Once afraid of performing, Zed Kenzo now a fierce live act
Zechariah Ruffin has written songs for 20 years, but she didn’t work up the nerve to release anything or perform in front of anyone until 2013.
“I didn’t believe in myself, ” said the 28year-old Milwaukeean. “I wasn’t confident in my voice. I used to have a speech impediment. I’m pretty book smart, and I thought I would be taken seriously if I was a doctor or something, so I never put any effort into putting music out. But I met someone, (Madison-born producer) Nedarb Nagrom, who said, ‘You are so good. You should do this.’ ”
Good thing Ruffin followed his advice. As alternative rapper Zed Kenzo, she’s one of the most magnetic live performers in the local music scene, which is why the Journal Sentinel featured Kenzo on its list of “Six Milwaukee bands to see live this summer.”
You can see Kenzo live, and for free, at the “Milwaukee Bands to Watch: Summer Showcase,” starting at 7 p.m. Friday at the Radio Milwaukee Studios, 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave. The six-act concert is sponsored by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Early experiences: I was a professional dancer, getting paid stipends to do shows on stage since I was a kid. I would sing in the church choir in elementary school, and was placed in piano lessons in second grade. My first song I can remember writing was called “Puppy Love” in third grade. It was so embarrassing. When I would write music, I would make up these fake bands I would pretend to be in. I was into metal in middle school, so I made up this band called Spurned; I would play the bass guitar and scream in my room lyrics like, “This black room is bleeding.” I was so crazy.
Going with hip-hop: I mainly grew up listening to hip-hop; my mom played a lot of it, and ‘90s R&B, in the house, so I felt most comfortable with hip-hop. After I met Nedarb, he mainly produced my first EP, “Violently Ill.” I did some house shows in Madison, and a gig at the (since shuttered) Borg Ward. That’s where I met WebsterX and Siren (members of local hip-hop collective New Age Narcissism), and it went from there and became like a waterfall.
Stage name backstory: Zed stands for Z for Zechariah. I wanted my name to be Zed something, and I was thinking about Gucci Mane’s name was cool, that he took a fashion brand. So I started googling fashion designer and found (Japanese designer Kenzo Takada), and I thought Kenzo sounds good. After the fact, I did a show in Madison, and a woman walks up to me and says, “You know what kenzo means in Japanese? It means happy child.” I feel like a happy child, so it’s cool that it turned out to be like that.
Describe your sound: I get really sad listening to sad music, so I like to make turnt up music. I usually produce my own beats; I like having full control and feel more connected. I don’t want to sound like anyone else. It’s unique and spastic.
Favorite song so far: Probably “Burrows.” Randal Bravery from (local rapper Milo’s label) Ruby Yacht produced that for me a long time ago. It’s touching on race, how in the back of people’s minds, someone who is different from you is bad. But I try to be positive. I have lines like, “I couldn’t find my shadow, I was just too effervescent,” and “I share my color with deities.” Every time I perform it I feel like people are really into it and really listening to what I’m saying.
Future goals: I am so booked with shows, but I’m really going to kick myself in the butt to get something out before the summer ends; it’s looking like it will be another EP. And I really hope I can get more national recognition. I’m playing a show in Portland this summer, and have linked up with some people in Minneapolis. I want to challenge myself and travel the world and meet other musicians and be comfortable, living-wise. I want to make music, and do art and be happy.