In this interview spotlight, I chat with Zen2muz about the music, adapting during these crazy times, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and how do You describe your style of music?
I’m from a small town in Midwest America called Jerseyville, which is in IL.
So if the folk music legends like Bob Dylan, Crosby stills & Nash and Simon & Garfunkel had a Love child with 90s/2k Rock alternative icons like Shinedown, 3Days Grace and Crossfade, I’d say my music would fall somewhere in between. Blurring the lines of music genre into a highly listenable mirage of sound, I enjoy telling Stories and a lot of times the struggles of the everyday grind.
How did you get here? As in, what or who inspired & motivated you to take on this journey through music. Ps, how did you come up with your artist name?
From a very young age I’ve been surrounded by music, tho not professionally, my father played guitar
(Hence where the folk roots from) and my grandmother and a few cousins played the piano.
I remember being a boy and always laying behind my dad on the couch while he strummed his old Yamaha acoustic, sending me away to dream world every time. At the age of whatever age one is, when they are in 7th grade my father started teaching me how to play basic guitar chords, I remember “Let it Be” by the Beatles being the 1st song I ever learned to play. Before long I was singing over the progressions I would come up with. (finding melodic phrases came easily to me, as I’ve always been able to improv vocals over any given musical progression) I had a very good friend back in my early 20s that would always write poems and skits, to which I would naturally take them and use them to make songs from. I released an album last year titled Self-Inflicted, a lot of the songs on the album were a result of that friendship.
There’s an indescribable feeling that overwhelms me when I finish a song. Maybe some would call it ecstasy, but it feels so good that I continue writing. I’ve taken a lot of my inspiration for songs from my family and friends. Seeing the hardships that they have endured are the seasoning of most of my music. I often feel guilty that have used them in such a way. Maybe one day they’re hear it and learn something.
As far as motivation goes, that ecstasy feeling helps a lot, but I believe I was born a songwriter, meant to tell stories and send messages thru music. Everyone has a niche and know what mine is.
I’ve had this name for as long as I can remember playing music, I believe it went something like this, well my last name is Jantzen and I play music. Hmmmm????? Zen Music> Zen2muzic> Zen2muZ, lol something like that anyway.
How does your latest project compare/contrast with your previous release(s)? Were you setting out to accomplish anything specific, follow a specific theme, or explore different styles of creation?
So this song isn’t quite that Ballad that Legacy was. My last release was my tribute to my 3 beautiful daughters. This release is about Ego, a pure Rocking jam about the destruction that our pride can cause. I tend to write my songs one at a time with nothing else at heart besides the song on my mind. Maybe it’s a curse but being a solo artist, I’ve stayed almost too consistent to my own style and craft. (I know I need to get out more)
Name the biggest challenge you faced as a solo artist during these unprecedented times? How did you adapt? How have you kept the creative fires burning during all this?
Being a one band kind of gig has had its advantages, and sense I consider myself only a hobbyist I haven’t had to endure many challenges. Balancing my home and work life with being a independent artist is probably the hardest one. I have to decide how much time I give to my craft, specially when my job demands a set 40hrs per week. The grind of being a family man, what’s for dinner, the girls need help with school projects and need to go to basketball practice. There’s a lot going on in my family of 5. No doubt it has gotten a lot easier as they have grown up to the point that they can tend themselves but I digress. It’s rather easy to burn out on life, but if I can find the slightest bit of inspiration in the moments between the guitar chords, I play, well then that’s kindling for the fire.
What was the last song you listened to?
My next release actually, a song I call What if, I typically send my songs out to be mastered by a 3rd party, but with this song I decided to give it a try myself.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? 8-tracks? Cassettes? CDs? MP3s? Streaming platforms?
I would prefer Cd’s they just sound so much better; you just can’t beat a WAV. File, there’s no contest. But If I want to listen to some artist that I’ve run across on social media or some streaming platform than I’ll have to settle for the ol mp3
Where is the best place to connect with you and follow your journey?
I’ve found that TIKTOK is a wonderful platform that allows all the pleasure of interactions that I’ll ever need, (for now anyway) you can look up zen2muz on most all social media and find me.
But tiktok I post most often, cover songs and originals and everyday life. I think there is the best place to get to know me.
I really appreciate Your time. Anything else before we sign off?
Thanks so much for this wonderful interview and I hope we can stay in touch with all things zen2muz, I plan on releasing music on a regular basis this year so come find me and lets connect.
