Meet Zachary Tran | Musician & Audio Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zachary Tran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zachary, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from the southside of Atlanta and being raised in the south helped shape me into who I am today. I was often the only Asian kid in my class, so I always felt the need to prove myself. Being Vietnamese American, I had to face a lot of adversities. I grew up being called names like Chinese boy, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, dog eater, ching chong, etc. Although it was hard, it helped me have such thick skin. For a while, I hated being Asian because I just wanted to fit in. I wanted to be like everyone else, but I realized that is what makes me unique. My whole life I have been the black sheep. I was often too “ghetto” for the Asians and too Asian for the Americans. It was hard finding where I fell in the line.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Being an artist is definitely very hard. There were many times I doubted the process, and in January, I quit for a period of time. I am back to being an artist because I know it is what I love to do. Making music that touches the soul or even makes your head bop a little is what I love to do. I plan on dropping consistently by Summer. I want my listeners to feel like they know me and that they can relate. I was a quiet kid who always had a musical ear. Getting myself out there was very hard, but with the feedback that I have been receiving, I’m starting to like it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spots in the city have to be up north near Duluth for sure. There are so many amazing cuisines up there. Although the south side of Atlanta has some spots, the north side by far has a better selection. My favorite spots on the south side for sure have to be Hot Cafe and Nam Oy Cafe though. I find the Laos food down south more authentic compared to the north side. If you haven’t had Laos food, go try it! My in-laws have introduced me to such amazing Laos and Khmer food.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give credit to my family for supporting me because I know most people are supportive of careers in the creative industry. I also want to give credit to my friends/videographers, ShotByKxsh, Ren, and KxngChhat. They helped with bringing my vision to life with their amazing camera skills. It wouldn’t have been possible without them. I want to also thank my producer H3NRY for providing me with such amazing productions for my songs.

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Image Credits
Johnny Le Tylor Chhat