My “why” is rooted in the belief that music and art are the most honest forms of communication we have—and in a world that’s becoming increasingly fast-paced and digitized, honesty and soul are more important than ever. Music has shaped every part of who I am. It’s not just my craft—it’s my compass, my voice, and my bridge to others. Inspired by visionaries like John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix, and Wes Montgomery, and driven by the modern genius of Guthrie Govan, Cory Henry, Plini, and Robert Glasper, I’ve built my identity around jazz and its boundless spirit of innovation. In this era of artificial intelligence, digital design, and automated tools, some may worry that the soul of art is being lost. I see it differently. I see technology as a means to extend the reach of creativity. Yes, anyone can make a beat or generate a melody with a few clicks—but only an artist can breathe life into it. My albums, such as The Expressionist, The Sire, and collaborations like L-O-V-E (The Experience) and Negus, are all crafted to fuse emotion and intention with sound. Technology enhances my ability to produce, but it doesn’t replace the storytelling behind each note. Looking ahead, I want to create a visual and musical universe—a multimedia series that blends jazz, animation, and narrative. Think of an animated TV show or a digital comic series where each episode or issue is paired with an original album. Characters would have musical themes. Episodes would explore social issues through symbolic, sonic storytelling. The same way Coltrane told stories without words, I want to build stories where visuals and music work hand-in-hand to move people. As a student of the arts, I will continue learning not just how to create—but why we create. I want to mentor young artists, host masterclasses, and remind the next generation that their voice matters. That taking creative risks isn’t reckless—it’s revolutionary. Music has given me courage, clarity, and purpose. My mission is to pass that forward, one song, one project, one soul at a time.

My high school career has been shaped by a deep commitment to becoming the best in my craft. I chose practicing guitar over hanging out in the quad. I skipped prom to stay home composing music and arranging jazz standards. That dedication has paid off—I’ve earned the respect of older peers and became a role model in my conservatory. As a sophomore and junior, I formed strong friendships and musical partnerships that have guided me through thick and thin. But being close with upperclassmen meant experiencing tough goodbyes every year as they graduated while I stayed behind. In my junior year, I had an idea—an ambitious one. I wanted to bring all of my favorite artists together to create a collaborative concept album. My vision was to highlight each musician and their unique voice. Some of these collaborators were college students, others local classmates. For a few of them, this would be their first appearance on an album. I wanted it to be something meaningful—a true opus of friendship and collaboration. The first challenge was understanding each of the 13 artists I invited. I had to learn what genres they loved, how they played, and how I could blend those elements with my vision. This process pushed me beyond jazz guitar. One day, I’d be programming hip-hop beats with synths and drum pads; the next, I’d be working on folk or bossa nova, layering nylon-string guitars and Latin percussion. I found joy in moving between genres—it opened up new creative doors and brought me closer to the artistic worlds of my friends. I hoped that the diversity of sound would reach a wider audience, spreading the core message of the album: friendship and collaboration. The second challenge was producing the album myself. Using a DAW I received as a gift years ago, I taught myself how to record everything—from drums to violin to vocals. I learned how to mix, EQ, and balance the sound so that no instrument overpowered the others. I also learned how to work with vocalists, which was new for me since I usually focused on instrumental music. The final challenge was managing the personalities of my collaborators. Some were perfectionists, and I had to reassure them that their best take was more than good enough. Others were more laid-back, and I had to motivate them to go for another round—without hurting their feelings or stifling their creativity. This role of producer taught me patience, leadership, and how to bring out the best in others. Despite the challenges, this project made my junior year incredibly special. It helped me say goodbye to the people who meant the most to me, not with words, but with music. Now, our album—The Sire by Zaire King—is out on Apple Music. I hope listeners can hear the spirit of friendship, family, and creativity that I poured into every mix, every guitar solo, and every vocal edit. It was a labor of love, and my way of honoring the artists who helped shape who I am. Here is the link to my album, titled, The Sire by Zaire King: https://zaireking.hearnow.com/

