Jersey City songwriter details the use of his “reductive
synthesis” method of song production to achieve signature “Urban Junkyard”
sound.
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J Hacha De Zola as photographed by Robin Souma
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& SHARE
“Dangerously
delightful, whirling, and rhythmic,”
says The Big Takeover about “On A Saturday,” a deep cut from the
upcoming new J Hacha De Zola
full-length, Icaro Nouveau. The John
Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, Waxahatchee)-produced album arrives March 8th via the Caballo
Negro label.
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J Hacha De Zola – In The Press
“The kind of alluring character found in old
children’s books.” — UTNE
“A wild man in the vein of such fire breathing artists
like Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Captain Beefheart.” — Paste
“A large, spinning rock ‘n’ roll affair as enticing as
it is distant and strange.” — MAGNET
“Dangerously delightful, whirling, and rhythmic.” — The Big Takeover
“Bound to light the way forward and inspire a legion
of imitators.” — PopMatters
“A compelling all-over-the-map collision of jazz,
blues, show tunes, garage rock, and Latino flavors.” — BLURT
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J Hacha De Zola kicks off this
week’s episode of Break Thru Radio’s
“Spotlight On The City,” focusing on
Jersey City, NJ. Click
to hear the show and to check out another
advance track from Hacha De Zola’s
upcoming Icaro Nouveau.
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“This is an Urban Junkyard record.”
It’s a descriptor that J Hacha De Zola has been casually using over the course of three
album releases. With the upcoming full–length Icaro Nouveau (out March 8th), the Jersey
City–based musician defines the genre in detail.
Produced by iconic engineer John Agnello, a career–long cohort of another “J” – J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr, and most recently the man behind albums by Waxahatchee, the new Hacha De Zola songs are described by
the artist as full of “villains, spells, desires, romance, danger, redemption,
and revelations.”
He adds, “and a eulogy,” referring to “Ode
To Ralph Carney,” about the late, legendary saxophone sideman of Tom Waits (and many others), who served
not only as a player, but more importantly, as a spiritual guide for Hacha De Zola over the course of the
latter’s young career.
“My heart aches,” Hacha
De Zola says about the man he calls “Johnny Marinara” on the tune, directly
lifting Waits’ own nickname for Carney. The “Icaro” of the new album’s
title speaks to that aching; the word refers to “language taught through other
worldly sources intended to heal those who hear it.”
Indeed, Carney
was Hacha De Zola’s compatriot in
developing the Urban Junkyard sound that now has a life of its own on Icaro
Nouveau.
“He was an integral part of this sound. He was my
secret weapon,” Hacha De Zola says.
“His horns were ever–present, as was his input. Not having him around for Icaro
Nouveau was unsettling for me.”
Fortunately, Carney’s
spirit was still in the room, and helped Hacha
De Zola get in touch with his creativity in a new way, with greater depth.
More specifically, the “Nouveau” portion that completes the new album’s title.
“I’ve been developing my own new language, through the
elements that are most familiar to me,” Hacha
De Zola explains. “My neighborhood – ‘mi barrio’ – where I’m from, and the
diversity of cultures and vibes there.”
“Environment is everything,” he continues, “There’s
power in the intent behind words and in their delivery. You might not even
understand a certain language, but can get a sense of the intent when it’s
spoken.”
You can feel it in the Urban Junkyard.
J Hacha De Zola’s fourth full-length album Icaro Nouveau is
scheduled for release on March 8th,
2019. Hacha de Zola is available
for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom
at Fanatic for more information.
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“Syn
Illusión,” the current EP by J Hacha
De Zola, is out now via the Caballo
Negro label.
“J Hacha De Zola sings a song of unrequited love with ‘Syn Illusión’. As songs on the matter
go, this is one that’s bound to light the way forward and inspire a legion of
imitators.” — PopMatters | Check out J Hacha De Zola’s “Syn Illusión” at PopMatters
or via the links below!
[STREAM | MP3]: https://fanatic.lnk.to/JHachaDeZola-SynIllusion
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J Hacha De Zola
Icaro
Nouveau
(Caballo
Negro)
March 8th, 2019
Track Listing:
01. Anarchy
02. El Chucho (Hooko)
04. Juan Salchipapas
05. A Song For Her
06. Hollow Trees
07. A Fool's Moon
08. Ode To Ralph Carney (STREAM)
09. Super Squeaky
10. Hacha's Lament
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J Hacha De Zola
“Syn Illusión” EP
(Caballo
Negro)
Out Now
Track Listing:
02. Otro Lado
03. Lejos De Mi
04. El Mago Negro
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J Hacha De Zola Links
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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion
