Junior Brandon T. Zairov is looking to connect and make an impact on people through producing music.
After listening to music on his own time, he realized music is more than just something you hear. It’s something that people could actually feel and relate to emotionally to grow off of, Zairov said.
“People listen to music when they do homework, and they’re more productive,” Zairov said. “People listen to music and they think about life. It’s everywhere, and it matters more than people think.”
Zairov said he hopes to express himself through the medium and bond with others to eventually make a living off his music career.
“I’m investing as much as I possibly can into [my career], whether it be time, effort, money, anything,” Zairov said in an interview. “Being able to have financial freedom with it is amazing, and millions of dollars would be nice. But even if I could just make a living off of it, where I don’t have to go to a 9-5—that is the minimum goal.”
According to Zairov, music has always been prevalent in his life. His dad often exposed him to many different types of music, such as EDM dance, which is why he first started listening to rap. He also heard it in the background of parties over the years.
Zairov said he attributes his interest in music to Kevin Gates, Alan Walker, Hans Zimmer, and Eminem. Musicians who make unique music, whether it be for albums or movies, are who inspire him.
One of his favorite pieces is the Davy Jones theme song from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Zairov said.
“The organ was just amazing,” Zairov said. “If [a track] puts me in an environment in my own mind—if it makes me think of something—that’s usually what I like to favor in music and soundtracks. It just makes me feel something or go somewhere—have some inspiration. And I just keep listening to get that same feeling to keep working off of.”
At first, his music career started as just a joke, Zairov said.
“I went and freestyled freshman year during the basketball meeting, and I actually did pretty well; everyone was hyping me up,” Zairov said. “‘You should make a song, you got talent.’”
So he decided to make a song, which was okay, and made another, which was better, and kept going, Zairov said. Rap allows him more freedom, as he can’t sing, but rapping doesn’t require that skill, Zairov said.
While he doesn’t have a favorite song, he says his new track, “Bellum,” is his best so far. Latin for “war,” the song conveys his struggle and how he has to keep moving forward in life, he said.
“It’s also about how I have to distance myself between other people or put my work and myself over other people because other people don’t get me. Or, they’re distracting me because all they want to do is something else when I’m trying to be successful and follow my passion,” Zairov said.
The name comes from the hook, “I get up and go to war,” and from the symbolism of a warrior in the song.
“A warrior’s greatest goal is to find inner peace, or the greatest peace, and so I take inspiration to try and find my own peace to my passion,” Zairov said.
If you’re interested in hearing some of his music, you can find his songs on all streaming platforms, including Youtube, Spotify, or Apple Music under the name BTZ.Brandon.