Dub Zoo release first post-COVID music in new single, 'Confusion'
Sunshine Coast Dub Journayists, Dub Zoo have finally released their latest single, ‘Confusion’ - their first music since 2019, with a whole stack load of material to come.
2020 took a wrecking ball to the plans of most artists, particularly touring bands, and DUB ZOO were not immune. Early last year the band was on a high after releasing their second live album and launching it with a huge run of festival appearances. The buzz at those shows suggested that 2020 was going to be DZ’s best year yet and in some ways, maybe it was, just not in the way they expected. With shows and tours cancelled the band decided it was time to hit the studio.
With Dub Zoo’s previous releases having both been live albums, given that a lot of the band’s approach is entwined with improvisation. However, with no live shows, Dub Zoo were forced to adapt, and a studio album evolved.
The project started out quite modestly, putting down a few tracks to feature guest vocalists. Featuring guests had always been a big part of the live shows. At their last festival showcase for example, DZ had eight different vocalists join them across four shows! The band’s original singer, Lizzie O’Keefe, had always taken the lead, appearing on the first two albums and at most of the live shows but none of these other guest singers or rappers had made it onto an album yet. The new recording project was an opportunity to make a more collaborative album and establish DUB ZOO as a ‘collective’ boasting some super talented artists.
Lizzie would still be a major part of the new material, a common thread featuring across most tracks on either vocals, theremin or both, but now she would be sharing the limelight with a few new co-conspirators. Graham Moes, lead singer for Brisbane band Fat Picnic takes lead vocal on a number of tracks, as does Ben Goldstein, front man for Sydney’s Hot Potato Band. Along with some other surprise guests, these collaborators bring a new element to a group who already covered a dynamic range of vibes.
From the psychedelic journeys of their previous work, DZ now take deep dive into their collective musical philosophies. With members from diverse musical backgrounds, the new material would best be described as ‘genre-bending’, some tracks leaning into the dub/reggae feels, which will keep fans of the style happy, while others skew more pop, hip-hop, ska and even disco. Gone are the 10min long explorations into progressive sci-fi inspired dance music of the first two albums (although I’m sure they’ll still be a big part of the live show) as the new songs take on a life of their own; more considered, punchier and carefully produced. But improvisation still plays a major part with most of the musicians hearing the tracks for the first time on the day they entered the studio to record!
The producers of the album, DZ’s guitarist Paddy Kiernan and bass player Brad Wenham, had stumbled onto a creative process which allowed them to capture the spontaneity of the band in a studio environment without losing the magic. In mid 2020, with lockdown prohibiting the full band from being in a room together, the guys were forced to pivot into a new approach. Luckily by that time the rhythm beds (drums, bass and guitar) for most songs were already recorded so each artist was invited into the studio separately, one at a time and given the space to explore ideas and new creative directions, whilst also adhering to social distancing requirements. The results were far more successful than anyone had anticipated and soon it was clear that DUB ZOO was in the process of a major musical reinvention.
The first single, Confusion features only the original core members of the band – Leon Tussie on drums, Brad Wenham on bass, Paddy Kiernan on guitar, Lee Hardisty on keys and the ethereal beauty of Lizzie O’Keefe on vocals (and theremin). The song speaks to the confusion of last year and the complexity of the human experience as we attempt to reconcile the beautiful intimate moments in our lives with the existential dread of facing our own mortality.
Mixed by Paulie B and mastered at Lion and Fox Studio in the US, Confusion is the first offering from the new incarnation of DUB ZOO and the beginning of a new era for the band.
‘Confusion’ is out now for your listening pleasure on all streaming services.