As an autodidact, Zilla grew up playing various acoustic instruments, eventually performing and touring throughout East African villages. In 2019, he released his first EP, From the Cave to the World, via Hakuna Kulala, immediately confirming that his pivot into electronic music was a smart move. In early 2020, he and Elvin Brandhi released the album Headroof by their collaborative project Villaelvin, instantly landing him a spot on DJ Mag's »artists to watch« for that year.

While Don Zilla's frenetic productions take a life of their own on dancefloors in Kampala and the rest of the world, Don Zilla keeps busy not just on the creative side, but also as a manager at Boutiq Studio, a key pillar in the thriving regional music scene where many Nyege Nyege acts record.