Robbie Z Interview

Following the release of Christmas EP ‘Snow Day’, Irina Atanasiu catches up with Bulgarian pop rap artist Robbie Z to discuss his influences, his future plans and more.

When did you first realise you wanted to make music?

I've been around music and a fan of it my whole life in one way or another. I always knew making music was the dream but I didn't know how to start until I was 15. That is when I started writing my own original songs. I've been releasing music ever since. It's been almost 7 years now.

What would you say your biggest musical influences are?

I have a lot of musical influences, and a different aspect of each one has inspired me in my music. I love early 2010's artists and the sound from those years. Iggy Azalea, Ariana Grande, Charli XCX and just pop music from 2013-2016 in general.

The song ‘Snow Day’ is unlike anything else you’ve released before! What was the inspiration behind this particular song?

When I think about it now, it's true, I actually haven't released music like that before. I do listen to and write a lot of stuff like that though. I guess that's the first one that made the cut. The inspiration for it is Justin Bieber x Ariana Grande's Christmas albums. I love those.

One thing that really stands out in your artistry is the visual aspect of it (your outfits, music videos, etc). Would you say that this is just as important to you as the sonic aspect when it comes to making music?

Yeah, everything I put out as an artist is just as important as the music. As a listener I enjoy all of the material that comes with the music. I enjoy the whole creative process just as much as making the music. I think the visuals help me convey the message better!

Are there any songs in your discography that you were initially unsure about or anxious to release? If so, which one(s) and why?

That is a good question! I used to just rap. I wanted to evolve and do more, but it was scary for me to even sing into the microphone at first, even though I've spent the last 3 years doing vocal lessons. When I made ‘ADULT BABY’ I was initially a little freaked out, but looking back I'm so glad I did it because it opened a whole new door for my music. ‘The American Nightmare’ is another song I was unsure about. I'm still anxious about the fact that this one is out to be honest, haha. It's a really vulnerable song for me. I almost didn't release it because of that.

What is the songwriting process like for you?

Ohh, my songwriting process changes with every song. Especially over time it's changed so much. Most of the time it starts with a lyric idea I come up with in my day to day life; I have so many of those in my notes app. I also get a lot of melody ideas and record them in my voice memos. Then I sit down and combine the two, and then I go to the studio and we produce and record the song! But the process changes so much depending on the song.

What would you say are some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome as an emerging artist?

There are many things we go through as artists, especially because there are so many artists releasing music nowadays so it's hard to get people's attention. Also, when you are not following the current trends and are going outside the box it takes a lot of convincing for people to understand your art. I'm sure they'll catch up eventually though.

What’s on the agenda for the upcoming year?

I have prepared a lot of music releases for 2025. Ideally, it'll be a lot more than I have ever released in a single year. I'm currently working on two EPs (mini albums) and I have a new single coming out in January. I can't wait to share what's next with everyone!

Finally, is there anything you want to say or any advice you want to give to our readers?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this interview! It'd mean a lot to me if you listened to my music! Giving advice is hard, but I’d say you're doing fine. Don't always feel the pressure to overachieve. Let yourself live a little.