For Congo-born musician, artist and producer Eric Zayne, inspiration has often come from unexpected places. "I was walking through a construction site and there was a jackhammer. And instead of hearing the jackhammer, I could hear a whole symphony," he recounts. "Something opened up, and I started hearing music everywhere in everything."

In this episode of Behind the Board, get to know the multi-faceted artist who has written and produced music for a diverse cast of A-listers that range from Twenty One Pilots and Ashlee Simpson to BTS, H.E.R. and Matisyahu.

As a kid, music seemed like an unlikely choice for Zayne, who grew up in a war zone and had to leave the Congo without his family when he was 13. "I was in school and there were a bunch of soldiers everywhere. They were handing out notes. And the notes said, 'Don't leave your house on Monday. A war will start.' That was Friday. Monday morning, 7 am, right on cue, bullets are covering the sky."

When his family had the chance to evacuate just one of its members, Zayne was forced to live independently from his teen years into young adulthood. "I had to basically learn to reconstruct what life is on my own," he notes.

Now, he says that experience taught him wisdom, compassion and understanding — all qualities that have contributed to his musical identity. Zayne's artistic philosophy is centered on humility and operating as a vessel for something greater and more mystical.

"I personally feel that I have never written anything in my life. I'm just lucky enough to pick up what's already there," he relates. "The minute that you take ownership of it is when you lose it, because it is not yours. You're lucky enough to get the antennas to download it. So get out of the way and let it move through you."

Zayne — who is now based in LA — says he's been lucky enough to meet some of the most talented, inspired people in the music business. "One of my favorite sessions was with H.E.R.," he says. "I was just so amazed to watch a true artist that really knows how to play all her instruments and understands music."

Get to know more about Zayne's personal history and musical methodology in the video above, and keep checking GRAMMY.com for more episodes of Behind the Board.

Why Is BTS So Popular? 9 Questions About The K-Pop Phenoms Answered