Zee Machine: Breaking Barriers, Hitting High Notes, and Staying True

Story / Phil Gomez

Photos / Courtesy of artist

In a world where music constantly evolves, Zee Machine stands out as a genre-defying artist blending bold experimentation with emotional depth. Known for their distinctive sound that fuses elements of rock, pop, and new wave, Zee Machine draws inspiration from a wide range of influences, including guitar legends, pop divas, and new wave pioneers. Their music is fresh, yet timeless; futuristic, yet familiar. In this interview, Zee Machine shares insights into their creative journey, upcoming projects, and personal growth, offering fans a deeper glimpse into the mind behind the music.

It feels fresh but also timeless. It feels futuristic while still familiar. I love the style and era of pop that goes for the biggest, most unpretentious feeling and the most euphoric note. Like, don’t be shy – take me there! I pull inspiration from and pay homage to everything from the guitar gods of the 70s to new wave to pop/rock divas of today.

Hmmm…I do have something up my sleeve I’m planning later this year that’s going to take the music I’ve been putting out the last few years and frame it in a completely new way. Honestly I don’t want to say too much yet so I can keep you on your toes. But I’m also not trying to overload myself with new projects. I just dropped an EP, I need to live life and get inspired again.

I’m actually very happy with the rate of growth I’ve experienced this past year. Obviously we’d all love a viral moment that blows us into the stratosphere but I think the universe has handed me exactly as much as I can handle. I started the year out going on a co-headlining tour with Bentley Robles which was life changing and I’ll be finishing the year by opening for Jordy in a lot of venues I wouldn’t have been able to book on my own. Goals and dreams coming up? I want to level up my live performance experience. I want to throw people some sonic curveballs and do things y’all didnt know I was capable of. I think I can do all that while still maintaining what people liked about me to begin with.

I’d be remiss not to give flowers to Bentley Robles. Apart from being an amazing friend and rock to lean on while we create and grow together, he’s such a hard worker and knows himself as an artist so deeply and inspires me to try new things. I’m absolutely in love with Caroline Polachek and her entire aesthetic and creative instincts and just her mystique. She seems so unknowable in the coolest possible way, it makes me listen even harder. MUNA have been my favorites for years. I’ve never felt more seen by an artist and their lyrics. They always seem to know exactly what I’m feeling and I aspire to be that level of emotional devastation.

What downtime? Only partly kidding…
Honestly, I really value and honor my alone time. I’ve been so exposed with more face-to-face time with people this year than I ever had which has made those moments to recharge even more important. I have a handful of friends who’s time and connection I really appreciate. The increase in stress of touring and recording has made me pay more attention to my physical health so I’ve been trying to eat better and actually exercise more regularly. Also, joining AMC A-List has been life changing. Definitely been taking advantage of that this year. $25 for 12 movies a month? It pays for itself!

I’m not really sure I’ve ever thought about it that deeply. And maybe that’s a good thing? I think I both work harder but also *try* less hard as I’ve grown. On that first EP I was throwing everything at the wall and forcing it all to stick. And while I’me proud of it I felt like I had to be everything at once when I started out. Now I feel like I can be much more focused on what I’m trying to say and sound like.

Breaking into the music industry as an LGBTQ+ artist comes with its own set of challenges. Can you share an experience where you had to overcome a significant obstacle, and how it shaped your career?

These days I try not to focus too much on what the challenges might be. Or at least not let them get to me. It’s not like it would change what I’m doing. I think the biggest thing that gets to me is like, say… making it on to an end-of-year list, but the “gay version”. “50 QUEER artists you’ve missed this year”. Rarely the overall list. This is in no way trying to distance myself from the queer identity of it (trust me…just listen to the music), but it does feel like sometimes they don’t take you as seriously or immediately relegate you to the queer section. I think I’m as good as the people on the overall lists. (So did the iTunes Charts, if I may.) So I’m deciding to look at the benefits. Those heteros aren’t getting Pride Festival paychecks.

If I’m being honest, I struggle with those a lot. I think one of the biggest assets an artist can have is admitting your shortcomings. My strengths are creating the music and the performance, and to some degree my connection to the fans. But I always ask the people around me if they have any advice on visuals. Although I did take charge with one of my last music videos where I wanted to do a one-shot kind of thing and I took on a very directorial energy. I’m usually pretty shy and can have trouble taking charge of a large group of people, but I knew exactly what I wanted and I just snapped into boss mode and that felt really empowering.

I mean… I once wrote the bridge to a song while cruising in a public park at midnight. You can’t control when inspiration strikes.

As you continue to grow as an artist, what legacy do you hope to leave behind in the music industry?
Is it corny if I think it would be kind of cool to have the legacy of being forever criminally underrated? But also greatly respected. I think I’ve become really good at what I do and I’ve put in the hours and treated those around me well, so I guess part of me hopes that’s how I would be known or remembered (not to be morbid). I know myself well enough to know I don’t think I would handle global fame very well.

People on Reddit were saying boring and, I’m sorry… but literally point to where, bitch. I’m sure there’s been worse but I do my best not to look where I shouldn’t. I’m very sensitive.

The highlight was the MFing fans. Meeting people in places you’ve never been who you have touched through your music is like an out of body experience. Like…no way you’re talking about ME? And it was every type of person you could imagine. The low point was the early-ass flights and feeling a little disconnected from your life at home after a while. But the good absolutely outweighed the bad.

Lastly, what’s something about Zee Machine that fans might not know but would be surprised to learn?
I’m Spider Man.