Cincinnati’s Zee Underscore continues to make waves in KC music scene

Zee Underscore at Boulevardia // Photo Courtesy of Zee Underscore

We first met with Zee Underscore (Zahra Karimah Briggs) at a quiet coffee shop, and we practically got kicked out over our lengthy and loud conversation. A month later, we reserved a room at the Plaza Library to continue our discussion, a bit more conscious of our surroundings and fellow patrons. Both times, Zee brought an irresistible and infectious energy from the get-go.

We’ve had a half-dozen more conversations since our initial interview in February, and life has thrown her a couple of curveballs since then. Nevertheless, Zee has maintained a constant positive life force every time we have engaged. Indefatigable.

Leaving her hometown and family at the start of the pandemic in 2020, Zee moved to Kansas City to begin her career as an electrical engineer. As Zee started a new life in a new place, this shift out of her comfort zone may have unintentionally caused her to challenge her definition of herself, and push her to explore her identity as an artist.

The Pitch: How did you come up with the name Zee Underscore?

Zahra Karimah Briggs: I started doing my own music when I moved here from Cincinnati in 2020, and when I went to release my first song, I was just going to go by “Zee.” It was my first time moving away from home, and I kind of wanted to reinvent myself. My nickname with close friends and family was Zee, so that’s what I wanted to claim as my artist name.

But when I went to register my music, I saw there were so many other “Zees” already! I thought I gotta do something different. Whenever I would perform, I would always rap my Instagram handle “Zee Underscore B-E-E 1,” so I just took that first part and made it Zee Underscore. And the rest is history.

The first time I saw you was at the Vegan Events KC “Year of The Tiger Party” at Deep Space Coop in Feb. 2022. You came out and did that “Zee Underscore B-E-E 1” a bunch of times and got us all to say it with you each time. Great way to get the audience’s attention and participation, and it was in my head all day the next few days. Tell us about your exposure to music growing up in Cincy.

Sometimes, my parents played music around the house, but it was mainly in school. I started at a K-3 performing arts school. We had special majors every day—dance, choir, musical instruments, theater. Music was always something I was a little more drawn to. Then, in fourth grade, I had to audition for the 4-12 performing arts school.

That’s a lot of pressure for a fourth grader! 

Yes! I started playing violin, singing in the choir, acting, and doing all the music things.

What kind of music were you gravitating to in middle school and high school?

Really whatever my older sister Amadi would play. A lot of angsty rock, teenage stuff like Fall Out Boy and Evanescence. And then, whatever was popular on the radio—hip hop and R&B for sure.

Previously, you told me about the decision you made in high school about your future.

My aunt and I are very similar. We’re both very academic-minded, straight “A” students. As a kid, some might call it being a “goody two-shoes.” She was kind of getting in my ear about what I was planning to do after high school. She was like, “You know this art thing is cool, singing is cool, but do you want to be a starving artist or what?”

That pretty much did it for me. I was always a self-sufficient kid, knew what I had to do (yeah, I did bad things and got in trouble or whatever), and had it figured out for myself. Once my aunt put that bug in my ear, I took it seriously and decided I didn’t want to be broke, and I wanted to have some financial security.

We started looking at other options for high school, and I ended up going to a more academics-focused high school in the tenth grade. I graduated from there, and that’s where I got introduced to electrical engineering. I didn’t know what I wanted to study in college, but I was good at math, and circuits were cool to me.

I had one of those 150 electrical experiments kits as a kid. I could only get like six done, so I decided to go catch lightning bugs, or do something else outside instead. Sounds like you enjoy making connections.

Yes! Making that shit actually work felt crazy! It was also hard to stay connected to the arts as the new kid in the school, as the music and theater teachers already had their favorite students. I decided to go to the University of Cincinnati, and I was fortunate that I was 100 percent certain about studying electrical engineering. However, I had no idea how hard it would be until I started those classes. I graduated with a degree in electrical engineering, and a minor in electrical energy and smart grid.

The year before I graduated, I attended a career fair at UC. It was a really beautiful event in my life, as throughout most of my experience in my classes there. I was the only black girl, the only black person, period. I felt alone during a lot of my time there.

