In this week’s 10 Questions we get to know Zander Parks, an indie artist and performer from South Carolina, USA.
Their song ‘Leave the World Behind‘ is currently featured on the NAS Spotify playlists
You can follow Zander Parks on Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok
1. Tell us a little about where you are from.
I’m based in South Carolina, USA. Right now I’m actively writing, recording, and releasing music under my project Zander Parks, while also performing locally with other bands and cover projects. I’m focused on developing cohesive, story-driven releases rather than chasing singles for the sake of output.
2. What inspired Zander Parks to start playing and making music?
I started in music through classical violin at a young age. At first it was structure and discipline that pulled me in, but over time music became the language I used to process emotions I didn’t know how to articulate any other way. That need to express and make sense of things is what kept pulling me back, even during seasons where I almost quit entirely.
At first it was structure and discipline that pulled me in, but over time music became the language I used to process emotions I didn’t know how to articulate any other way.
3. Who are Zander Parks’ biggest musical influences?
My influences are pretty eclectic. Conceptually, Green Day’s American Idiot album and its transition into musical theatre had a huge impact on how I think about albums as narratives. Sonically and emotionally, I draw inspiration from Owl City, Sara Bareilles, Alan Walker, Muse, Beck, Alice Merton, Regina Spektor, and Tess Parks. My style sits somewhere in alternative and cinematic rock, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere, storytelling, and emotional clarity.
4. What are your goals in the music industry or as an artist?
My main goal is sustainability and longevity. I want to keep making meaningful work, continue growing an audience that actually connects with the music, and expand projects beyond albums into things like musical theatre or film when it makes sense. Success for me looks like depth, not just reach.
5. Tell us about your creative process.
My process usually starts with a feeling or image rather than a hook. I spend a lot of time shaping the emotional arc before worrying about structure. Every stage is intentional, from arrangement to production, and I tend to think in terms of full projects rather than isolated songs. I’d rather something unfold slowly than hit fast and disappear.
6. What is your all-time favorite song by another artist and why?
Fireflies by Owl City is my favorite song of all time because it carried me through one of the hardest seasons of my life. After losing my dad in a car accident, the song’s gentleness and sense of wonder gave me a safe emotional space when I needed it most. It wasn’t just something I listened to. It became a companion during grief, helping me process loss without feeling overwhelmed.
After losing my dad in a car accident, the song’s gentleness and sense of wonder gave me a safe emotional space when I needed it most.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
The best advice I ever received was to stop trying to sound impressive and start trying to sound honest. Technical skill matters, but people remember how a song made them feel, not how clever it was.
8. What is your proudest accomplishment?
While releasing a full-length album that people genuinely connected with was a huge milestone, I think my proudest accomplishment is more personal. My kids genuinely love my music and always want to hear it. Seeing them develop a love for music, and knowing they connect with what I create, means more to me than any metric or milestone. I can’t think of anything greater than the people I care about most loving the thing I care about most.
My kids genuinely love my music and always want to hear it.
9. What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?
After winning an award in a violin competition, I was invited to perform for the donors. Halfway through the piece, I completely blanked and forgot everything. I had to walk over to the piano and limp my way to the end while everyone sat there embarrassed on my behalf. It was one of the most humbling moments I’ve ever had as a musician. Thankfully, I still got to keep the award.
10. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
My lowest points were the moments where I questioned whether music still had a place in my life at all. Burnout and comparison can be brutal. My highest points have come from rediscovering why I started in the first place, finishing this project, and hearing from listeners who say a song helped them feel understood.
