This week on Duke’s Download, I sit down with singer‑songwriter and multi‑instrumentalist ZEE Machine — and we talk about what it really takes to find your voice and go all in.

Zee shares how music grabbed him early — from obsessive guitar days to digging through older albums before streaming ruled everything. We get into his Berklee story — auditioning as a guitarist, not getting in, pivoting, and coming back stronger and getting in as a vocalist and songwriter. That shift changed everything.

We break down:

• How he built his bold, 80s‑inspired maximalist pop sound
• Why chemistry matters more than credentials in the studio
• The fan favorites (“The Radio”)
• The live bangers (“Good Boy,” “I’m In Love With Everybody”)
• Writing from real experience
• Being openly queer in pop music
• Touring red‑state pockets
• And why he’s releasing music single‑by‑single instead of chasing albums

This is a conversation about artistic evolution, creative confidence, queer visibility, and building a music career without compromise.

If you care about independent pop artists, authenticity in music, or what it means to fully own your sound — you’ll love this one.

For more about Zee Machine- just google it and you will find him everywhere!

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