Conversations with Zealouis Brown III

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zealouis Brown III.

Hi Zealouis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Zealouis Brown, Herbert Brown to most, and I am Co-Founder/Artistic Director for NeXuS Drumline. Originally, the idea for NeXuS came during the year right after we finished covid lockdown. As the current Director of Percussion at Southwest Dekalb High School, with us living in this “new normal” world, the kids couldn’t do anything with the school, as a school, in the name of the school nothing. The world may have been opening back up yes but schools weren’t allowing their arts programs, athletes, musicians or anything of the sort to practice, travel or perform anywhere that wasn’t outside and close to home.

Honestly, the world of the arts took a HUGE hit with covid, it was the one thing that could be relinquished without feeling like there were large amounts of repercussions. As far as percussion goes, things were dying. Especially in the school setting. Principals wouldn’t approve of outside activities or participate in parades and it was putting a strain on the kids. Covid had in a sense taken something they loved and simply wasn’t giving it back. So, I came up with the idea to start a community drumline. I told my wife and she kind of took it and ran with it. With this being a community drumline, the only approvals we needed were from the parents and that was easy enough. We visited local high schools and spoke to their percussion instructors to recruit and headed off to our first competition in March 2021. NeXuS had officially been born.

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?
Not even in the slightest. I think this might have possibly been one of THE hardest things we’ve done. From recruiting to finding places to perform to then ending up with 30+ kids and not having the instruments for them to play. To then not being able to travel and trying to build a following and still not having instruments and then students having responsibilities at their home schools and needing promotion material and finding a staff. It’s been rocky but we have an amazing staff, amazing parents and a super supportive team to help lighten the load.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Drumlines is pretty much my life and it’s been that way since maybe my sophomore year in high school. I am a man of many hats at the moment but I wouldn’t trade it for anything, Let’s see:

I am the current Director of Percussion for the Southwest Dekalb High School Drumline “Deathrow” going on 20 years now. I think that would be what I’m “most” known for. Around 2018 I founded the Atlanta Hawks “ATL Boom” Drumline and that’s been interesting to say the least. Definitely good and interesting, but it’s a new venture and the world of arts entertainment is so different from drumline track battles and football games. I was a part of both Drumline The Movie and Drumline 2: A New Beat as one of the percussion writers/consultants. I’ve performed with a laundry list of artists, Outkast, Lil John and Ciara to name a few. Recently, I was appointed as a Ludwig-Musser Artist which is huge for me. My most recent venture has been co-founding P.U.P.E.L Foundation (Providing Urban Performance Ensemble Learning), NeXuS Drumline and our newest addition, NexUp Drumline with my wife.

If I had to choose, which is already hard seeing as I’m proud of everything I have accomplished and will accomplish, it’s like saying one child is your favorite, BUT I definitely think it would have to be my growth within the Southwest Dekalb High School Drumline. From being probably one of the worst players when I started to becoming section leader to then getting the call to be the Director of Percussion and building one of the top lines in the state.

I have to say, in the world we live in, what sets me apart from anyone and everyone else would be my ability to adapt and grow with the times while acknowledging traditions but not being held back by them… A lot of times, especially as adults nd instructors, we get so set in our ways or how things were that we don’t take the time to remember that these kids are different and are growing up differently so they need to be taught differently.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest risk-taker but my wife definitely is, so I guess I am by extension. Her mindset is, “if you want it, you have to take it” and I definitely see where she’s coming from. Understanding that the time for handouts will never come, you either pursue your vision or watch somebody else do it. To her, risks are a necessity for existing. You take a risk to ask that girl on a date, you take a risk to go to this college, you take a risk leaving a job you hate, you take risks daily but think about where you would be without them. You wouldn’t have started that business or bought the ring to propose, you’d be stuffed with what-ifs. Yes, it’s hard but once you’ve leapt, the gratification is undeniable.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pupelfoundation.org
• Instagram: @nexusdrumline | @nexupdrumline | @pupelfoundation | @infamousdeathrow