We were lucky to catch up with Zia Uddin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zia, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was when I discovered rock music as a kid. I remember being completely captivated by the sound, especially the drums. Something about the energy and rhythm spoke to me in a way that nothing else had. From that moment, I knew I had to learn to play.

Growing up, my father, who was a music hobbyist, taught me the basics of piano and guitar. While I enjoyed learning those instruments, I always had a feeling deep down that I wanted to go further with music and focus on the drums. It was more than just a passing interest; I realized that music was going to be a big part of my life.

That initial spark of excitement I felt as a kid listening to rock eventually grew into a deep passion. Looking back, it was a combination of those early experiences with music and the constant support from my mother (ironically not my father) that set me on the path to pursuing music professionally. It’s been an amazing journey ever since.

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 Zia Uddin and I play the drum kit and percussion. I record and tour nationally with a band called The Jaws of Brooklyn and I also record and tour internationally with Myles Kennedy. I am incredibly fortunate to be involved in both projects as they are both very different from one another and both feed a different part of my musical creativity. Jaws of Brooklyn is a modern day throwback to a 60’s inspired retro soul/garage rock type of sound and that band generally performs as a 7-piece unit onstage. Myles Kennedy is a solo artist generally known for more of a modern day rock/blues sound and that band generally performs as a 3-piece onstage. Jaws of Brooklyn new single (from our 2nd album) called Litebringer will debut on streaming platforms on Sept. 19th, and the new Myles Kennedy album (our 3rd album) called The Art of Letting Go will hit streaming platforms on Oct. 9th.
I’ve been playing drums in rock bands since I was a teen and played in a rock band that was signed with Sony Music around 1997 in the Pacific Northwest. The services I offer are recording drums for artists in a studio setting and as a touring drummer for hire. My primary value proposition is that I have the ability to record both drums and percussion for artists and then generally have the ability to tour on that particular album cycle as well which gives me a one-stop-shop ability.
With Jaws of Brooklyn, I am proud of the fact that I am involved in the entire process of writing, recording, and performing. The band works together as a cohesive unit and makes decisions collectively on everything. I am most proud of the fact that we continue to grow and expand our horizons as a band. We utilized the same producer (Ben Tanner) and recorded in the same studio in Florence, Alabama, as our first record. Major differences were the addition of a new core member of the band (Dana Dysart on Keys) and the replacement of our previous lead vocalist with the amazing Gretchen Lemon now on lead vocals.
When our original singer left, we were incredibly disheartened but we discovered that we were all excited to continue to make music together even when we didn’t know how/when we were going to find our new lead vocalist. We somehow had the conviction and belief that we would find an incredible lead vocalist while we were writing for this newest album which came to fruition. That’s the true power of belief and conviction and not giving up! This continues to be a powerful lesson as I believe that we are creating our best work to date with Jaws of Brooklyn.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There was a time in my life when I had to make a tough decision to pivot from being a full-time musician to entering the business world in order to provide for my family. It wasn’t easy stepping away from music, which had always been my passion and creative outlet, but it was the right decision at the time. I never stopped playing the drums or being creative musically but had to shift my priorities over to the corporate world. I was fortunate to ultimately find a balance between the corporate world and my love for music, and I learned a lot about myself in the process.

Even though I excelled in the business world, music always remained at the core of who I am. Over time, I found a way to bring music back into my life full-time, and that shift felt like a homecoming. While I was grateful for the ability to navigate both worlds, it was music that truly made me feel alive and fulfilled. Coming back to it full-time wasn’t just a career move; it was a return to the thing that makes me feel most like myself. I fully realize that I may have to go back to the corporate world in the future but if you can find the right balance, you can continue to fulfill yourself creatively!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn is that success in the music business is anything more than a means to an end. When I was younger, I was fortunate enough to be signed to several multi-million dollar record and publishing deals. At the time, I thought this would last forever. I believed that once you “made it,” everything would be smooth sailing. But the reality is, in the eyes of the industry, you’re a commodity, and the business revolves around profit and revenue.

If a record label can’t sell your art, they’ll drop you without hesitation. It’s a harsh truth, but it helped me see that expecting anything out of the music business beyond the pure passion of creating art is expecting too much. I had to learn that while it’s great to have a platform, your creative freedom and long-term stability are best secured by producing, distributing, and even selling your work independently as much as possible.

By doing things yourself, you retain control—both creatively and financially. This lesson shifted my approach to the music industry and what it truly means to “make it” within your chosen artistic endeavor. Now, I focus on the passion of the art itself and finding ways to manage and protect it through controlling it as independently as possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jawsofbrooklyn.com/
• Instagram: @jawsofbrooklyn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JawsOfBrooklyn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zia-n-uddin
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/56du9L91TPw?si=p86vPoZ_XCF0YImG
• Other: https://thejawsofbrooklyn.bandcamp.com/music

Image Credits

Photo Credits:
(instagram) @abrahamrowephotography
(instagram) @ettie.wahl
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