Mississauga-bred, Toronto-based artist Zaye Park is taking listeners on an unfiltered, vibe-packed ride with their latest mixtape, Control The Vibes.
A blend of pop, R&B, and hip-hop, the six-track project pulses with vibrant energy, introspection, and a fearless embrace of individuality. For fans of raw, self-produced artistry, Park’s mixtape delivers a standout auditory experience that’s as emotionally transparent as it is rhythmically infectious.
A Mixtape of Discovery and Duality
Described as a “sonic experience,” Control The Vibes is a cohesive collection where each track seamlessly transitions into the next, creating a flowing narrative about life’s peaks and valleys. From the upbeat bouncy percussion to the introspective lyricism, Park explores themes like love, heartbreak, independence, and navigating life’s pressures—all with a refreshing honesty.
“The project is about understanding your individuality and owning it while navigating your journey in life,” Park explains. This exploration of self-awareness is woven into every track, allowing listeners to not only hear the music but also feel the stories being told.
What sets Control The Vibes apart is its authenticity. Park, a proud black, queer, female artist, channels their lived experiences and raw emotions into each song. There are no gimmicks here—just pure creativity inspired by personal challenges and triumphs. “I want people to appreciate the raw art for what it is,” Park shares. “No false personifications, no gimmicks—just exploration through my reality and the frequencies I’m able to craft.”
A self-taught producer and graduate of Metalworks Institute’s Music Business program, Park flexes their production chops throughout the mixtape. The tracks are rich with vibrant ambiance, layered beats, and catchy hooks that keep listeners engaged from start to finish. Whether you’re nodding along to the upbeat rhythms or soaking in the reflective lyrics, Control The Vibes has a dynamic soundscape that never feels repetitive.
Empowering Individuality
At its heart, Control The Vibes is about owning your uniqueness and finding empowerment in your truth. Park’s desire to inspire others shines through in the mixtape’s message: embrace your journey, stay transparent, and remain unapologetically yourself.
Zaye Park’s Control The Vibes is more than just a mixtape—it’s a manifesto of self-expression and resilience. With its seamless production, honest storytelling, and empowering themes, this project cements Park as an artist to watch in the pop/R&B landscape.
For those looking to control their own vibes and celebrate individuality, this mixtape might just be the perfect soundtrack. Dive into Control The Vibes and let Zaye Park show you the power of raw, unapologetic artistry.
Your mixtape Control The Vibes seamlessly blends genres like pop, R&B, and hip-hop. How do you approach combining these influences to create a sound that’s uniquely yours?
My music is primarily influenced by these genres. I focus on using chord progressions that are easy to listen to and just make sense in my head overall. Constructing over samples is also one thing I like to incorporate. I take on my own approach in making sure my sounds draw from music that I would want to hear on repeat. I don't try to emulate any of these influences when it comes to creating my own music neither when I'm songwriting or recording.
The mixtape explores themes like independence, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Was there a specific experience or moment that inspired the overall message of this project?
Control The Vibes has challenged me to keep focus on my journey. The project was inspired by travelling and getting to my final destination. You can always create new destinations for yourself and this project introduces that. Travelling back to my hometown from Vancouver drastically changed things for me. I decided that my biggest passion was making sure I can put out music that speaks authenticity and that I can use my platform to speak on messages about embracing individuality.
As a self-taught producer, what’s your creative process when crafting beats and layering production to match the stories you’re telling through your lyrics?
I create my beats using FL Studio, it never disappoints haha. I'll usually collect a bunch of my beats into a seperate folder for myself to record over. After fitting these into my selection, I'll write out melodies then record over them to form the song.
You’ve spoken about wanting listeners to appreciate the rawness of your art. What challenges have you faced in staying authentic in an industry that often pressures artists to fit a mold?
I try not to focus much on what others got going on. I stay in my own lane and don't conform to societal norms. I also don't necessarily believe that there's one certain mold to fit but some people want to be able to fit in with a certain crowd. It's important that we have the right people to uphold positions that people can identify with.
You’re passionate about artist development and community building. How do you see Control The Vibes contributing to your vision of inspiring others to embrace their individuality?
The mixtape talks about a range of different topics that highlight going through and getting through relationships. It started off with me figuring out that production wasn't merely a side hobby but a passion of mine. It's allowed me to start writing from a place of being present and writing with intention. I believe that my lyrics are super relatable and listeners could see that.