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NY Glam: You were born and raised in a politically persecuted community during Albania\u2019s dictatorship. How did growing up in that environment shape your artistic voice?<\/strong><\/p>\n I still remember those quiet Saturday or Sunday afternoons when I would step outside clutching a single slice of bread\u2014sometimes paired with a tomato, and on the rarest, almost \u201cluxurious\u201d occasions, toppedwith a thin remnant of salami left over from some failed export. My eyes always drifted to the other children in their threadbare clothes; their hunger was unmistakable, shining through their hopeful gaze. At that age I didn\u2019t yet grasp what it meant to be \u201cpolitically persecuted,\u201d to be the child of someone who had dared raise a voice against a crumbling system. I only sensed that the gnawing in our stomachs was somehow intertwined with the absence of freedom. So I did the only thing a child could do: I tore my slice of bread in two and shared it. That simple act\u2014 born of a deep awareness of deprivation and fear\u2014forced me to grow up long before my time. It left a NY Glam: You started your career in media as early as 1997, during a time of national crisis. What pushed you to create in the midst of chaos? <\/strong><\/p>\n Escape\u2014 the need to carve a parallel reality, a tiny pocket-world where I could hide, safely distant from the madness. I refused to be stained by that collective delirium in which everyone\u2014children and adults, women and old men\u2014suddenly brandished a gun, acting out the absurdities of lives torn between two eras. It was all too much, too raw for a child on the brink of adolescence, so I lived inside my little \u201cbox.\u201d I still recall how, with bullets hissing through the air in March\u2013April \u201997, I walked\u2014happy and smartly dressed\u2014into the television studios to host a children\u2019s show. It felt like a calling: to shield their young minds from the turmoil outside, to gift them a sliver of \u201cnormality\u201d so they could learn to laugh again.<\/p>\n NY Glam: 2FARM had massive success in the Balkans. What do you think made the group resonate so deeply with audiences?<\/strong><\/p>\n In 2001, 2FARM released its debut album\u2014a production by Tar Records, then one of the boldest and most promising labels of the time (now an undisputed monopoly). I believe it was a matter of the right moment, in the right place. As a group, we had spent three years struggling to break into a market that was both artistically stagnant and economically poor. Breaking barriers is never easy\u2014especially for two teenagers with no backing, no connections, just a dream. What resonated, I believe, was the truth we brought with us. Our lyrics didn\u2019t just entertain\u2014the inspired. The music was raw and original, a decadent fusion of rock layered with powerful Western hip- hop undertones. These were experiments\u2014brave ones. And experiments demand courage. We were lucky to succeed\u2014though, in truth, I don\u2019t believe in luck that much. I believe in the kind of fearless fire that burns even when no one\u2019s watching.<\/p>\n NY Glam: You’ve worked across so many mediums\u2014music, film, radio, television. How do you stay creatively energized and balanced?<\/strong><\/p>\n I believe we are energetic beings, deeply intertwined with the Creator and the universe itself. The key is simply to find the door\u2014and the key to that door\u2014that connects us to the spiritual flow. For me, energy moves fluidly through my physical being, and my senses act merely as the bridge through which it travels. I consider myself a \u201cfortunate\u201d soul\u2014everything I\u2019ve touched, I\u2019ve pursued with passion and brought to life with success. The desire to give, to offer art as a gift to humanity, is what keeps the wellspring from ever running dry… at least, so far.<\/p>\n NY Glam: As a music producer, you’ve helped launch major artists to international stages. What qualities do you look for when producing or managing talent?<\/strong><\/p>\n Talent is just one part of the equation\u2014it\u2019s like the half-built bridge I mentioned earlier. What completes it is work and artistic discipline. It might sound paradoxical to speak of discipline in the realm of art, but our connection to time and the \u201cright moments\u201d is, in itself, a form of discipline\u2014one that leads to true success. When I work with artists, I look inward\u2014I want to understand what they\u2019re trying to express, what their purpose is in chasing success. I\u2019m interested in how willing they are to place their gifts in service of the NY Glam: Your role in Pharmakon, Albania\u2019s 2012 Oscar submission, marked a milestone in your film career. What did that experience mean to you personally and professionally?<\/strong><\/p>\n It all began unexpectedly\u2014with a proposal, followed by a screen test. At the time, I had only worked behind the camera on short films and documentaries, mostly as a producer, occasionally as an editor or sound designer. I wasn\u2019t expecting to be cast in a feature film\u2014let alone in a leading role. When I first read the script, I was struck by its depth and complexity. But I was also afraid. The character was the polar opposite of who I am in real life, and that contrast made me hesitate. Still, I was fortunate\u2014 immensely so\u2014to work under the direction of the brilliant Joni Shanaj, alongside a stellar cast that included Olta Gixhari and Niko Kanxheri. As always, I approached the work with as much professionalism as I could muster. I didn\u2019t fully grasp what it meant to carry a lead role in a feature film… not until I saw the final product at the premiere. That\u2019s when I truly understood the weight of what we had created. Pharmakon was a critical success. It garnered numerous awards and was chosen to represent Albania at the Oscars in 2012\u2014widely praised as an auteur film destined to endure. Without a doubt, it remains one of the defining milestones of my career. And I owe it all to the extraordinary team behind it. It\u2019s a beautiful artistic memory\u2014one that will accompany me for the rest of my life.