I’m Zaire King. I am a senior at CSARTS—California School of the Arts in Duarte, California. I have been the Principal Guitarist and Jazz Ambassador at CSARTS for the past 2 years. I am a self-taught, left-handed guitarist. I know how to read, write, compose, and arrange musical scores for an entire ensemble. I’ve been playing guitar for about 6 years and have been privileged to play with jazz greats such as Michal Paulo, who was the saxophonist for Al Jarreau. Some notable concerts I’ve played at have been the Temecula Wine and Jazz Festival, Fête De La Musique, a PBS broadcasted Christmas Special at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and The Autism Acceptance and Awareness Block Party which is a yearly event that I volunteer my time and talent to. I’ve won the YAHN 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year Award which extended beyond me being a guitarist and showed me that I need to constantly treat my musicianship as a brand and a business. At 16, I composed, arranged, and copywrote my very own debut album titled, The Expressionist, found on streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. Following The Expressionist, The Sire, was a follow-up “sophomore” album, L-O-V-E (The Experience) by Zelff + Mind and Negus by Queen Mother which are my band projects and can also be found on all streaming platforms. My ultimate career goal is to be a successful and influential musician/composer/collaborator. Some of my favorite artists are Guthrie Govan, Cory Henry, Plini, Pat Metheny, and Robert Glasper. Inspired by the greatnesses of John Coltrane, Norman Brown, Wes Montgomery, and fellow lefty, Jimi Hendrix; my goal is to peak the interest of music lovers that are in my age group and demonstrate my passion to spread my love of jazz music to the world. I plan to progress the movement of jazz and be instrumental with our youth to preserve the jazz music culture. I aspire to be like these amazing musicians and follow in their footsteps. I want to also host masterclasses and interviews so I can further spread my message of love and peace within music as well as educate kids like me that are trying to find their creative space. I find a lot of enjoyment in creating albums. I’m an album fanatic and I try to listen to a different album each day as a source of inspiration. Due to this love of albums, I naturally gravitate towards making albums--self produced passion projects. Albums are similar to nuggets of gold, such a small thing can have so much potential and worth. The power to reach people through albums is what motivates me to continue working. Making music is a lot like having faith; sometimes you simply have to believe that you’re working towards creating a life changing legacy even if you don’t yet see the fruits of your labors. I like to envision myself one day inspiring kids just like myself to take risks and to go out–creating beautiful music that can change the world. I like to think about what my life would be as a touring musician and how many people I could reach and encourage to give back. This award will help me achieve my goals. As I really want to be able to afford the college of my dreams. I will be attending a prestigious music college that will allow me to refine my craft-- USC, to pursue music (Jazz Studies).

My high school career has been shaped by a deep commitment to becoming the best in my craft. I chose practicing guitar over hanging out in the quad. I skipped prom to stay home composing music and arranging jazz standards. That dedication has paid off—I’ve earned the respect of older peers and became a role model in my conservatory. As a sophomore and junior, I formed strong friendships and musical partnerships that have guided me through thick and thin. But being close with upperclassmen meant experiencing tough goodbyes every year as they graduated while I stayed behind. In my junior year, I had an idea—an ambitious one. I wanted to bring all of my favorite artists together to create a collaborative concept album. My vision was to highlight each musician and their unique voice. Some of these collaborators were college students, others local classmates. For a few of them, this would be their first appearance on an album. I wanted it to be something meaningful—a true opus of friendship and collaboration. The first challenge was understanding each of the 13 artists I invited. I had to learn what genres they loved, how they played, and how I could blend those elements with my vision. This process pushed me beyond jazz guitar. One day, I’d be programming hip-hop beats with synths and drum pads; the next, I’d be working on folk or bossa nova, layering nylon-string guitars and Latin percussion. I found joy in moving between genres—it opened up new creative doors and brought me closer to the artistic worlds of my friends. I hoped that the diversity of sound would reach a wider audience, spreading the core message of the album: friendship and collaboration. The second challenge was producing the album myself. Using a DAW I received as a gift years ago, I taught myself how to record everything—from drums to violin to vocals. I learned how to mix, EQ, and balance the sound so that no instrument overpowered the others. I also learned how to work with vocalists, which was new for me since I usually focused on instrumental music. The final challenge was managing the personalities of my collaborators. Some were perfectionists, and I had to reassure them that their best take was more than good enough. Others were more laid-back, and I had to motivate them to go for another round—without hurting their feelings or stifling their creativity. This role of producer taught me patience, leadership, and how to bring out the best in others. Despite the challenges, this project made my junior year incredibly special. It helped me say goodbye to the people who meant the most to me, not with words, but with music. Now, our album—The Sire by Zaire King—is out on Apple Music. I hope listeners can hear the spirit of friendship, family, and creativity that I poured into every mix, every guitar solo, and every vocal edit. It was a labor of love, and my way of honoring the artists who helped shape who I am. Here is the link to my album, titled, The Sire by Zaire King: https://zaireking.hearnow.com/ The Sire by Zaire King

