We recently connected with Jerry Zamostny and have shared our conversation below.

Jerry, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

When I was in middle school or high school (I can’t pinpoint the year), I realized I could make my own music with the tools I had at the time. I didn’t have a multitrack machine or anything like that, but I had two dual tape decks and a large analog mixer that my step father would let me use. He taught me how to mix and track my parts using this meager set up. I still have recordings of those days and man the quality was horrid! But it was all that I had to learn and experiment with. I would then hand draw tape covers for “albums” which never really amounted to anything – yet it was fun and exciting.

Years later, I saved up for my first multitrack tape machine and that really improved my understanding of how to record and mix songs. Sadly, it was stolen out of my car years later with a lot of other gear. Those humble beginnings set off a fire inside that I still embrace to this day.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up around music and live shows as my family was fully into the music scene in Maryland in the 80’s. My father was a very well known guitarist in the area and my step father was a drummer in his youth as well. They both helped shape my interest into playing music and my curiosity with progressive rock. I wasn’t aware of the concept of genres at that age, but I unknowingly rooted myself within the likes of Rush, Kansas, and Led Zeppelin.

That all changed when I heard “One” by Metallica on MTV one very early morning. I ran into my father’s room and woke him up shouting “I want to do this!” as I pointed to the TV showing Lars’ feet during the infamous machine gun section of the song. By the time I was in 6th grade, I had taught myself every Metallica song up until the Black album on drums through long sessions in my basement.

Then I discovered Dream Theater. Drumming was never, ever, the same since. The insane song writing style, the angular transitions, the disregard to rules and norms really spoke to me. I immediately started to obsess over every single note Mike Portnoy played on each song.

Fast forward, after joining several local bands in my area, I found myself gravitating to heavier and darker music like Sevendust, Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Symphony X, Meshuggah, and Pain of Salvation. While my bands had not much in common with them, aside from some of the drumming tropes I carried over, I was able to write a tremendous amount of music and learn so much from my bandmates.

Currently, I am rediscovering myself as a musician while learning even more about the recording, mixing, and production processes. The landscape has changed completely since I started in the mid 90’s. It’s never been easier to get your ideas out there for the world to discover.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think this evolves over time for most if not all musicians. For me right now, it’s extremely rewarding when I see an artist or musician I hold in high regard and admire “like” or support my music. It’s not amount numbers, it’s not about money, but the feeling of validation is – for me right now – something I truly cherish.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

As cliche as it might sound, simple interactions like sharing a post, tapping “like,” commenting, going to a show, attending a stream, or even streaming new releases to see what’s being put out is monumental. Not only does it help the all knowing algorithms, but it helps get a message someone wanted to share out into the world. You never know if that musician friend of yours is writing about something they are going through, perhaps to heal themselves, or grow from. They could be sharing an idea they have put in hours, months, even years into. You never know how much a free interaction could help someone on the other end.

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