Today we’d like to introduce you to Ziaire Trinidad Sherman
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I like to credit my start in exploring sound to my family, the radio, and award shows. Both my mother and sister sang in our church choir from time to time, so they often practiced harmonies with songs from the radio. This intrigued me, as it showed that there could be more to a song than what was on the radio. Concurrently, I began noticing that live performances of popular songs on award shows incorporated more instruments and different arrangements. This excited me greatly. At that time, I realized that I didn’t want to be the person in front of the stage, singing or rapping. Instead, I wanted to be the person behind the scenes, helping the production come to life.
Soon after, I delved deeply into music production through YouTube. I remember that summer, I saved up by cutting grass to buy an Akai MIDI controller that came with Ableton Live 8. Once it arrived, I worked on music in some capacity every day. I would say I learned my way around producing through YouTube tutorials and by attempting to recreate the sounds I heard online. About a year later, I applied this approach to learning the saxophone. I started to explore the tradition of jazz and learned from the pioneers who paved the way for the current state of music.
As I grew older, I encountered like-minded individuals who, much like my parents, helped me build a community to nurture and develop my talents. This has led me to graduate from Berklee College of Music with a dual degree in Saxophone Performance and Electronic Production and Design, with a minor in creative coding. During my time at Berklee, I really began to flesh out the ideas and thoughts I had been cultivating, putting my creative desires into action. Throughout my undergraduate years, I could be seen playing keyboard in hip hop groups, rock and pop groups, and Baritone Saxophone in big bands, jazz combos, and Afro-Caribbean ensembles.
Through my journey at Berklee, I developed my two main music projects, SHERMVN and Zion. Some other notable experiences that have shaped my path include being a drum major of a marching band for two years, working with MIT’s Media Lab on multiple projects, having a piece I worked on shown at Documenta, performing with the Jazz Aspen Afro-Caribbean Big Band, and becoming an Exchange Alumni with the State Department by way of OneBeat.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
First and foremost, I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to my family. Their unwavering support has been the backbone of my journey, from enduring my late-night practice sessions at their home to traveling all the way to Italy to witness my first exhibition. They’ve stood by my side through every twist and turn.
I’ve always been a firm believer in trusting the process. My creative journey began with a blend of desires and necessities that slowly transformed into passions. When I wanted “cool” clothes, I taught myself to sew and upcycle. When I struggled to articulate my artistic visions, I dove into graphic design and mastered the tools to bring those visions to life. As my skills grew, so did the questions about my future direction. After months of internal debate, research, and reflection, I made the conscious decision to trust the process. I believe that as long as I’m giving back to the world that has nourished me, my place within it will naturally unfold.
There have been moments when I considered stepping away from the creative world—whether due to financial pressures or conflicts with collaborators. But every time I sit down with an instrument or at my laptop, those doubts dissolve. The act of creating pulls me back into a flow state, reminding me of the life and energy that artistry can resonate. It’s in those moments that I realize how essential this creative journey is to my being.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Yo, I’m Ziaire Trinidad Sherman, a Cincinnati-based baritone saxophonist, music producer, and interdisciplinary artist. I specialize in, and am known for, crafting sonic worlds and performing musical magic. My three main projects are SHERMVN, Zion, and zts.studio. SHERMVN is a project where I assemble all my aural experiences into sonic stories. Whether it’s a remix for a friend or a soundscape for a fashion label, the SHERMVN project is sonically ever-expanding. At SHERMVN shows, you can expect to hear drums that’ll break your neck, saxophone melodies that make you want to hold your loved ones, and synth textures you’ll want to float in.
Zion is where my production sensibilities and live performance experience collide. Zion could be considered a jazz trio that uses electronic elements to expand its depth of sound. For example, I utilize guitar pedals with my baritone saxophone, and the drummer uses unconventional items in addition to their setup, like bottles and trash can lids. Zion heavily relays on improv to transfer the energy of the moment into sonic snapshots.
zts.studio is a space where I explore my other creative identities. This ranges from T-shirt designs and zine creation to sound design for animation. Being a student of YouTube University and DIY culture, my spirit to create and do things on my own is strong.
With all of these projects, I aim to expand on the legacy left by those who came before me. It is necessary for those who want to share themselves with the world to understand the past and how they relate to it. My music is wholeheartedly Black. Jazz, Dub, Hip Hop, Calypso, Soca, Footwork, and conversations with peers and elders all go into what I create.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
On my bookbag, I have a black Snoopy. I’m big into fashion and culture. Right around the time I was preparing for my Berklee audition, I saw that Uniqlo, Peanuts, and KAWS were doing a collaboration capsule. I spotted the all-black Snoopy plush with its eyes crossed out and decided to pick one up after my audition. Since then, Snoopy has traveled around the world with me. On the left side of my backpack, Snoopy is my road dog and a reminder that it’s okay to be different. In a pasture full of white sheep, being the black sheep leads you to finding a pasture with other sheep just like you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shermvn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565118031957&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djz123abz
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/zion_zts
Image Credits
Vivian Morais, DAZE, Cedric Pilard
