Today we’d like to introduce you to Zachary Brady
Hi Zachary, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi! My name is Zach and I am a creative writer/musician and prospective doctor. Composition–both through music and writing–has largely affected how I see the world and cope with emotions. I find that nearly everything I chase revolves around the search for meaning, whether that be through writing existential poetry, fiction, and songs, or guiding workshops in Utah State University’s cadaver lab. I’m fascinated by life’s complexity, both in its biology and humanity.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has taken me years to begin discovering who I am and what I value, and it’s definitely a process I don’t think will ever stop. When I first entered college, the last thing I wanted to do was be was a doctor. My parents divorced when I was young, and since my dad was a doctor, and his profession pulled him away from me and my family, the idea of being continually absent from my future family deterred me. However, I felt myself drawn to anatomy and physiology. After becoming a human anatomy teaching fellow–fascinated by the body’s intricacies–I decided I would do whatever it took to balance a career in medicine with a strong family. This is obviously the simplified version, but if anyone reading is interested in hearing the full story, it is published in USU’s Sink Hollow Literary Magazine titled, “In My Blood”.
One of the first struggles I faced was balancing my resources between a creative writing degree and my science pre-med prerequisite courses. This content overlap has extended my bachelor’s degree to 5 years, though it’s worth it for me to involve myself in two areas I care deeply about.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I picked up the violin in kindergarten and quickly found myself in orchestras. With my humble beginnings producing music at 14 years old on GarageBand, I made my very first ~dubstep~ song, coined by my mom as “video game music” and coined by me now as “an absolute abomination.” Experimenting with different genres of music: EDM, classical, pop, and indie, I created my first pop album in 2018. I also composed a full orchestral piece in high school, winning a Western Region Honors Council Award from Scribindi Magazine. Recently, I’ve been honored to write some award-winning music for short films and local musicians, while recording and producing my own music in my bedroom studio.
It wasn’t until college that I started to appreciate written works. Actually, it was the realization that “writing an essay is like writing a song” that got me into writing prose. I began taking creative composition courses, and after tons of hard work and revision, I landed some cool publishing gigs and presentations at national conferences. I enjoy writing fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Ironically, while writing music has inspired me to write, I have found that my best inspiration for my music now comes first from writing poetry.
As I mentioned before, I try to lean into writing pieces that dig for a deeper meaning. Whether through written words or melodies, I really try to use the tools I have to capture the emotions I feel or want to portray. I like to draw connections between my pre-med journey and my music/creative writing. A song I recently released is titled “plant to the planter” and tells the story of a man I met volunteering with hospice, while a recent fiction piece I presented at NULC tells the story of a man facing a terminal illness. I guess you could say I think about death a lot… in a non-weird way. I think the uncertainty of what happens after is unyielding, which–while many may not admit it–deeply scares us. It’s one absolute that when accepted, can unite those of us who are still alive, and it’s one area I hope to work in as a physician. Honestly, some of the pieces I am most proud of encompass these ideas but are still unreleased. Hopefully not for long.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I’ve learned that if you want to be something, you are the only person stopping yourself. A saying from years ago has stuck with me: “A writer isn’t a writer until they write.” I’ve tried to gravitate toward the things that fulfill me, and once I find those things, I get involved. In 2 months, I’m giving a 25-minute presentation on LDS Women to an interfaith audience at the JWHA 2024 Annual Conference. Never in my life have I imagined myself doing something like that, but it all started with me recognizing a passion, and putting it to action. Exploring my interests, even if that means stepping out of my comfort zone or doing something others would deem unconventional, I’ve stepped a little closer to discovering myself. This is something I wish I had known sooner. If you are interested in writing, write. If you want to try something but haven’t yet, what’s stopping you?
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