When Zach Hood graduated from Daphne High School in 2019, it was the same year he saw his first live performance at Hangout Music Fest. That experience would soon inspire his future trajectory.

“I was like I am going to perform here one day. I made a pact with myself. I saw Bryce Vine perform. That was my first-ever live performance. After I saw that, I went home and told my mom I was going to be a superstar,” Hood said from the media tent Friday at Hangout in Gulf Shores.

Hood caught traction over the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic. He blew up on TikTok, and his music has quickly garnered millions of streams.

Now based in Los Angeles, Hood has been working on on his new single called “Lovely Isn’t The Word For This," which drops May 27.

He just finished a short East Coast tour to get his feet wet before Hangout Music Fest.

“I had never performed. This is my sixth time performing ever. We started this a year ago, and we are already here at Hangout Music Fest, my dream festival. It’s looking up from here, but it is going amazing,” Hood said.

While music festivals often bring in out-of-town acts, Hood performed Friday on his hometown beach in front of a crowd of familiar faces.

“I knew like everyone. It was so cool,” Hood said. “Everyone can click on their phone and listen to my music, but seeing it in person is a different type of feeling.”

After spending time with family and friends, Hood will be headed back to Los Angeles to finish his EP that should be out in three months.