So, I walk in, and there’s this black lady standing at one of the booths. She told me how she was working in construction at that time, and I thought that was super cool. We connected and she ended up helping me get flown out here to KC for an interview, and eventually, the job.

When did you start getting into the music community in KC? 

Some co-workers suggested going to a few places, and I fell into a couple of open mics. Now that I didn’t have to worry about my grades, I had more free time and started writing music—mainly my own lyrics to popular songs. I showed some to one of my co-workers, and he was like, “Oh, you can do this.”

The first song I wrote lyrics for was “Ruby” by George Lovett. That was the first one I performed at an open mic too. It’s still out there, too. I started trying to find more open mics. It was a new thing I found here that reignited my love for music. I went to the Soul Sessions at The Jukehouse, The Rino, The Piano Room, Legends Comedy Club, and more.

Had you written before this time?

My friends, sister, and I would always do the talent show in school. Maybe in fifth or sixth grade, we did the Earth Day talent show and wrote special lyrics for the event to Lady Gaga’s “Telephone.” “Stop, stop, stop throwing trash on the floor.” Silly stuff like that.

I also wrote a song with two other boys in my class, “Turn The Swag Up.” It’s cringy, even to this day. Made the beats on GarageBand in the computer lab.

Can you talk about your first song released as Zee Underscore? “Secretly” came out in Aug. of 2021.

It was the first song I made as a person who was really going to embark on this artistic journey. I was like, “Yeah, I can do this.” I made a huge deal out of it. Rented out a venue, my family came to town for the first time. Looking back, I spent way too much money on the single release show, but I was just excited.

Every time I have seen you, there is something about creating that space, that event. It’s not just about performing. You are announcing it, bringing people together. You’ve got a message, a theme, a vibe. You’re like, “I’m gonna push all the chips in.”

Now that I’m talking with you, I’m realizing that sometimes I don’t always give things too much thought. Like the engineering thing, like the singing thing. I just go for it. I found myself wanting more, and doing more. I like letting everything take me where it’s supposed to take me.

Tell us about “The Light.”

“The Light” came out a year later in Aug. of 2022. Somebody had asked me to write a song for a fashion show that was uplifting, and about girl power. “The Light” is a product of that. I was supposed to go and perform it at the event in St. Louis, but the dates changed a couple of times, and I wasn’t able to attend.

I was pretty bummed out, and honestly didn’t really want to keep doing the song. But, the woman who had commissioned me told me how grateful she was for the song, and how I really had something special. She told me to please continue singing this everywhere. That song is 100 percent me.

“Average” came out spring of 2023.

“Average” is me talking my shit. I’m that girl, feeling myself with this one.  My brother made the beats for both of those songs. I was still trying to find my sound, trying different things, experimenting. That one now seems a bit forced.

Last summer’s “In The Way” is the one that really got my ear. That’s with Amadi Luv?

Yeah, Amadi is my older sister, the one who had influenced me musically. I had written a verse to one of her songs, “Know Who I Am,” before “In The Way,” and it was so good that I wanted her to return the favor. Give me a little something, sis.

Your brother produced those too?

The beat came from a KC DJ and producer, The Cinco. “In The Way” was my first composition feeling assured as an artist, bringing good energy, and knowing my message—I’m here. I’m everywhere. I’m outside, so you’d better get used to it.

You just dropped some seriously incredible new music. Please tell us all about it!

I just released my debut EP, The Zee Underscore Experience. Two songs with live instrumentation from my band, The Clique, two songs with The Cinco, and I actually produced my first song, “IDRK,” which dropped on June 7.

Photo Courtesy of Zee Underscore

The same weekend as the release, you performed at Boulevardia. Several dancers, at least three costume changes. A wedding gown in 95-degree heat staring directly into the sun?

Yes! Oh my goodness, I was so grateful to perform on the elevate stage at Boulevardia! I had been, and still am, looking for background vocalists and dancers for the performance, but no one ended up being able to commit. Luckily, my sisters had planned on coming into town to see me perform that weekend, and literally two days before the show, I was like, “Hey, can y’all do background vocals and dancing for me at Boulevardia?”