I’m Zaire King. I am a senior at CSARTS—California School of the Arts in Duarte, California. I have been the Principal Guitarist and Jazz Ambassador at CSARTS for the past 2 years. I am a self-taught, left-handed guitarist. I know how to read, write, compose, and arrange musical scores for an entire ensemble. I’ve been playing guitar for about 6 years and have been privileged to play with jazz greats such as Michal Paulo, who was the saxophonist for Al Jarreau. Some notable concerts I’ve played at have been the Temecula Wine and Jazz Festival, Fête De La Musique, a PBS broadcasted Christmas Special at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and The Autism Acceptance and Awareness Block Party which is a yearly event that I volunteer my time and talent to. I’ve won the YAHN 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year Award which extended beyond me being a guitarist and showed me that I need to constantly treat my musicianship as a brand and a business. At 16, I composed, arranged, and copywrote my very own debut album titled, The Expressionist, found on streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. Following The Expressionist, The Sire, was a follow-up “sophomore” album, L-O-V-E (The Experience) by Zelff + Mind and Negus by Queen Mother which are my band projects and can also be found on all streaming platforms. My ultimate career goal is to be a successful and influential musician/composer/collaborator. Some of my favorite artists are Guthrie Govan, Cory Henry, Plini, Pat Metheny, and Robert Glasper. Inspired by the greatnesses of John Coltrane, Norman Brown, Wes Montgomery, and fellow lefty, Jimi Hendrix; my goal is to peak the interest of music lovers that are in my age group and demonstrate my passion to spread my love of jazz music to the world, I plan to progress the movement of jazz and be instrumental with our youth to preserve the jazz music culture. I aspire to be like these amazing musicians and follow in their footsteps. I want to also host masterclasses and interviews so I can further spread my message of love and peace within music as well as educate kids like me that are trying to find their creative space. As a kid with SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), I want to be a positive influence and an example of not letting labels limit you or your artform.

I am a senior at CSARTS—California School of the Arts in Duarte, California. I have been the Principal Guitarist and Jazz Ambassador at CSARTS for the past 2 years. I am a self-taught, left-handed guitarist. I’ve been playing guitar for about 6 years and have been privileged to play with jazz greats such as Michal Paulo (former saxophonist for Al Jarreau). Some notable concerts I’ve played at have been the Temecula Wine and Jazz Festival, Fête De La Musique, a PBS broadcasted Christmas Special at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and The Autism Acceptance and Awareness Block Party which is a yearly event that I volunteer my time and talent to. At 16, I composed, arranged, and copywrote my first debut album titled, The Expressionist, (Apple Music and Spotify). When I was younger, much of my childhood could be characterized as trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. My parents put me in countless extracurricular activities trying to see where I’d fit. Sports was an absolute no (I once scored the wrong goal on the opposing team). But, by the grace of God, music chose me. It was unexpected to both myself and my parents, but music became my passion. Music fed my soul in a way that nothing else could. Music continues to be a source of escape and expression for me. As a kid born with SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), the tiniest things would affect me, my mood, and because of this, I had always felt emotions 100 times stronger than how they actually were. Music acted as an equalizer of emotions and helped me to positively dispel the negative emotions that I would otherwise hyper fixate on. I find a lot of enjoyment in creating albums. I’m an album fanatic and I try to listen to a different album each day as a source of inspiration for me. Due to this love of albums, I naturally gravitate towards making albums--self produced passion projects. Albums are similar to nuggets of gold, such a small trivial thing can have so much potential and worth. The power to reach people through albums is what motivates me to continue working. Making music is a lot like having faith; sometimes you have to believe that you’re working towards creating a life changing legacy even if you don’t yet see the fruits of your labors. I like to envision myself one day inspiring kids just like myself to take risks and to go out–creating beautiful music that can change the world. I think about going on tour with my band and creating magical moments in each city, state, or country I happen to play in. There’s a handful of artists that I truly admire that have that gift to create beautiful music and truly reach people through their live performances. Artists such as John Coltrane, Jacob Collier, and Cory Henry have had that impact. I aspire to be like these amazing musicians and follow in their footsteps. I want to host masterclasses and interviews so I can further spread my message of love and peace within music as well as educate kids like me that are trying to find their creative space. This award will help me achieve my goals. I really want to be able to afford the college of my dreams. I want to attend a prestigious music college that will allow me to refine my craft. I have applied to Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, The New School, Berklee, USC, and UCLA. I have 5 upcoming college auditions and I feel closer to my dreams, my goals.

