Your recent debut single, “Breakthrough", is absolutely incredible. What can you tell me about it?
Thank you so much for having me, Section 36 Music! It’s such a pleasure to be here. “Breakthrough” is a powerful electro-fusion piece written to spotlight the manifestation of creative liberation and breaking barriers. People across the world encounter moments in their lives where they struggle to find themselves or have difficulties unraveling their destinies. During the pandemic, I was in a similar predicament, pursuing a career path I didn’t truly envision for myself while facing restrictions on community and professional opportunities due to the universal lockdown. Despite that, I continued producing my own music, collaborating with others on remote projects, and developing new multimedia skills after attending the online classes that drained me. Although I knew I wanted to work in music technology and production, fear consumed me, and I chose a science-focused major at my former state university after being told that non-artistic careers were the only viable “safe path” to stability. At the time, I didn’t understand that different people achieve their own forms of success and everyone’s paths contrast with one another, so I was scared to take that leap into making a career in music. But over time, as my fondness for production grew drastically and I received encouraging feedback for my musical work on collaborative projects, I realized the value my music could bring to others. Choosing to follow my passion became one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and those experiences are woven into “Breakthrough,” a call-to-action song encouraging others to stay true to their ambitions and step out of the shadows into their own purpose.
You also have more music on the way soon. What should we expect from those releases?
With the other upcoming songs on my debut EP, listeners can expect more sonic grandeur, cinematic atmospheres, intricate ear candy, and strong visual storytelling through captivating visualizers and awe-inspiring music videos. My next two songs will include lyrical themes of optimism and a deeper carving of artistic identity. In the future, I plan to become more ambitious with my sound for songs beyond the EP, so I’ll continue creating more immersive songs that emphasize sonic storytelling, vivid world-building, catchy vocals, and memorable hooks. These releases will also offer a deeper understanding of my artist philosophy. While it fills my heart when people connect with my stories, my main goal for my music is to inspire, empower, and uplift those going through their darkest moments, just as I was back then. You never know what people are going through, and they could feel no hope of making it out. This is why my upcoming EP and album’s layered, expansive soundscape aligns with themes of light, hope, bringing others out of the shadows, and providing clarity to others’ lives.
What would you say is the biggest challenge with your music career?
I’d say that the biggest challenge I’m still working on with my music career is learning to embrace imperfection as an artist. I’m usually easy to admit when I need to improve on something, but when it comes to music production and composition in particular, I hold myself to very high standards. As someone who strives to develop the highest quality results possible for my music, I delayed the release of “Breakthrough” for a while, worrying about the mix, the sound on different systems, or whether the message would truly reach, impact, and resonate with others. As a producer, I always strive to apply 110% to my sound and intentions, ensuring the music serves its purpose and doesn’t end up becoming a waste of time. However, overthinking the “worth” of my work often held me back. Over time, with constant support and belief from others, I later realized that waiting for perfection only prevents the work from being heard. That’s when I thought I should just go for it and not be susceptible to results. Letting go of outcomes taught me that even inspiring one person is enough to create a meaningful impact and make someone’s purpose clearer. That's what truly matters to me.
You’re a graduate of Berklee College of Music. What’s the biggest thing Berklee did for your career?
Before enrolling at Berklee College of Music, I spent about two and a half years at a state university with a limited music curriculum that didn’t align with my career goals. When I discovered Berklee’s music technology programs in the spring of 2022, I immediately saw it as the place where my future in music could truly begin. My time at Berklee was more than worth it, as it was deeply enlightening and transformative. After graduating in December 2024, I realized that beyond the technical and insightful education, the biggest thing Berklee did for my career was that it gave me a space where my sound was accepted and valued. As I was surrounded by a diverse community of professors and students who are also artists themselves, I received meaningful feedback, learned engaging musical topics, heard relatable creative journeys, and developed a strong artistic skill set through Berklee’s interdisciplinary approach, a feature that is different from many other music schools out there. I also found supportive close-knit communities of lifelong friends who believed in me, even when I was being way too hard on myself. My time at Berklee was truly rejuvenating, and I can’t imagine my artistic journey without it.
If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?
Although not a frequently discussed one, a Disney song I’d love to cover is “You Can’t Stop The Girl” by Bebe Rexha, which is included in the film soundtrack of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019). Written as an anthem of resilience, its themes of self-empowerment, perseverance, freedom, and light deeply resonate with me, mirroring my own experiences and correlating well with the messages that I aim to convey through my music. Sonically, I’m drawn to its cinematic build, transitioning from a ballad-like opening to a powerful, upbeat climax with strong rhythmic contrast. When it comes to music that is more on the cinematic side, I typically enjoy covering songs that accentuate progressiveness, as they evoke more emotional lift and a sense of triumph. As I plan to launch an electronic cover performance series on my official YouTube Artist channel later this year, this track feels like a perfect fit to reinterpret with my own full, electronic twist.
What are your immediate musical goals?
My immediate goals are to complete my debut EP by releasing singles individually and to film a cinematic music video for one of my more personal tracks in the EP. As an emerging independent artist, I want to put myself out there by expanding my network and collaborating with creative professionals, such as artists, producers, and music technologists, while gradually booking my first solo artist performances across major cities later in the year. Alongside this, I want to continue my involvement in music-related multimedia projects, including a collaborative remote initiative I launched this past November, where I serve as a director, scriptwriter, and music producer. This multimedia project involves the formation of a diverse independent artist collective, with an upcoming franchise that aims to highlight the realities of the music industry, as well as advocate for versatility and representation among young rising artists who are on the road to success in their creative careers. I’m incredibly excited for what this year has in store for me!
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Sounds like so many great things are on the way!
As always, I want to thank KIRZTEN for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview.
I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing.
Thanks again, KIRZTEN, and good luck reaching your goals!
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