Of course, they said  yes. They landed in Kansas City from Cincinnati at noon on Friday. We got straight into rehearsing, buying outfits, and having a good time catching up as sisters. We rehearsed once more Saturday morning, and then we made our Boulevardia debut together! It was such a special moment. The band was great, everyone who graced the stage with me was great, and if you missed out, you must follow me on socials to keep up with upcoming performances @z_bee1.

What drives you and inspires you to create?

The more I get to know myself, the more I realize how different and unique I am from everybody. I mean, everyone is different. But stepping into my power, I feel what I have can heal people, bring people together, and do so much good.

When it’s all said and done, and I’m gone, I want to know I did everything in my power to use my power to its full capacity. I want to impact as many people in a positive way as I can. That’s what brings me joy.

From the first moment I heard and saw you, I could just feel that positive energy, not even catching the lyrics. You are very calm right now. However, our last conversation was pretty lively, and we almost got kicked out of that coffee shop. I feel on stage though, you’re not exactly possessed, but there is another gear, or two or three.

Yes, I can’t really explain it. There is definitely a shift when I go into performance mode. I think when I first moved here, I was more like that all of the time. Coming to realize how valuable my energy is, I’ve learned that I can’t always be “on.” It’s not good for me.

I am coming into this space now looking for how we can still be ourselves, but also preserve our energy when we don’t need to give our 110 percent. As I’m navigating this balance though, I’m realizing that I don’t have to do anything but be myself at every single moment, and it’s going to give what it’s supposed to give—loud, quiet, contributing to the conversation, or just observing the scene. My presence is truly a present, and I’m honored to be able to show up in spaces as such.

You have some other projects and groups. Tell me about Cease and Desist. Very different from your solo work. Last time we met, you shared with me your cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”

Yeah, night and day. They were a band before me, and they had a gig, and their lead singer was nowhere to be found. The old bass player, who I had met in the open mic scene, called me on a Thursday and said, “We got a gig on Saturday, and we need you.” Drove over there that night, practiced for two days, and did the gig.

Right now, we are doing covers like Guns ‘n’ Roses, Motley Crue, Cee Lo Green, Paramore, Greta Van Fleet, Dua Lipa, Otis Redding, The 1975, and so many more. The boys are exposing me to some heavy rock stuff, and I’m suggesting some of my favorites. We’re getting into working on originals as well.

Another project I’m working on is developing a mental health and wellness app! I got accepted into the Builders and Backers 2024 Summer Cohort, which is essentially a grant opportunity for beginning entrepreneurs to help turn their ideas into reality. My app is basically going to be a regenerative AI companion, modeled after my own voice and essence, that will act as your personal cheerleader, reminding you to check in with yourself and celebrate all the accomplishments you make that you don’t typically acknowledge. I’m actually getting into the experimentation phase, so be on the lookout for opportunities to participate in testing.

I am also a part of the choir Xion Sound Waves. We do non-religious, spiritual-affirming music. I had seen an open audition post on Instagram, and at that time in 2021, I was still feeling lonely, and just wanted to harmonize with people. VJ Healer is the leader. eight to ten people. We usually just have keys for accompaniment. We recorded our very first album in June, and are planning a release late fall, so again, be on the lookout for Xion Soundwaves’ music coming too!

What is it that you appreciate about open mics?

I just appreciate the space. It’s so valuable, especially when you come to a new place and don’t know anybody. The space to come in and express yourself, and then you see other people openly and freely expressing themselves. It’s all about community.

Any last thoughts?

My entertainment company is ZNTL Entertainment. We are working with the Crossroads Neighborhood Arts District and Art Garden KC for a First Fridays Mainstage series, where we are bringing a stage filled with top-quality local entertainment, in addition to space for artists of The Crossroads to talk about their art.

I am the coordinator, and each month we spotlight active community members and artists, have a couple of performances, live painting, live DJs, vendors, and create good vibes. The Mainstage is located at the intersection of 19th Street and Wyandotte.

We started in April and will keep going until Oct. We encourage everyone to come out, but if you can’t make it, we’ll also be livestreaming the entire event on the ZNTL Entertainment Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook accounts.

You can catch Zee Underscore at The Mainstage at First Fridays on Sept. 6 and Friday, Oct. 4. Cease & Desist play Sunday, Sept. 1 at Gardner Lake, Thursday, Sept. 5, at MiniBar, and Friday, Sept. 13, at The Brooksider.