I’m Zaire King. I am a senior at CSARTS—California School of the Arts in Duarte, California. I have been the Principal Guitarist and Jazz Ambassador at CSARTS for the past 2 years. I am a self-taught, left-handed guitarist. I know how to read, write, compose, and arrange musical scores for an entire ensemble. I’ve been playing guitar for about 6 years and have been privileged to play with jazz greats such as Michal Paulo, who was the saxophonist for Al Jarreau. Some notable concerts I’ve played at have been the Temecula Wine and Jazz Festival, Fête De La Musique, a PBS broadcasted Christmas Special at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and The Autism Acceptance and Awareness Block Party which is a yearly event that I volunteer my time and talent to. I’ve won the YAHN 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year Award which extended beyond me being a guitarist and showed me that I need to constantly treat my musicianship as a brand and a business. At 16, I composed, arranged, and copywrote my very own debut album titled, The Expressionist, found on streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. Following The Expressionist, The Sire, was a follow-up “sophomore” album, L-O-V-E (The Experience) by Zelff + Mind and Negus by Queen Mother which are my band projects and can also be found on all streaming platforms. My ultimate career goal is to be a successful and influential musician/composer/collaborator. Some of my favorite artists are Guthrie Govan, Cory Henry, Plini, Pat Metheny, and Robert Glasper. Inspired by the greatnesses of John Coltrane, Norman Brown, Wes Montgomery, and fellow lefty, Jimi Hendrix; my goal is to peak the interest of music lovers that are in my age group and demonstrate my passion to spread my love of jazz music to the world. I plan to progress the movement of jazz and be instrumental with our youth to preserve the jazz music culture. I aspire to be like these amazing musicians and follow in their footsteps. I want to also host masterclasses and interviews so I can further spread my message of love and peace within music as well as educate kids like me that are trying to find their creative space. I find a lot of enjoyment in creating albums. I’m an album fanatic and I try to listen to a different album each day as a source of inspiration. Due to this love of albums, I naturally gravitate towards making albums--self produced passion projects. Albums are similar to nuggets of gold, such a small thing can have so much potential and worth. The power to reach people through albums is what motivates me to continue working. Making music is a lot like having faith; sometimes you simply have to believe that you’re working towards creating a life changing legacy even if you don’t yet see the fruits of your labors. I like to envision myself one day inspiring kids just like myself to take risks and to go out–creating beautiful music that can change the world. I like to think about what my life would be as a touring musician and how many people I could reach and encourage to give back. This award will help me achieve my goals. As I really want to be able to afford the college of my dreams. I want to attend a prestigious music college that will allow me to refine my craft. I have applied to Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, The New School, Berklee, USC, and UCLA to pursue music (Global Jazz Studies).

I’m Zaire King. I am a senior at CSARTS—California School of the Arts in Duarte, California. I have been the Principal Guitarist and Jazz Ambassador at CSARTS for the past 2 years. I am a self-taught, left-handed guitarist. I know how to read, write, compose, and arrange musical scores for an entire ensemble. I’ve been playing guitar for about 6 years and have been privileged to play with jazz greats such as Michal Paulo, who was the saxophonist for Al Jarreau. Some notable concerts I’ve played at have been the Temecula Wine and Jazz Festival, Fête De La Musique, a PBS broadcasted Christmas Special at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and The Autism Acceptance and Awareness Block Party which is a yearly event that I volunteer my time and talent to. I’ve won the YAHN 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year Award which extended beyond me being a guitarist and showed me that I need to constantly treat my musicianship as a brand and a business. At 16, I composed, arranged, and copywrote my very own debut album titled, The Expressionist, found on streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. Following The Expressionist, The Sire, was a follow-up “sophomore” album, L-O-V-E (The Experience) by Zelff + Mind and Negus by Queen Mother which are my band projects and can also be found on all streaming platforms. My ultimate career goal is to be a successful and influential musician/composer/collaborator. Some of my favorite artists are Guthrie Govan, Cory Henry, Plini, Pat Metheny, and Robert Glasper. Inspired by the greatnesses of John Coltrane, Norman Brown, Wes Montgomery, and fellow lefty, Jimi Hendrix; my goal is to peak the interest of music lovers that are in my age group and demonstrate my passion to spread my love of jazz music to the world. I plan to progress the movement of jazz and be instrumental with our youth to preserve the jazz music culture. I aspire to be like these amazing musicians and follow in their footsteps. I want to also host masterclasses and interviews so I can further spread my message of love and peace within music as well as educate kids like me that are trying to find their creative space. I find a lot of enjoyment in creating albums. I’m an album fanatic and I try to listen to a different album each day as a source of inspiration. Due to this love of albums, I naturally gravitate towards making albums--self produced passion projects. Albums are similar to nuggets of gold, such a small thing can have so much potential and worth. The power to reach people through albums is what motivates me to continue working. Making music is a lot like having faith; sometimes you simply have to believe that you’re working towards creating a life changing legacy even if you don’t yet see the fruits of your labors. I like to envision myself one day inspiring kids just like myself to take risks and to go out–creating beautiful music that can change the world. I like to think about what would my life be as a touring musician and how many people I could reach and encourage to give back. This award will help me achieve my goals. As I really want to be able to afford the college of my dreams. I want to attend a prestigious music college that will allow me to refine my craft. I have applied to Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, The New School, Berklee, USC, and UCLA to pursue music (Global Jazz Studies).

