Zaidoon Nasir (WHO SHOT SCOTT)

Where are you from?

Born in Baghdad, Iraq, but raised in Auckland, NZ.

Was there music around you when you were growing up? How?

When I was younger, my mum played a lot of Beatles and Arabic music. Now that I think about it, that's kind of a wild combo. I eventually found ownership over my own taste in music through hip-hop and alt-rock as I went into my teenage years.

When did you start making music? How has the music you make changed over time?

I was 8 years old and really wanted to rap, so I started recording myself with this old tape recorder I found at my grandma's house. I had an NBA game on PSP that had a lot of instrumentals on it, so I'd just write songs over those, play the beat in the background, and record the whole thing onto tape. At the core level, nothing has really changed at all; I'm still that kid whose passion for soul expression is so deep that he can't help but find a way to make it happen. I just have a whole bunch of technical skills now to aid that process, I guess.

You participated in Smokefreerockquest... how was that experience for you? Do you have any advice for this year's participants, or young musicians in general?

Honestly, it was so long ago that I can't properly remember it. However, I would love to share the best advice I've ever received in the music industry. It was these three words - Just don't stop.

You have played on some major stages and had some great media coverage of projects you've been involved in... is there any part of your musical journey that stands out as particularly special/a favourite moment?

All of that stuff is cool, and I'm very thankful for it, no doubt. Nonetheless, it's absolutely nothing compared to the feeling of writing a great song, or being completely present in the creative process. Those are constantly my favourite moments.

When you're writing, what do you start with? What is your process from beginning to end?

Every time is different. I usually start by looking for ideas that excite me at a fundamental level. Could be a vocal part, drums, chords - really anything that holds an energetic charge. Then, depending on the power of that energetic charge, I begin to move forward through the process, honoring the initial spark and seeing how far it will naturally take me. Sometimes it will take me to the point where I can happily call the work finished.

How do you choose what songs to release?

As an extension of my previous answer, I don't finish songs that I don't release.

What are two things you have learned along your journey, that you would tell yourself if you could go back in time?

Given the chance, I don't think I would want to change anything in my journey. My advice to my younger self would simply be to trust in the process - If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.

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