Dublin electronic artist ZOiD has released his new album, ZONGS. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
ZOiD's latest track, Looking in the Rain, is a collaboration with Polish vocalist/producer Dorota Konchevska.
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ZOiD met Dorota when he was teaching jazz at Newpark Academy of Music in the late 2000s while Dorota was a student there. Hitting it off as they both had interests in jazz and electronic music, they started a collaborative process that resulted in a critically well-received EP, released in 2019 ZOiD Vs Dorota Konchevska.
For their ZONGS collaboration, Dorota was based in Poland and they worked remotely, sending files back and forth. The track draws strong influences from house music, jazz, and classic songwriting. Dorota is releasing the first single from her own solo album on February 18, Gold Goes Out.
"When I got the Dorota’s melody part back for Looking In The Rain I was blown away," says ZOiD. "I love the vibe and the lyrics. It’s always so fun collaborating like this, never knowing what’s going to come back when you send someone a track. Usually it’s a nice surprise!"
Tell us three things about yourself?
I'm an Irish Jew. There's not a lot of us! I try to do a 10-day silent vipassana meditation course once a year. Haven't had a chance in two years now with the pandemic, hopefully this year though. I have two mental border terriers called Twin and Aphex named after my favourite music person.
How would you describe your music?
There are two sides: one is the techno-influenced side for dancing to, the other is the jazz and songcraft side for listening to. They happen simultaneously though!
Who are your musical inspirations?
Aphex Twin, Charlie Parker, Burt Bacharach, Squarepusher, Miles Davis, Autechre, Jeff Mills, Lionel Richie, Bob Dylan, John Coltrane.
What was the first gig you ever went to and the first record you ever bought/downloaded?
The first gig I ever went to was Red Hot Chili Peppers at the SFX Hall in Dublin in 1992 when I was 12. There was probably only around 200 people there. I remember Henry Rollins was the support act and I didn't like his screaming into the mic, but when the Chilis came on it was great. I was there with two friends the same age as me, we stayed down the back, but people were sound and kept offering us to get up on their shoulders to get a better view, which we declined because we were too shy!
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The first time I bought records was around 1995, I went into town and came home with a bunch of techno records including an Adam Beyer double pack and maybe Slam’s Positive Education, and possibly an Advent record. Still have them! Pretty good for first time buys :)
What’s your favourite song right now?
My favourite song right now is I Put A Spell On You, the original Screamin' Jay Hawkins version. Holy moly!!
Favourite lyric of all time?
"Beetles, under my carpet, under my feet. They come out in the heat" - Beetles by Aphex Twin.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Produk 29 [101] from SYRO by Aphex Twin. reckon I could still get a few hundred more plays out of that before I got bored.
Where can people find your music/more information?
