Zachary began producing music in the early 2000s. Taking up the pseudonym of “mr.gizmoe”, a nickname given to him by his older brother—an accurate description of his obsession with music technology and computer gadgets. In his early teen years, Zach’s older brother was a big influence on his musical taste and preferences, often encouraging him to pursue developing his musical ability and introducing him to influential sounds ranging from hip-hop to house. Like many Asian-Americans on the west coast, his interest in Hip-hop culture was strong and continues to influence his style in many ways. After discovering the LA beat scene—Namely, Low-End Theory (which ran its weekly, beat-driven Wednesday outing at Airliner in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles), his interest in instrumental beats blossomed. Zachary was entranced by the synth bass-heavy, off-tempo instrumental beats. Sharing the stage during Low-end Theories' open mixer nights with artists like Shigeto, Nosaj thing, and SAMiYAM.