From the clothes we wear to the foods we eat–even to the furniture we sit on, everything is made from an artist’s hands. Art surrounds us whether we know it or not. I’m Zaire King. I am a senior at CSARTS—California School of the Arts in Duarte, California. I have been the Principal Guitarist and Jazz Ambassador at CSARTS for the past 2 years. I am a self-taught, left-handed guitarist. I know how to read, write, compose, and arrange musical scores for an entire ensemble. I’ve been playing guitar for about 6 years. At 16, I composed, arranged, and copywrote my very own debut album titled, The Expressionist, found on streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. At 17, The Sire, my “sophomore” album, L-O-V-E (The Experience) by Zelff + Mind and Negus by Queen Mother which are my band projects and can also be found on all streaming platforms. Much of my childhood could be characterized as trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. My parents enrolled me in countless extracurricular activities trying to see where I’d “fit in.” Sports, an absolute no (I scored the wrong goal on the opposing team). Chess, a possibility. But, by the grace of God, music chose me. It was unexpected to both myself and my parents, but music became my passion. Music fed my soul in a way that nothing else could. Music continues to be a source of escape and expression for me. As a child born with SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), the tiniest things affect me, my mood, and because of this, I have always felt emotions 100 times stronger than how they actually are. Music has acted as an equalizer of emotions and has helped me to positively dispel the negative emotions that I would otherwise hyper fixate on. I find a lot of enjoyment in creating albums. In all honesty, I’m an album fanatic and I try to listen to a different album each day as a source of inspiration. Due to this love of albums, I naturally gravitate towards making albums--self produced passion projects. Albums are similar to nuggets of gold, such a small thing can have so much potential and worth. The power to reach people through albums is what motivates me to continue working. Making music is a lot like having faith; sometimes you simply have to believe that you’re working towards creating a life changing legacy even if you don’t yet see the fruits of your labor. I like to envision myself one day inspiring kids just like myself to take risks and to go out–creating beautiful music that can change the world. My ultimate career goal is to be a successful and influential musician/composer/collaborator. Some of my favorite artists are Cory Henry, Pat Metheny, and Robert Glasper. Inspired by the greatnesses of John Coltrane, Norman Brown, Wes Montgomery, and fellow lefty, Jimi Hendrix; my goal is to peak the interest of music lovers that are in my age group and demonstrate my passion to spread my love of jazz music to the world. I plan to progress the movement of jazz and be instrumental with our youth to preserve the jazz music culture, the music of African-American peoples. I have applied to Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, The New School, Berklee, USC, and UCLA to pursue music (Global Jazz Studies). This scholarship will help me immensely with costs, especially fees that come with auditioning, flying to the East Coast, and being able to contribute since my parents have been helping me and paid for me to visit these schools.

