Today we’d like to introduce you to Zandrina Dunning.
Hi Zandrina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always believed my story started long before I ever stepped onto a professional stage. I was raised by a single mother alongside my two sisters, and watching her navigate life with strength and determination shaped me deeply. I also had a grandmother—my Nana—who worked as an administrator at UMass Boston, where I attended daycare and preschool. Being on a college campus that young exposed me early to education, leadership, and possibility.
Music found me very early. I started performing around the age of eight through talent shows, chorus performances, featured solos, and music festivals. One of my defining childhood moments was seeing Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam perform live at UMass. I remember watching them sing and dance under those lights and thinking, that’s what I want to do.
That passion led me to South Carolina State University, where I studied Music Industry with a concentration in vocal performance. During those years, I really began developing as an artist and performer. By 2012, I was performing professionally on stages throughout the region and eventually internationally through opportunities in places like Jamaica, Liberia, and Cuba.
In 2018, my partner Stephen Washington and I officially formed The ZD Experience, which evolved into much more than a band. It became a creative and cultural platform centered around music, storytelling, conversation, and community connection. Today, The ZD Experience includes live performances, concert production, media, and immersive events designed to inspire the mind, body, and soul.
One of the biggest turning points in my journey happened in 2021 when I launched The ZD Experience Radio Show on Ohm Radio here in Charleston. That opportunity filled a space in my life I didn’t even realize was missing. Over 260 shows later, I’ve had the opportunity to interview community leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers whose stories continue to inspire me and our audience. That radio platform eventually expanded into a live talk show experience that brings people together in intimate spaces for honest conversation, music, and connection.
At the same time, I’m also a mother raising a daughter who is deeply involved in the arts herself as both a dancer and musician. Balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, media, and performance has required faith, discipline, and resilience—but it’s also given me purpose.
Today, I see myself not just as a singer or host, but as someone who creates experiences that connect people. Whether it’s through music, storytelling, interviews, or live events, my goal has always been the same: to leave people with a sense of hope, gratitude, and inspiration.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road? Ha! Absolutely not.
Like many people in creative industries, my journey has been filled with pivots, sacrifices, uncertainty, and moments where I had to choose faith over fear. Being a single mother while building a career in music, media, and production has probably been one of the greatest balancing acts of my life. There were seasons where I was pouring into everyone else—my daughter, my work, my community—while still trying to figure out how to pour back into myself.
Financially, the arts can be unpredictable. There’s this misconception that once people see you on stage, hosting events, producing concerts, or interviewing influential people, everything must be glamorous behind the scenes. What many don’t see are the long hours, self-funding projects, wearing multiple hats, and continuing to build even when resources are limited.
I’ve also had to learn how to navigate spaces where creative work isn’t always immediately valued as leadership or business. Over time, I realized I wasn’t “just” a singer or “just” a radio host—I was building platforms, creating opportunities for others, and cultivating community through storytelling and the arts.
Another challenge has been learning to trust timing. There were moments when I questioned whether things were moving fast enough or whether all the work would truly pay off. But looking back now, every experience—even the difficult ones—was preparing me for where I am today.
What’s kept me grounded is my faith, my daughter, and my commitment to purpose. I genuinely believe that consistency matters. Even when things felt slow, I kept showing up. I kept creating. I kept believing.
And now, I can honestly say I feel momentum shifting in a beautiful way. Not because the journey suddenly became easy, but because I’ve learned how to walk through challenges with more confidence, clarity, and peace.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At the core of everything I do is connection.
I’m a singer, host, producer, interviewer, and creative experience curator, but more than anything, I create spaces where people feel inspired, seen, and connected. My work lives at the intersection of music, storytelling, culture, and community.
Professionally, I’m the co-founder and creative force behind The ZD Experience, which started as a musical collaboration and evolved into a multifaceted media and performance brand. We specialize in live music experiences, curated conversations, concert production, cultural programming, and community-centered storytelling. Whether I’m performing jazz with our band, hosting a live talk show, producing a tribute concert, or interviewing a changemaker on radio, the common thread is intentionality and human connection.
I’m also the host of The ZD Experience Radio Show on Ohm Radio, Charleston’s commercial-free listener-supported station. Over the past few years, I’ve interviewed hundreds of guests ranging from artists and entrepreneurs to educators, nonprofit leaders, and visionaries. What I’m known for most is my ability to make conversations feel authentic and meaningful. People often tell me they feel comfortable opening up with me, and I don’t take that lightly.
In addition to media and performance, I produce immersive live events and concerts throughout Charleston that blend music, storytelling, and community engagement. I love creating experiences where people walk away not just entertained, but transformed in some way.
What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built around this work. I’ve watched The ZD Experience grow from an idea into a trusted cultural platform that brings people together across industries, generations, and backgrounds. I’m proud that people associate our brand with positivity, inspiration, authenticity, and excellence.
I’m also incredibly proud of balancing all of this while raising my daughter as a single mother. She gets to witness firsthand what it looks like to pursue purpose, creativity, and leadership simultaneously, and that means everything to me.
What sets me apart is that I lead with heart first. I don’t believe in creating surface-level experiences. I’m deeply intentional about energy, atmosphere, and emotional connection. Whether I’m on stage singing, facilitating a conversation, or producing an event, I want people to feel something real.
I’ve also learned how to bridge multiple worlds—arts, media, education, nonprofit work, leadership, and community engagement—in a way that feels seamless. I’m not interested in simply performing for audiences. I’m interested in creating moments that stay with people long after the event is over.
At the end of the day, I believe my gift is helping people connect more deeply—to themselves, to each other, and to the stories that remind us we’re all human.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is impact.
I want the work I create—whether through music, conversation, production, or community engagement—to leave people better than I found them. I care deeply about creating spaces where people feel seen, inspired, hopeful, and connected, especially in a world that can often feel disconnected and overwhelming.
My daughter matters immensely to me because she is both my motivation and my mirror. Raising her has taught me discipline, sacrifice, patience, and purpose in ways nothing else could. I want her to grow up seeing what it looks like to pursue your calling with integrity, faith, and resilience.
Community also matters deeply to me. So much of what I’ve built through The ZD Experience is rooted in bringing people together across backgrounds, industries, and generations. I’ve seen firsthand how one meaningful conversation, one performance, or one shared experience can shift someone’s perspective or even change the direction of their life. That’s powerful to me.
Faith is another cornerstone of my life. There have been too many moments where things didn’t make logical sense, but doors still opened, opportunities still appeared, and I still found the strength to keep going. My faith keeps me grounded and reminds me that purpose is bigger than temporary challenges.
And honestly, peace matters more to me now than ever before. Not just success for the sake of appearances, but true alignment—being able to do meaningful work, care for my family, create freely, and move through life with gratitude and joy.
At this stage of my life, I’m realizing that legacy isn’t just about accomplishments. It’s about how people felt in your presence, what you poured into others, and the example you leave behind. If people walk away from my work feeling more hopeful, more inspired, or more connected to themselves and others, then I feel like I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thezdexperience.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezdexperience
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CTMHUcFSV/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zandrina-dunning
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thezdexperience
