Zeke Ultra Interview

All photos by Alex Free

modrNation: Where are you originally from?

Zeke Ultra: I’m originally from Portland and I now live in Delaware.

modrNation: How did growing up there push you into making music?

Zeke Ultra: Growing up there, I was exposed to concerts and shows when I was young. There was lots of music playing and lots of parties so I saw music in those settings. I was surrounded by the live and social aspect of music, and also music constantly playing in the house, just whatever my parents were playing. Those two things together let me understand the power and purpose of music as a child. The power of music is immeasurable but the purpose of music is to move people, educate people, help people understand things, relay messages, and even become a news source for the common person. 

modrNation: With so much similar sounding music coming out now what inspires you to maintain such a unique sound?

Zeke Ultra: Listening to myself then remembering what inspired me in the first place and what moves me every day. The music is unique because as an individual I’m unique, not necessarily in a ‘i’m the best’ type of way, but because I’m able to tap into who I am and translate that.

modrNation: You dropped your latest EP Black Wednesday just last month, what was the inspiration behind that project?

Zeke Ultra: This summer and the time I spent with new friends and meeting those new friends. I made all of that music in the span of a couple months except for the song at the end. The song at the end was made a year prior just from me playing with the guitar and the synth, but it made sense to bring it back for this tape, and that was the inspiration.

modrNation: What was the creative process like while making that project?

Zeke Ultra: Espresso and sitting there cranking beats out, all those beats came about from just being laser-focused and me discovering my new friendships. I’m a pretty social musician in the sense that I’m very inspired by making music from other people and soaking up new information. I love being around new people and falling in love with new environments just inspired me to knock out an EP real quick.

modrNation: You gained some traction from your 2019 single Carry Me Home, how has your sound changed and developed since then?

Zeke Ultra: That came out in 2019 but I made it in 2018. Since then I’ve just done a lot more, I’ve tried a lot of new things since then rather than just expanding on the same thing. My sound has evolved from my own developing process, finding things that I love and just new inspiration and sounds. 

modrNation: Take me through your writing process, do you seek out inspiration yourself or wait for it to come?

Zeke Ultra: Definitely both, it depends on the mood and the music. Sometimes something will just hit me, sometimes I freestyle, sometimes I just write and I really have to think about what I’m trying to tap into, but it really just varies. 

modrNation: What would you say is the importance of finding your identity and individuality when making music, rap especially, is so popular right now?

Zeke Ultra: It’s the only way to make something truly unique and to ensure that it’ll resonate with people. The point of this music, hip-hop, and just black music in general is to connect with people. All music is like that but it’s especially important for us because it’s a tool so if you’re able to convey who you are through music efficiently, I think I’m still getting better and better at that. The better you are, the easier it is to connect with people, and they can feel your heart. You can just say what you want to say, tell the messages you want to tell, and bring people together by telling your story.

modrNation: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Zeke Ultra: I see myself being one of the best, I want to be one of the best musicians on the planet and not even just in a sense of accolades. I want to be one of the people that people look at and think ‘wow this person does what they do really well’, I want to be the artists artist, I want to be well-traveled, and I just want to be a smarter individual and a better person. For my music, I want to be able to look up and see the things that I’ve accomplished and to enter an elite tier of musicians, not just rap or soul, but music in general.