Zavian Fernandez has been applying a lot of pressure and is poised for a succesful 2021. His obsession with music stemmed from living through struggle and troubling circumstances. With popular releases "Terrance Howard" featuring 40 $tacks , "Dodgeing the Slammer" featuring DJ Lucas , "Massachusetts Baby" featuring Zeeky Haze. Zavian holds his own next to some Massachusetts best acts. We were able to catch up with the 978 up and coming artist and ask him a few questions.
Boston Culture: Where did you grow up? How was that like?
Zavian: Fitchburg , the dirty burg . 978 !
Boston Culture: Talk to us about your latest song/project or visual? How did you get the idea?
Zavian: My latest song was a feature for a fellow local artist Onix The God. We cooked up a banger and got the visual treatment as well. A successful collab.
I also recently released my 3rd album ‘Swayz World’ in early December. I got the idea cause I feel like I control my destiny. When people clicked on the project I wanted them to feel like they are entering my world.
Boston Culture: Was there ever a studio session when you thought. "Yo this is crazy" ?
Zavian: Haha oh yeah , the first time I experimented with auto tune in the studio. I started creating crazy flows and melodies and thought like damn this shit really crazy lmao. I never knew it played back in the headphones live and that really changed everything for me. I never wrote again after that.
Boston Culture: What made you want to create your first song and how old were you? Was there someone you looked up to or aspired to be?
Zavian: My younger self can remember watching MTV jams with my dad. We would watch so many music videos and just chop it up about music so much I low key became a super fan of rap music. But what made me wanna make my first song was honestly because my city had a lot of rappers and at the time it seemed that they were the most looked up too other than the D boys. So I wanted to try it. Being a student to the game I felt like I could really make noise so I began recording around 14 in my kitchen after school on my dads laptop in secrecy because I didn’t want anyone to know. As far as music I was always a Stan for Lil Wayne. I know it’s cliche now but it’s my truth. I used to walk around school and just recite Wayne lyrics all day long. Whatever he said in music I tried to live it as a kid.
Boston Culture : What was the best advice you got early in your career?
Zavian: Don’t grow up too fast. That shit always stuck wit me.
Boston Culture : What do you dislike about the art world/music industry?
Zavian: I dislike the dark side of the industry, the exploitation. I don’t like how much they try and praise the devil. All that other shit that if you a real student of this shit, then you already know what I’m talking about.
Boston Culture : Did the pandemic affect any plans you had?
Zavian: I had a few shows lined up but other than that it was a blessing in disguise to me. I thought this would be the time everyone would be goin there hardest cause all the free time. So I put in overtime this year wit the music just based on that.
Boston Culture : Who are your biggest influences?
Zavian: Today you can’t really be influenced by any rappers. You don’t know if they just feeding you BS for shock value instead of actually looking out for you. I’m not a kid anymore so I kind of am influenced by regular working people who been through real life problems and have real insight to guide me in the right direction.
Boston Culture : What do you think of the music scene in the city? Are there any Boston producers or artists you'd potentially like to work with?
Zavian: My opinion is Massachusetts as a whole is on deck to be the next powerhouse in music. Right now is our most prominent time with as many artists we have getting crazy recognition and support. I love the sound we are leaning toward wit the trap melodies. As far as any potential collabs I would have to say BIA. Female rap right now is so popular and she can literally walk on anything. That would be my go to collab for sure. She dope.
Boston Culture : Tell us about your goals for the rest of the year and 2021.
Zavian: My goals for the rest of the year is to set myself up for a successful 2021. To me every new year is like a clean slate. No matter what I did last year it didn’t matter. I look at it as starting from zero all over again. I’m excited to see how much harder I can go in 2021. Maybe I can get on the freshman list. That’s where my head is.
Boston Culture : What inspires you to wake up everyday and stay focused, hungry and humble on your goals.
Zavian: I’m inspired by the struggle. Growing up in poverty really created this fire in my heart to take my mom out of the hood. I wake up everyday at 4 am and drive to a job that I hate and it truly drives me to put in overtime with this music shit. I’m obsessed with the idea of taking care of my family. I just wanna give back to the people who need it. I want god to use me to bless others. That drives me every single day.
Boston Culture : How do you seek out opportunities? I'm trying to figure out how you navigate the art world and music industry, because you are very strategic in all of your moves.
Zavian: It’s easy to do the social media thing and follow people who are doing what you do and reach out to people. So that’s always gonna be a given. As I grow I learned word of mouth has helped me way more tho. Personal interactions , going to shows, going to meetups with other local influencers. Doing collabs in person . Creating that personal bond because on the internet you create this image and people take what they take from it and that’s it. Also you can’t just be this part time. This has to be who you are. It isn’t a hobby. So let them people KNOW that.
Boston Culture : When was the last time you were in the studio?
Zavian: last night , I record at home now so it’s an everyday thing. I was just playing a batch of songs to pick from for my next EP. Tweaking a few areas and cleaning up vocals. Jamming to my music lol. I get too hype every time I make a new song I play it like 300 times.
Boston Culture : Who's your favorite producer and artist? Mainstream and local.
Zavian: Mainstream producer would have to be Nick Mira ! That’s one dude who I see constantly working and constantly making hits
Mainstream artist right now would have to be Trippie Redd. His range of styles to me is impressive. He’s slept on tho.
Favorite local artist has to be DJ Lucas ! Dude is a complete animal and works harder than any artist out here that I've seen.
Favorite local producer would have to be my dawg DAPBEATZ. We have a couple albums together but he’s made some noise for himself getting placements with D the flyest and 7981 Kal.
Boston Culture : What brands should sponsor your?
Zavian: Nike gang. I wear mad Nike like I’m drake lmao. Plus I ain’t hood rich so I can’t afford that other shit
Boston Culture :Anything else we missed you want to tell your fans?
Zavian: Follow God. This world just a setup.
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