From the clothes we wear to the foods we eat–even to the furniture we sit on, everything is made from an artist’s hands. Art surrounds us whether we know it or not. When I was younger, much of my childhood could be characterized as trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. My parents enrolled me in countless extracurricular activities trying to see where I’d “fit in.” Sports was an absolute no. Chess a possibility. But, by the grace of God, music chose me. It was unexpected to both myself and my parents, but music became my passion. Music fed my soul in a way that nothing else could. Music continues to be a source of escape and expression for me. As a child born with SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), the tiniest things affect me, my mood, and because of this, I have always felt emotions 100 times stronger than how they actually are. Music has acted as an equalizer of emotions and has helped me to positively dispel the negative emotions that I would otherwise hyper fixate on. I find a lot of enjoyment in creating albums. In all honesty, I’m an album fanatic and I try to listen to a different album each day as a source of inspiration. Due to this love of albums, I naturally gravitate towards making albums--self produced passion projects. The power to reach people through albums is what motivates me to continue working. Making music is a lot like having faith; sometimes you simply have to believe that you’re working towards creating a life changing legacy even if you don’t yet see the fruits of your labors. I like to envision myself one day inspiring kids just like myself to take risks and to go out–creating beautiful music that can change the world. I like to think about what would my life be as a touring musician and how many people I could reach. I think about creating magical moments in each city, state, or country I happen to play in. There’s a handful of artists that I truly admire that have that gift to create beautiful music and truly reach people through their live performances. Artists such as John Coltrane, Jacob Collier, Pat Metheny, and Cory Henry have had that impact on people. I aspire to be like these amazing musicians and follow in their footsteps. I want to also host masterclasses and interviews so I can further spread my message of love and peace within music as well as educate kids like me that are trying to find their creative space and “fit in” within our world. This award, The Neil Margeson Sound Scholarship will help me achieve my goals. As I really want to be able to afford the college of my dreams. I want to attend a prestigious music college that will allow me to refine my craft. A lot of the colleges that I have applied to are not only expensive, but have also involved prescreens, upcoming live auditions, and pricey application fees. Colleges such as Berklee, USC, UCLA, The New School, Manhattan School of Music, and Juilliard. I also need to take into account how costly being a musician is and being awarded this scholarship would help me with my college journey, to pay for fees, get proper equipment, and the tools needed to continue to have a prosperous future in music.

I’m Zaire “King” Franklin and since middle school I’ve had the dream of being a world class entrepreneurial musician. A musician that the youth can look up to for guidance and inspiration. A musician that can create prolific music that both brings people together as well as break societal norms that negatively affect the world. Ever since I laid my hands on a guitar, things began to make sense to me. Playing music has always calmed me down instantly and has given me the strength to overcome even the hardest of hurdles within my life. Though I started out with guitar, my insatiable appetite for music caused me to learn numerous instruments such as the piano, drums, bass, mandolin, melodica, and many more instruments as a way to further express myself. The gratifying aspect of being a musician is the fact that there’s many facets one can go through while still being connected to music. Primarily, I aim to be a household name, such as musicians like Lenny Kravitz or Quincy Jones. One way that I’m trying to achieve this is by recording albums as a way for people to hear me and my message beyond my family and friend network. At the age of 17, I already have 2 solo albums out, The Expressionist and The Sire (Apple Music) while simultaneously working on albums by the numerous bands I’m in. With the help of supportive family members, I’ve been blessed with equipment and instruments to actualize said projects; however, with ever changing technology, there is always room for improvement in recording software. Because of the current music industry standards, many artists have opted to be independent artists, utilizing digital workspaces such as Ableton or Logic to record their music. On top of this, many independent artists are their own self-financiers and though it is better than being signed to a record label; it is a costly pursuit to advertise, market, copyright, and send out your own music. Another avenue I’m interested in is being part of a band (or even multiple bands). Though I’m mainly a jazz guitarist, I really enjoy playing other genres of music and incorporating my jazz background to further progress and innovate within whatever genre I’m playing. Currently I’m in 2 bands. I feel that I’ve grown so much as a leader and a musician by being involved in multiple bands. I feel more prepared to work with artists despite their cultural and personal backgrounds and I feel more confident in my abilities to adapt as a musician (which is a key component in being a jazz musician in the first place). I think it would be really fulfilling to have both a solo and band career as I can focus on different aspects of my persona and artistry and it will give me much needed breaks from just having to focus on building the “Zaire King” show. The magic behind being a part of a band is the fact that sometimes bands can act as your family. It’s a really beautiful and creative environment when you play with individuals with whom you really connect with, who have your back as a friend, and as a fellow band member. Playing music invigorates me and I can see the healing effect it has on people. The more I can play and show off my music to the world, the better. When people ask me where do I see myself in 10 years–I see myself standing on a stage, amongst a crowd of thousands, playing my music that has hopefully inspired people to live, create, and love the journey that is life.