Violinist Zaki Hagins Releases Debut Single ‘Younger’
Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter Zaki Hagins has recently relocated to Berlin. With a background in contemporary classical composition and operatic training, he creates his own brand of experimental pop using a minimalist combination of live-looping viola and soulful vocals.
Growing up in the Philadelphia public school system, he studied with Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Renard Edwards and jazz violinist Owen Brown, and participated in a variety of ensembles. Hagins began busking with his twin brother Mosi during high school, and after graduating, he purchased a Boss RC-30 Loop Pedal, which he considers his best investment. Hagins relocated to the Netherlands in 2018 in order to study composition with Vykintas Baltakas at Conservatorium Maastricht, where he also studied singing with Yvonne Schiffelers. Zaki moved to Berlin in 2021 to work as a freelance musician and begin his own singer-songwriter project after deciding not to graduate from this conservatory. Currently, he is a member of the String Archestra, a group composed of musicians of color who perform music by composers of color.
Self-released debut single “Younger” by Zaki Hagins is a heartfelt homage to his twin brother Mosi. The single has two versions, with an acoustic and a pop mix of the song. The viola, the harmonies, and the lyrics all convey the depth of the siblings’ love. This song, which was engineered by Sachit Ajmani and produced by Dominic Edgley on the pop version, introduces the talented singer and provides a glimpse into his mind. Although it is a sentimental love song, the song is made more appealing by Zaki’s endearing personality.
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Photo credits: Jessica Post
Written by: Paul Woodman
