SZN4 didn’t just form—they exploded onto the scene. Forged on Netflix’s Building the Band, this group turned pressure into power and cameras into chemistry. What started as a competition became a collision of talent, grit, and ambition. Now, SZN4 step off the screen with a sound that’s loud, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore. More than just a group—they’re a story in motion.
The members of SZN4 include Cameron Goode, Donzell, Katie and Aaliyah Rose.
Parlé Mag: Tell me your whole inception into music — When did you all first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for SZN4?
Aaliyah: It started at a really young age. I’ve been singing since I was 4 years old. I started with a group when I was kid, putting YouTube covers on YouTube; my mom would put me in competitions, and then being on social media led to a lot of cool opportunities. I was nervous to do ‘Building the Band’ because I didn’t know if I wanted to do another reality show, and I had also taken a break from music at the time. My mom told me I had nothing to lose, so I just did it… and then it changed my whole life, and it was the biggest answer to my prayers.
Cameron: The earliest memory I have, I was singing. I feel like God pushed me towards this.
Katie: I started music when I was 5. I was a music theatre girl when I was younger, and when I was in high school I went to Berkeley and I majored in music business, and that wasn’t for me, just kidding! Let me get back to the music side of it. Then this show came around, and I was like, “I never thought about being in a band before,” but there was no locked in contract so I was like, “let me try it,” and then now look where we are.
Donzell: I just started singing, and I didn’t even know I could sing until someone told me… and, then the rest was history.
Cameron: Once we did “Too Sweet” and then we made it to the next round, which was “Somebody That I Used to Know,“ I think that’s when it clicked for all of us. At that moment, we glued all of our talent to the song as individuals and made a sandwich with our vocals. We didn’t have to change who we were to make SZN4 what it was; we were what SZN4 was. We are the love child of uniqueness.
Parlé Mag: Now where exactly do you all hail from? And growing up there, who all did / do you all consider to be your strongest musical influences?
Aaliyah: Growing up in Utah, and honestly my mom would play a lot of Amy Winehouse and Adele and they were my biggest inspirations growing up… and, my mom would play a lot of Jazz and Blues also.
Donzell: Beyoncé. When Beyoncé’s BeyChella came out, my brain was altered when it came to music. She [Beyoncé] is just everything to me. Thank you, Beyoncé!
Parlé Mag: That said, how do you all describe the style of music that you all create and perform?
Cameron: Everything we do has such a supreme level of quality; it’s like velvet, or like a rich material. When we perform, we naturally come across as polished and damn near perfection.
Aaliyah: Cinematic Soul. We put our own spin on every song that we perform, and we take most songs and dissect them. We like a polished project and if we think it can be better, then it can be better, and we don’t stop until it’s perfect. We all feel music really, really deeply and we want to make people feel something when we sing a song. We want to sing it DOWN BOOTS!
Donzell: Even on the covers that we post, it’s like 4-5 hours of arranging. We take everything very seriously, and perfect our craft and develop it. Cinematic Soul for sure!
Parlé Mag: Now from an individual standpoint, what do each of you bring to the table both personality-wise and creatively?
Aaliyah: I am usually a pretty happy and positive person, and that’s how my mom raised me, to always be optimistic. I’m very optimistic and it might be a little delusional, but I would rather that than to not reach any of my goals.
Cameron: Aaliyah is a healer. Something about her just rejuvenates my soul. She is definitely like sunshine. If the sun was a person.
Katie: Cameron brings all the harmonies; the really cool ones.
Aaliyah: Cameron has this superpower of taking songs, and already having the whole thing arranged in his brain. He has a natural gift to arrange.
Donzell: Katie keeps everyone grounded, Katie keeps the train on track.
Aaliyah: Katie is the first person I will ask for everything; she’s like the Google for the group.
Cameron: Donzell brings the heat; he’s like our secret weapon. It’s like the secret sauce.
Aaliyah: Donzell brings the confidence, and his own superpower when I see him on stage. He makes me want to be better. He’s always a really good energy that gets the whole group going. He brings this sense of reassurance and confidence to the group.
Parlé Mag: Where does the group’s moniker originally derive from?
