  

What I know of music is:  It is predominantly an art form of math, but the future will reveal that it is science too.  It is a reflection of ourselves.  It is found in all cultures and it affects our mind, body and soul.  It is a vibration and can behave like any other waveform traveling through matter.  Music unites and communicates.

So, music’s role in society is to allow us space to enjoy our lives and to not dwell on the bad things.  It is understandable that humans have a tendency to remember the bad things that have occurred to us.  It is a survival mechanism.  But those memories should not dictate our existence.  Moreover, I believe that music can heal the mind, but that’s for another day. 

Do you prefer working solo or with other musicians? 

Had you asked me that a few years back, I would have said with other musicians.   But as I’ve grown to allow myself the freedom to trust myself, I’ve become more incline to work solo. 

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?

Wow!  That is a crazy question.  It’s a good one.

Anyone?   John Cage!

Who else?   David Bowie, Charles Mingus, Siouxsie Sioux,  Neil Young, Isaac Brock, Fela Kuti, Peter Gabriel (Genesis days), I think Billie Eilish would be cool

In three words, how would you describe the vibe of your music? 

That’s an even harder question.  I love pop songs, but I am magnetized to truth and honesty, good and bad.  Here are two possibilities

  1.  Fun Spirited Psych
  2.  Subtle Social Commentary 

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? 

Being in the studio with a few people I trust and respect and discovering things about myself.

What else can we expect from Zpextre in 2021? 

I’m not sure.  I’m kinda just going with the flow.  I’ll know what to do when the time comes.

Listen to the single on Spotify
Follow ZPEXTRE on Instagram

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