Vet Candy: How Derrick Garrett is making pets happier through music

Can music help anxious pets live more joyful lives?

That is the question Derrick L. Garrett set out to answer.

Originally from Virginia, Derrick grew up on a farm where animals were a part of everyday life. As a result, he bonded very closely with pets. Then at the young age of 21, he made a big move from the small town of Clover to the big city…New York City, that is! There he built an incredible career as a multi platinum record producer, working with iconic R+B groups like K-Ci & JoJo and Bobby Brown, as well as many jazz artists such as Roy Hargrove and Sonny Rollins. Later, Derrick founded Round House Multimedia™ , which creates immersive music experiences for luxury consumer brands.

Nowadays, his time is filled very differently.

Sure, he still works with animals. But instead of feeding and tending livestock and overseeing farm work, he is putting his talents to work making music – for pets!

Pet Candy is delighted to introduce Derrick L. Garrett, Founder and CEO of Zoundz Music For Pets. Today, Derrick shares the unique way he successfully combined his three passions: pets, music, and entrepreneurship.

It’s Music to Your Pet’s Ears

Music is a gift.

It can lift our mood, inspire us to dance, sing, and make art, and create different feelings and atmospheres. Derrick knows exactly how to use the power of music to move people through immersive branded experiences.

But it wasn’t until a conversation with a friend who works in the veterinary field mentioned the growing problem of pet anxiety that Derrick began to wonder, “What effects can music have on anxious pets ?”

It was like a lightbulb lit up above his head. After finding peer-reviewed research studies on the impact of music on cats and dogs, Derrick got the creative juices flowing. Soon after, he officially launched the Zoundz Music For Pets program, which is designed to help animal care professionals as well as cat and dog parents calm, condition, and connect with pets. Zoundz music is composed with species-appropriate tempo, sound frequency, and instrumentation.

Derrick explains, “Today Zoundz Music For Pets is a simple but powerful solution to calm dogs and cats in stressful environments such as thunderstorms, car rides, trips to the veterinary hospital, being home alone, and so on”

Brilliant!

And even when some folks doubted his endeavors and told him to throw in the towel, Derrick never gave up.

“You cannot win a race looking behind or in your rear-view mirror,” he says. “You will eventually crash. Stay focused on the finish line; you can't cross it if you can't see it. Or you may cross it and not know it.”

Finding that Purrrfect Sound

Of course, not everybody can do what Derrick L. Garrett does.

It takes a keen ear to make music.

Derrick explains:

“Back in the early days of my music career, I had the opportunity to be the assistant engineer on a Donald Fagan (from Steely Dan) recording session. He focused so much on getting the specific sound he was looking for on every instrument being played during that session. They spent one week on only the drum sounds. It quickly became clear to me why Donald Fagan and Steely Dan's recordings were, and still are, to this day, some of the best sonically recorded albums ever. That recording experience forever changed how I approach and listen to music as a music professional and consumer today.”

Lucky for the pets his music caters to, there is now an extensive library of songs to choose from.

Follow Your Passions and Not the Money

Lastly, looking back on Zoundz’s many triumphs, Derrick knows he was right to pursue his passion project.

Actually, entrepreneurship runs in the family!

When asked who his childhood hero was, Derrick replied:

“Not to sound cliché, but my dad was (and still is) my hero today. He helped me see the freedom that came with entrepreneurship at an early age. He also showed me how to dig deep when the going gets tough. While education is hugely important, he also showed me that common sense is equally important. Most importantly, he exampled daily the importance of one’s character and reputation and the fact that money cannot buy either.”

Pet Candy can’t wait to hear what Zoundz Music For Pets has in store for 2023!