Cameron: We actually came up with our name during a task on the show. We were brainstorming and jotting down ideas on paper when the number 4 kept standing out because there were four of us. Our vocal coach, Nicole Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls, was a big fan of our vocals and said we were all like seasonings, so the word szn [season] felt like the perfect touch. It represents the flavor we bring to every song, and how each of us embodies a different season and the different seasons of life. Aaliyah had “Szn 4” on her list, and once we said it out loud it just clicked.
Parlé Mag: Let’s hop into this single “Back to Me” — Tell me about this particular track; how did it come to fruition?
Katie: Since the show aired “Back to Me” was one of the first songs we wrote together. We wanted an upbeat song that would get the fans dancing, and it was a vibe. We were in the studio and we immediately knocked out some melodies and some lyrics, and here we are we got “Back to Me.”
Aaliyah: This song is for the people who didn’t see our vision… and this is for people who have ever felt underestimated. This song is an ode to saying, “I know who I am, and I know what I can do.” When we were in the studio, every time we sang this song our heads would be boppin’ and we would want to play this song over and over again. This song spoke to us.
Donzell: This song is a testament to all the people who were wishing on my downfall growing up.
Parlé Mag: As songwriters when you all sit down to pen your lyrics, where do you all draw inspirations from?
Katie: One thing I’ve learned about songwriting is that the stories hit harder when you’re more vulnerable. You have to draw from your own experiences. Even if you think it won’t be relatable, it will be relatable; even if it’s just to one person.
Donzell: Even if that one person is yourself.
Cameron: Oftentimes, we pull from the energy in the room. The energy in the room when we made “Back to Me” was so smooth from start to end. Instead of songwriting being overwhelming it gets therapeutic.
Parlé Mag: Switching gears here, what exactly do you all want people to get from your music?
Aaliyah: Authenticity. We want people to really see themselves in our music. Music is so much deeper than what we hear, it’s an outlet and a way for people to feel seen and understood. We want listeners to step inside our world, connect with our stories, and think, “That helped me too.”
Parlé Mag: If you all could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Cameron: Michael Jackson, Off the Wall era Michael. That would heal my soul!
Katie, Aaliyah & Donzell: Adele, Beyoncé, Kehlani and Tori Kelly, artists who bring emotion and excellence to everything they do.
Parlé Mag: If you all could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?
Cameron: Madison Square Garden for the legacy, Brazil’s Rock in Rio or a beach show for the energy, Tomorrowland for the vibe, a football stadium like Soldier Field for the scale, and, of course, Coachella, because that’s every artist’s dream stage!
Parlé Mag: On a more serious note, are you all happy with the current state of music?
Katie: We love where things are headed. Music is becoming more heartfelt again, people are feeling it. We’re bringing back real singing and artistry. History moves in cycles, and we believe that authenticity and emotion in music are making a comeback.
Parlé Mag: What do you all feel has and will continue to be the key to your success?
Donzell: Staying true to ourselves and to the music. We don’t chase trends, we create from the heart. As long as we stay authentic, we’ll be successful. And, honestly, our bond as a family makes us unstoppable.
Parlé Mag: Do you all have any other outside future aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?
SZN4: Donzell wants to own an island someday. Katie has goals on both the business and creative sides of the industry. Cameron wants to model. Katie and Donzell both want to explore acting. Aaliyah’s dream is to start a non-profit music school for underprivileged children.
Parlé Mag: What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?
Cameron: Favorite: The music and the creativity. We love being in a space where we can constantly learn
and evolve.
Aaliyah: There’s no limit to what you can create, and being around other like-minded people is inspiring.
Donzell: When people forget that artists are human. Art is personal, and while there’s a constant demand, people should allow artists to simply be.
Katie: There’s also that double-edged sword of self-doubt, always striving for the top but realizing there’s always more to learn.
Parlé Mag: What advice would you all have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Cameron: Just do it! You’ll never know until you try. We’ve been told “no” so many times, but perseverance is key. Don’t be afraid to fail, fail forward. Surround yourself with a strong support system. Allow yourself 24 hours to feel down, then get back up and keep going. Stay a little delusional…it helps!
Parlé Mag: As for the immediate, what’s next for SZN4?
SZN4: Tour 2026! We’re gearing up for our first tour, with new original music on the way. We’re focused on building our brand, spending time together, and sharing our sound with the world. We found each other on Netflix, and now the world is our oyster; we’re ready to take over!
