Singer/producer Zieme may still be on the path to superstardom that he’s certainly destined for, but this fresh-faced newcomer has put in the requisite 10,000 hours to become a master of his craft. Today, as his passion, talent and preparation collide with opportunity, he sits poised to take the R&B world by storm with his debut project Butter Smooth, an EP conceptualized and executive produced by legendary rapper and actor Ice-T. The project serves as a perfect introduction to Zieme who brings not only sultry sex appeal and unquestionable vocal ability to the game, but also a deep respect and understanding of the classic records and artists that paved the way.
A longtime fan and student of both contemporary and classic R&B, Zieme counts legends like the Jackson 5, The Temptations and Whitney Houston among his influences. As he began learning his craft and finding his voice at the tender age of eight, he gravitated to songs by Michael Jackson, Ginuwine and even Aaliyah that captured emotions that were relatable regardless of gender. While he found inspiration in the world at large, Zieme‘s, his blueprint for success and formal introduction to the music business came via a much closer source: family. Zieme honed his skills under the tutelage of his uncles – members of iconic 80s group the Force MDs. Some of his earliest performances came as part of the group, to which he continues to lend his signature tenor today. In the years since, he has also amassed quite a bit of solo stage experience, performing with the likes of Chris Brown, Boyz II Men, Ne-yo and Keith Sweat, to name a few.
Zieme took a step closer to his dreams of mainstream recognition and success when he was introduced to Ice-T, who was immediately impressed by his talent. But beyond music, the two also developed a friendship that further encouraged Ice to take an active role in his career. That led to an opportunity to perform live on the nationally syndicated Ice and Coco talk show and an appearance on the couple’s eponymous E! Reality show. In addition to providing his guidance as Zieme began pulling together a catalogue of music to release, Ice also lent his voice to the powerful 2020 single, “Take A Stand,” a call to action which finds Zieme inspiring fans to rise up in response to the injustices that we’ve seen increase over the past few years. While Zieme and platinum producer Donnie Lyle put the finishing touches on his first solo album, Ice also came up with a brilliant way to present his new protégé to the world: “I told him let’s take ten of the classics that I grew up on, songs that many of these kids don’t even know about today and have you put your spin on it,” he explains. That project, Butter Smooth is set to be released in 2021, preceded by the project’s first single: Zieme’s rendition of “That’s The Way It’s Got To Be (Body & Soul)” by Soul Generation.
What allows Zieme to seamlessly navigate between R&B classics and contemporary vibes is a true love of music and lyricism. Combined with his innate ability and determination to make audiences feel what he finds in the music, Zieme – whose name means “the chosen one to lead the people” – is destined to become a favorite of fans of all ages.
