Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty; Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
Here’s what to know about Zack Bia.
The 27-year-old DJ and record label founder, whose full name is Zack Bialobos, has run in some famous circles over the years, but previously made headlines when he was romantically linked toOlivia Rodrigoin 2022.
Amid the 20-year-old singer’sSourTour, the two werespotted hanging out in N.Y.C.together in April 2022 ahead ofher Radio City Music Hall concert.
PEOPLE later confirmed their romancein June, with a source saying, “They’ve been dating since theSuper Bowl. They really like each other.” However, their relationship eventually fizzled out as several outlets reported their breakup in August 2022.
Most recently, Rodrigo debuted her new music era with her sophomore album,Guts, whichshe teasedwas predominantly written when she was 19, a year “filled with lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst.”
From his New York upbringing to his famous friends, here’s everything to know about Zack Bia.
He runs in some famous circles
Zack Bia/Instagram
One look atBia’s Instagram accountand you’ll notice a handful of familiar faces, including Luka Sabbat,The Weeknd, and Doja Cat. He’s particularly close toDrake, who he considers his “big brother,“per his interview withGQ.
Thetwo first posted a photo together in 2017, and since then, Bia has made many appearances with the rapper, including cameoing in his music video for “Money in the Grave” and getting name-dropped in Drake’s verse on French Montana’s “No Stylist.”
He’s been romantically linked to some big names
Vivien Killilea/Getty
In addition to being friends with stars including Drake and Sabbat, Bia has also been romantically connected to some big names. Before sparking romance rumors with Olivia Rodrigo, he dated singer Madison Beer for a yearbefore splitting in 2019.
In December 2021,he was linked toOuter BanksstarMadelyn Cline, following her split fromChase Stokes, as they dined out in Santa Monica, Calif. However, Bia eventually shut down dating rumors, saying they were just hanging out.
“It is one of those things where we really enjoy hanging out and enjoy going to dinner. But we never officially started dating and probably will never officially stop because we are just hanging out,” he said episode of theBFFs With Dave Portnoy and Josh Richardspodcast. “We are enjoying it and not even thinking about what it is.”
He’s a native New Yorker
Bia was born in New York on June 9, 1996. His parents split when he was 9 and he eventually moved to L.A. after his mom got a job there. “My formative years were spent in L.A., but I have this New York foundation, and I think it’s the best thing that could have ever happened,“he told Complex.
Though there has been a lot of speculation surrounding Bia’s upbringing (with one rumor circulating that his father has an executive role at Dior) he set the record straight during his interview with Complex.
“Anytime I do anything cool or accomplish something, it will always get knocked as, like, ‘Of course he was able to do this, his dad does this,'” he told the publication about the chatter.
“But the reason I haven’t even really talked about my dad is because I have such a bad relationship with him that I didn’t want to even talk about him. My dad is a photographer. I don’t even really know where he lives.”
He went to USC
After attending Beverly Hills High School, Bia did a year of community college beforetransferring to the University of Southern Californiaas a sophomore. He attended the school for another year before dropping out his junior year to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
He got his start in the entertainment industry after a chance encounter with Fetty Wap
Bia first broke into the entertainment industry whenhe had a chance encounter with Fetty Wapat a nightclub on his 19th birthday.
That night, a promoter asked for his number, assuming he was part of Fetty Wap’s crew, and from there the rest was history. Before long he was getting paid $100 a week to promote the club.
He eventually caught the attention of H.Wood Group founder John Terzian, who enlisted Bia to help with his big events. As an employee of the L.A. hospitality and lifestyle company, Bia began throwing parties and hosting dinners, leading to many of his celebrity connections.
He has his own record label
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In early 2020, Bia embarked on another business endeavor: founding his own record labelField Trip Recordings.He told Complexthat the label felt like a natural fit after he was continuously discovering new artists and making connections at his various parties.
“We were always behind the scenes, helping records get made out of a love for it,” he told the publication. “I started becoming a guy who was throwing parties that became a safe space for artists to come and be themselves, test out new music, meet other artists, and meet new cool people. That turned into artists being like, ‘Let me pick your brain on this. What do you think of this brand? What do you think of this new artist? Come to the studio.’ We started having this really intimate relationship with a ton of artists. And we were like, ‘Wait, we can do this with our own artists.’ That’s when we started the company.”
He was first linked to Olivia Rodrigo during the 2022 Super Bowl
Arturo Holmes/Getty; Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
Almost a year later, Rodrigo brieflyopened up about her past romantic relationshipsduring aninterview withThe New York Times, explaining how they helped to inform hersophomore albumGUTS.
“I had such a desire to live and experience things and make mistakes and grow afterSOURcame out, I kind of felt this pressure to be this girl that I thought everyone expected me to be,” the pop-rock artist toldThe New York Times. “And I think because of that pressure, maybe I did things that maybe I shouldn’t have — dated people that I shouldn’t have.”
She noted, “I’m very tame,” but explained how those relationships were learning experiences that inspired songs and themes on her new record, including her lead single “Vampire,” which details how an ex took advantage of her and exploited her celebrity.
“I think the song isn’t about fame f—ing or whatever, I think it’s more about someone being manipulative and sucking you dry, using you for all your worth,” she said during an interview withAudacy’sThe Julia Show. “I think that that’s a universal theme, and I also think fame is more easily accessible now than it has ever been. It’s not just people in L.A. and Hollywood that have to deal with that.”
source: people.com
