Zha shares music video for ‘Quit Dreaming, Grow Up’

Producer and multiple label owner Zha released his latest music video earlier this month, and it’s a striking meditation on the discipline, dedication, and disappointments that can come with pursuing careers that are off the beaten path.

‘Quit Dreaming, Grow Up’ was the title track from Zha’s latest ‘Naan’ EP, which was released in December of last year. Now, it has received a music video treatment that draws parallels between a career in music and professional fighting.

“Pursuing a career in music, entertainment, or sports is often discouraged due to the financial instability and low probability of success,” the producer has stated. “In contrast, jobs with clear career paths and visible opportunities for advancement are seen as safer and more reliable. As we grow older, especially after facing failures, setbacks, and a lack of recognition, chasing these dreams can feel increasingly uncomfortable. From an outside perspective, it seems wiser to quit dreaming and grow up.”

The first time Zha’s visuals caught our attention was with 2021’s ‘Harm’, a Kurosawa-inspired epic depicting a man’s struggle to climb up a mountain to reach an imposing building (a temple, perhaps?).

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Then, came 2023’s ‘Let’s Throw It All Away’. As we detailed in our review, the music video celebrates the “thankless” nature of the music industry.

In this case, Luke Horn, the director and protagonist, is a nightlife photographer-videographer whose gruelling work schedule and sense of isolation are emphasised by the camera being turned on himself throughout the video.

Dropped on May 6, the video for ‘Quit Dreaming, Grow Up’ sees Zha collaborate once again with Horn, who shadowed professional Muay Thai fighter Omar Anderson in training sessions and, in the video’s climax, at a pro fight.

Further scenes show Anderson commuting and in prayer—intimate moments of calm that are juxtaposed with the repetitive rhythms of training and the brutal public spectacle of professional fighting.

Likewise, the slow burn of Zha’s moody dubstep production adds a meditative quality that complements the black and white shots tremendously.

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Of the experience, Anderson shared, “Over the course of my last fight camp, Luke came and stayed with me multiple times, recording shots on the fly, adapting to my schedule, and never impeding on my training for a second.”

“Fighting is one of the scariest, dumbest, and yet most rewarding endeavours I’ve ever taken part in, and it’s safe to say I’m completely addicted to it. This video is a small insight into the whole process; the work, the doubts, the confidence, and the harsh reality that there is always one winner, and one loser, in this game.”

Mengzy is Mixmag Asia’s Music Culture Columnist, follow her on Instagram.

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