The Zero Philosophy Project

 

The Zero Philosophy Project is the brainchild of current Nashville Unsigned partner, Nick “White Rice” Daniels. Hi, it’s me. Nick here to tell you about it! My older brother Adam Booher, otherwise known as Zero Philosophy (as his artist persona), was taken from us in January of 2015. Every year since for his birthday (Oct. 26th) I’ve done something to celebrate his life. Personal eulogies, music, videos, and art. This year marked the 5th birthday without Adam and I wanted to do something bigger for my brother. Something that could help build a lasting legacy in his name. The question was what?

The Birth Of The Zero Philosophy Project

From the jump, Adam loved the freedom of expression one got from creating music and art. He shared that love with me around 11 and proceeded to teach me the ins-and-outs of music production and DAWs. Ever since, for the last 13 years I’ve continued to work in music either as: an artist, songwriter, and/or business professional at different points. Even after giving up creating music almost 5 years ago to work on the business side of the music industry, I continued to write songs as an outlet.

Last year I was kind of in my feels and turned to music to express myself. I got it down. I got it recorded. In all honesty though I was to afraid to put in out in light of some of the things I touched on in the record, now titled “Therapy Session x Tug Of War”. So I started looking for a way to release it without attaching my name directly. Outside of a legal name change I really didn’t see a way to mask my identity, through any distribution channels or otherwise.

The Spark

I began talking with some other artists who as well had created music they too hadn’t released for varying personal reasons; that at the end of the day came down to one thing… they didn’t want to feel the judgement from having their name attached to what they expressed. So they, just like myself, we’re stuck. Stuck with this creative expression that for one reason or another would collect digital dust for a lifetime. So I did something about it. I knew I needed to work on something for my brothers birthday, and I thought about releasing music under his name to remain anonymous, to revive what we had started all those years ago at my grandma’s house in Norwood (Cincinnati), OH.

Eventually that thought grew into what ZP now strives to be: An anonymous music collective that is a safe place for all musicians and artists to release their music. Zero Philosophy will be the artist, but it’s not just one artist. No one sound. No one direction. It’s all of us. It’s meant to be open to anyone at any stage of their creative path. Any creative joining the collective will be welcomed and have the freedom to express themselves. To be kept completely anonymous. Or supporting the collective and our goals by releasing your music publically with us. Just the way my brother would want it. People making art, with the freedom of expression. Collaborating with one another to make art for the sake of making art.

Zero Philosophy Debut Single

Therapy Session x Tug Of War

Pre Listen

As I mentioned above, this song was originally meant to be completely anonymous. Most people haven’t heard my music in a long time, and outside of the people involved, no one else was supposed to know. Or even be able to tell. Although as a part of my self growth, I felt it was necessary to put my name to it. See, I promised myself I’d start being more open and honest with people, and this is a huge step in that. It’s very deep and tells a side of me that most people around me would never guess. I touch on my depression, suicidal thoughts, self doubt, hating who I was, body image issues, giving up, reliance on drugs & alcohol, and more of what I’ve dealt with and continue to deal with.

I was blessed that I came across my 3 collaborators that cam in to work on this record. They honestly brought the whole thing together. I swear I wish I could publically thank them by name, but in spirit of what Zero Philosophy is, all 3 have decided to remain anonymous to keep the music focused on the music. With that said I would like to thank the producer for believing in the record from the very beginning, and both the singers/songwriters for their dedication and effort to this song. They really helped tie the story together in the chorus while giving a ridiculous performance in their parts.

Take a listen to Nashville Unsigned’s Exclusive Premiere of Therapy Session x Tug Of War (Available on all major platforms 11/7):

If you’d like to continue listening or share with friends, copy & share this link: Therapy Session x Tug Of War 

Post Listen

I had originally began writing this as a song revolving around a toxic romantic relationship. As I started the first 4 bars of the first verse I was reflecting on negative things I would bring to the table a few years ago and realized… I was a pretty shitty person. So I started thinking on all my negative habits or traits, outward and inward. A list was born and I began thinking back on a lot of it. As I created it I got really into my feels about who I was. This is that list

“Writing song, hating the part of me that only saw the worst in myself. That never let the me I am today come through. Writing from the perspective of a bad relationship that I had to get out of, but I’m struggling because I’m still in love with that person, but that person is me.
Shy
Fat
out of shape
I’m not cool enough
not funny
I’m Not smart enough
Who would love you
Not good at anything
No friends
Not confident
Bad at approaching women
Single
Insecure
No helpful skills
Unmotivated
Wounded puppy
Self destructive
Rely on drugs/alcohol
selfish
liar
angry all the time
Cold hearted
Way to nice
To soft
trusting to a fault
Don’t like to smile
Depression & anxiety
Dark/Suicidal thoughts
Mention feels like it was Unconditional love from the jump
Bring me down
Not financially good enough for anyone

Funny enough the list also showed me how much I grown as a person. Becoming more confident in myself. I realized the gap between how much I hated myself then. To now how much I love myself. Dad bod, tattoos, and all. So I decided to switch the song up about a toxic relationship to a toxic relationship with myself.

The Writing

I wrote it like it was about being in a relationship with someone that isn’t good for you, because I wanted it to relate to people on all sides. Being written with the mask of being a relationship up until the end gives the listener the perspective of a relationship. It get’s them thinking in that frame of mind. I word lines like “Broken pictures on the shelf, I lie awake in our bed //  you made me hate myself, still hear your voice in my head” as a way to paint that picture.

It creates a sense of relatability for the listener, while building the suspense to the final lines where I reveal its all been about myself. Its relatable to the people in a toxic, destructive relationship with someone, and then when the reveal comes I hope it can become a song people going through the same things I’ve gone through, a light to know they aren’t alone. Whether in a relationship they should get out of with someone else. Or the relationship with themselves. That they too can find self-worth and self-love to grown and prosper in this world.

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