We recently connected with Zari Warden and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Zari thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I took a risk of submitting my music to the Museum of Pop Culture’s annual Sound Off! music showcase. Two months before I submitted my music, I lost my university’s Battle of the Bands. I was devastated and wondered if singing and songwriting were even an option. During the summer, two people sent me the application information for SoundOff. I sent a few songs that weren’t mastered and re-recorded a demo of a song I thought showcased my storytelling well. Even if I didn’t get selected, it was worth a shot, and there’s no harm in trying to put yourself and your work out there.
In December, I got a call from one of the Sound Off producers, Robert. He congratulated me and said I was one of twelve groups/artists selected for Sound Off! 2023. I wept. In March, I performed for about 300 people, including my friends and family. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life. All because I took the risk of applying.
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?
Hi! I’m Zari Alexandria Warden. I’m a singer-songwriter, producer, and content creator, specializing in social media. I started performing at nine, songwriting at 14, and social media content creation last year when I was 20. While in a vocational program at my university, I realized that my calling is to create for others, whether in music or social platforms, for entertainment and educational purposes. I am proud of making content that people of many identities and backgrounds can relate to and that people who may not have those lived experiences can learn from.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Society can support artists and creatives on a local basis. It’s more than just posting on social media. That’s great, but interacting outside of a screen is what we’re meant to do.
People like myself can go to farmer’s markets, local shows, free or low-priced festivals, and other events to support the ecosystem we occupy. I’ve met some great artists by attending and participating in local events. That’s how we continue to build community.
People who are well-off financially should consider donating to arts foundations and organizations that support artists of all ages (especially young artists), artists of color, queer artists, and other marginalized communities of artists.
Participation and economic support keep the ecosystem going.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a musician and a content creator is combining self-expression and community. What I love about songwriting is that I can use it as a journal to get my thoughts out. And when I share it with others, we all see that we’re not alone. We are different and have unique identities. We’re more similar than we think. When I make content for my university’s social media and even other content (newsletters, blogs, photography, etc.) with a current internship I’m doing at a local food bank, I’m adding my flavor and pizazz while connecting with others who want to advocate, connect, educate, or be entertained, depending on what the content is. And that is why I keep doing both.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zarialexandria.wordpress.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/zari_alexandria
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057674004099
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/zari_warden
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/zari_alexandria
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/ZariAlexandria
Image Credits
Chloe Peterson and Lilla Seitz