Life & Work with Zhenel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zhenel . 

Hi Zhenel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Born and raised in Memphis, TN, and singing at a very early age, as early as 5 years old in church, was how I got my start with music. Both of my parents were also musically inclined as well. My mother, a singer-songwriter, released her first album when I was 3 years old, and my father was a rapper-songwriter, DJ, producer, and audio engineer, in which I grew up watching them engage in musical activities around the house, or have gigs around the mid-South, the Delta and sometimes the Midwest. When I was in elementary and pre-school, my mom used to go to the studio after I got out of school, and take me with her, and she’d record for hours. As a kid, all of the gear looked so cool, and I was always mesmerized by her voice, but I was never allowed in the studio during sessions, which was a bummer because I’ve always wanted to see more of my mom’s creative process. Additionally, my dad would make a lot of music at home and had a cute setup in the corner of our living room at the time, and I got to watch him make music sometimes, and sit next to him and watch his process. He once took my sister and I to one of his DJ gigs he had maybe over a decade ago, and it was at this huge mansion in Memphis. It was so cool. 

My grandfather on my mom’s side, also had a gospel radio station online, so growing up, whenever I would go over my grandparents’ house, I would listen to lots of gospel music as he collected many tapes, CDs, and vinyls. 

To my earliest knowledge, I remember singing renditions of songs from one of gospel artists, Deleon Richard’s album from ’80s. I remember my grandpa had a cute, little cassette player and some headphones, and I got ahold of it, and took some of his tapes, and learned lots of gospel music. “Child of God,” and “Move on Up the Mountain,” and “Praise Ye the Lord,” from that album were songs that I have been singing for years in church. 

I eventually went through mp3 players, iPods, and more, in which being able to listen and discover new music at my own fingertips really pushed me closer to learning more about what I connected to, creatively and emotionally. My parents listened to all kinds of music, so I had a diverse upbringing in regards to music. 

Over the years, I joined plays, choirs on the state, city, regional, and community level, festivals, a musical, talent shows, and events, and more, until I finally started releasing my own music back in late 2016. I started writing and freestyling my own music when I was about 5 or 6, and I made my first official song (beat included), when I was 12 on GarageBand, on my iPod. I had this push and pull with creating my own music for years, due to personal reasons dealing with family, and fears of the industry, and more, but God has kept me over the years, and has really just shined His light on me to sing praises onto Him, in which I recently made this decision to become a Christian-alternative artist, after walking completely away from secular music, and giving my life fully to God. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was definitely rocky, with many highs and lows. My parents divorced when I was 9, which personally, was a really hard time for me, and then my dad eventually remarried, and I was the oldest of 6 and had a major part in raising my siblings. Because of a new additional family, at that time, there was much confusion for me growing up, as to what spiritual or religious journey that I should follow. I was raised over the years in many different things, and I feel like I didn’t have much of a say in what I should believe in. I was often told what I should believe in, and everybody had their own opinions and ways of beliefs, and a lot of times it was forceful. Between growing up apostolic, in which my grandparents played a significant role in my upbringing in the church, and then later, I was introduced to Jehovah’s Witnesses, and then witchcraft and divination, and the idea and practice of “worshipping and thanking the universe.” It was a lot to process and deal with. On top of that, dealing with my first relationships, breakups, generational trauma, being molested, dealing with struggle at home with not having food at times, and changing schools, and moving around a lot due to financial reasons, and more, it took a huge toll on my overall health. 

However, once I moved away from my home in Memphis, and moved to Ohio and became a first-generation student in my family, attending The Ohio State University, and to be around my grandparents, my dad’s parents, they helped me in lots of ways and taught me so much about who I am, and I am eternally grateful for them. They shared their light with me, watered me, and took care of the broke petals on my flower, and they helped me blossom. I was able to flourish moving to Ohio, and after going through more dark times while a student in college, God revealed himself to me, and I became a born-again Christian and follower of Him. 

I’ve come to the realization that God moved me away from home, and from familiar places and faces that I grew up with, for me to start a new life, through Him. Away from all of the confusion, and fear, and hurt, He showed me who I am as a child of the Most High. God is not the author of confusion, and that was a lot of what I had known, but it wasn’t my portion, nor the final say of who I am. Jesus saved me. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Christian-alternative Artist, Producer, Songwriter, Audio Engineer, and Educator and currently a Vocal, Songwriter, and Music Production coach, offering lessons to people. 

I am known for giving back to those in need and helping those who are casted out from society. I am big on being someone who empathizes with the hurt, confuses, homeless, lost, depressed, and suicidal, because we all matter. 

I have a deep passion for being a resource for those who are underprivileged, homeless, and a person of color. 

Shortly after the pandemic, I started a small scholarship foundation and graphic designed my own t-shirts that said “Heal and Empathize,” on them, and then shortly after, designed another shirt that read, “Frequency,” and I used the profits from these shirts to go to college students in need, kindergarten through 12th graders who needed school supplies, and a mental health fund. 

I’m most proud of my willingness and determination, for changing the narrative in black families, and also being someone who genuinely cares for other people. I strive to be more like my Savior daily and to share that with others. 

Any big plans?
When I was about 6 years old, God placed it on my heart to create shelters for the homeless one day; this is something I plan on doing one day, and continuing to use my platform in many different ways. Music is how I will gain my support system, but it is not the only way He wants to use me; I will go wherever He needs me to go, and I hope to lead so many people to the Lord. 

Contact Info:

• Email: ashazhenel@gmail.com
• Website: https://zhenel.wixsite.com/zhenel
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhenel_/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhenelmusic/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/zhenel_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/zhenel
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/zhenel
• Other: https://songwhip.com/zhenel

Image Credits
Urbn_Randi
JusDevin
Chris Heidel
Karla Haddad