<\/p>\n NY Glam: From directing hundreds of music videos to producing film and television, which medium feels most like \u201chome\u201d for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n Each medium holds its own unique magic, and I\u2019ve cultivated a different passion and approach for each. I feel truly fulfilled when I\u2019m able to navigate across genres\u2014it reminds me that I still have so much to give. What drives me is the desire to contribute, even in the smallest way, to making the world a more beautiful place through art. And when the world becomes richer artistically, I believe it naturally becomes better in our everyday lives as well.<\/p>\n NY Glam: With a degree in physics from Sapienza University, how has your scientific background influenced your creative work?<\/strong><\/p>\n I believe it\u2019s the foundation of every artistic perspective I hold. The way the world functions through the lens of physics\u2014it is art. I dove deep into it, and soon my perceptions and emotions began to take the shape of numbers and equations. And then, in a beautiful reversal, I was illuminated by the wonders and the \u201cmusic\u201d of the universe itself. That music\u2014I heard it. And from that moment on, I\u2019ve been trying to translate it, to bring it down to Earth through my art.<\/p>\n NY Glam: You\u2019ve earned over 30 awards throughout your career. Which one holds the most meaning to you\u2014and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n Each award carries its own weight, meaning, and sense of responsibility\u2014each tied to the moment and the event in which it was received. But if I were to highlight two, it would be the Artist of the Year honor awarded by Capitol Hill and the Certificate of Recognition from the Mayor of New York City, Mr. Eric Adams. These two stand out for me\u2014not just for their prestige, but for the deep personal significance they hold. They are symbols of a journey that crossed borders, touched hearts, and found its voice on a global stage.<\/p>\n NY Glam: Your recent recognition by the United States Congress is a huge honor. What does being seen as an influential artist internationally mean for your mission?<\/strong><\/p>\n It means I\u2019m on the right path\u2014what I call \u201cartivism,\u201d a movement I began through the creation of my non-profit organization, My Future NGO. It\u2019s a mission that needs many ears willing to truly listen. To make politics through art and culture… to help shape a better world for everyone. I deeply believe that if someone loves art, they are already a better human being.<\/p>\n NY Glam: As CEO of multiple production companies, how do you envision the future of Albanian and Balkan creative industries?<\/strong><\/p>\n The Balkans are, by nature, an inexhaustible well of art and culture\u2014a region overflowing with stories and lived experiences that deserve to be shared with the world. As artificial intelligence continues to dominate the global creative landscape, I believe the Balkans\u2014and NY Glam: What are you working on now\u2014and what can your fans expect next from Kastro Zizo?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m currently working on the creation of a new media platform across the ocean, based in New York \u2014a project dedicated to Albanians and the Balkan community at large. Exclusive Interview with Kastro Zizo – Musician\/ Producer Klevis Bega, professionally known as Kastro Zizo, is an acclaimed Albanian artist whose career spans music, television, film, and media production. Born in 1984 in a politically persecuted community during Albania\u2019s dictatorship, Kastro emerged as a bold creative force during the country\u2019s post-communist transformation. He began his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16170,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,2,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-film","category-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16169"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16173,"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16169\/revisions\/16173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nseismic mark on my young soul, awakening me to the depth of human suffering and the resilience of the spirit. From that moment, I knew I would become an \u201calchemist\u201d of experience, transmuting pain into expression. Art became the vessel through which every unspoken truth, every shadow of fear, and every fragile hope could finally breathe.\\<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/nyglamour.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_8121-768x1024.jpg\")
\nworld. And, modestly speaking, I can usually see that spark in their eyes from the very beginning. As for technique or artistic refinement\u2014that\u2019s simply a matter of work. I feel immense joy when I witness the success of the artists I\u2019ve produced or guided along the way. It\u2019s like seeing seeds bloom into something powerful and alive.<\/p>\n
\nespecially Albania\u2014will be among the last to fully embrace it. Not out of resistance, but because there\u2019s simply no urgency. Here, the source is still pure, deeply spiritual, and profoundly human. Our artistic reservoir flows from the soul, not the circuit.<\/p>\n
\nIt will be a cultural and artistic sanctuary, a space built to inspire unity, creativity, and well-being\u2014not just for Balkan people, but for everyone. A bridge between worlds, where identity, expression, and belonging find their voice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"