Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kori Pz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Kori thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Growing up I was always modeling. From age four, I knew how to turn my head for the camera and what was just the right amount of smile to give. However, for as long as I can remember I was always told I would be a singer. There wasn’t a single day you could go without finding me singing a song or humming a tune. To everyone around me, I had already become a star. It wasn’t until my early teen years that I started to consider that. I didn’t write music, I wasn’t particularly skilled on any instrument, I just liked to sing. It was also during these times I started needing an emotional outlet to turn to. Naturally, I tried my hand at what I’d always been told I would do, and it worked out better than I imagined. Not only that, but modeling became a pillar of self-love for me. Making art helped protect the emotional aspects of me, but modeling was something that made the outside parts of me feel comfortable and secure in my body. I had times where I didn’t feel good about myself, and then I would get behind a camera and all of my confidence would rise. I began to want to use modeling as a source of expression alongside my music. Making art in ways that made me feel good about myself and about what I can create. Things that helped me in the past made me want to use them to help people feel the same way now.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Kori PZ. I am a singer/songwriter and model. I work for the company Portraits by CeCee and their associates, such as Fairy Godmother Couture. I have been modeling since I was a little kid and continue to do so now as an adult. I specialize in fantasy couture, doing my best work when I’m in beautiful gowns or dressed as mythical creatures. Paired with this, I’m a self-run singer, working side-by-side with my sibling Halas. We work to produce the songs, storylines, and photoshoots for our creative works. We create songs from our experiences or stories in our heads, then work together to turn them into stories we can share through songs, music videos, and art. We both have individual works separate from one another, including four singles of mine I have released throughout 2022-now. My most recent release, ‘Reasons I Won’t Apologize (2019 demo)’ was a piece I released after fans heard the snippets of it and loved what they had. I look forward to creating more pieces of work that tell incredible stories and can comfort those who relate to them.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I never really used social media to promote myself until 2020. Any of my achievements in modeling were handled by the social media team of Portraits by Cecee, which left out space for my musical growth. I attempted a few shots at Instagram and YouTube for putting my music out there, but they were never expanded upon. It was in 2020 when I begrudgingly downloaded TikTok and began posting 15-30-second snippets of songs I had written. I figured nothing would come of it, however after making a post introducing myself and the work I do, I saw a spike in attention and interest in my music. This was in 2022, 2 years after my initial posting started. It was then that I released my first single, “And I Loved Her’ which connected with an audience in a niche way. It’s a song written from the perspective of a queer individual recognizing they lost a relationship they cherished. A lot of people in the LGBTQ+ community found this song hit close to home, and it is still one of my most popular songs to date. With the need for virality to make an impact on any musical career today, it’s disheartening to attempt to find your audience on social media. I still struggle today to keep up with the constant upkeep of apps like TikTok or Instagram. The best advice I can give is to remember that being a creative mind is supposed to be fun. Social media is an energy drainer, and constantly trying to cater to an audience you can’t find yet is going to bring your confidence down. Sometimes you have to make social media a thing for you, not for other people. The more you give without giving to yourself, the more you feel less in love with your work. You are more important than numbers and comments. This is for YOU.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I find the most rewarding aspect of being a model or singer is when it comforts someone else. I use modeling to express my artistic side through my physical appearance, and often I am told I have encouraged other younger kids to pursue creative modeling work through mine. If a full-grown adult can run around in gowns and fight dragons, why can’t they? Or if I hear a song I have written that has comforted someone through a rough time, that means the world to me. I write lots of my songs about personal experiences I go through, big or small. To hear the feelings I was able to get into words helped someone else connect to their feelings and process them through mine means everything to me. Making music for myself means I am making comfort for someone else. Nothing brings me more joy than when my efforts encourage someone else to make art or find peace.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koripzofficial?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCARFPUQQOcr0MSIgjT5Vy8Q?si=4o1SlPm1KFrwH4bu
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@koripzarchives?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Portraits by Cecee