Retronaut Jukebox: ZIG MENTALITY
Retronaut Jukebox is back. Here is our seventeenth installment!!
As you know, we feature cool songs from the past and the present.
This month we feature Angel City, Radkey, Liar, Sweet Fever, Off Broadway, Leprous and more!!
For our latest feature, we feature the tremendous ZIG MENTALITY, so read along to learn more about them and hear their tune, “Best Direction”.
I've gotta admit that I've been wanting to feature Zig for a while and I'm glad that I finally have because this band is too good not to share.
I remember first hearing about them from seeing numerous friends sharing their EP, "THE SESH" when it was first released. I made time to listen to it and I remember hearing it and liking it, but after I saw a Ready the Prince livestream where Steve covered "Stoned Love" on piano, I knew that I had to give THE SESH another listen.
When I did, I was blown away, because every song on that EP is so good for so many different reasons. I love that EP because it made me love every song. I feel that it's rare that EP/album releases are this good because a lot of times, I think that it's more common for people to like a certain song instead of the whole EP...but this isn't the case with Zig at all. With them, you'll hear one song and you need to hear more because it's just so good.
I'm actually supposed to be writing this feature about "Best Direction"...so I apologize for going off topic, but I wanted to document my journey of finding and getting into Zig.
Let me start by saying that the new era has begun, and "Best Direction" is the first single from Zig for it. I remember the first day I heard it, and I wasn't sure what to expect, but I know I was excited to hear new Zig after listening to THE SESH so many times. I couldn't wait to hear more from them.
The morning of November 20th, I woke up and "Best Direction" was the first song I listened to. It is amazing. It's bombastic. The story behind this song is amazing because they were signed to a record label and the label refused to release their album. Instead of getting discouraged, these guys did this. They took the money from that record deal and built their own studio, so they could do it their way. Nobody telling them what they don't like about what they're doing.
I think that that's amazing because there are numerous artists signed to major labels putting out average music, while these guys are recording music in their basement and it's better than any of the music the industry is trying to make popular. This is because Zig isn't mindless. If you think about it, they're taking their experiences and inspiring others. If you listen carefully to the lyrics, it shows that you can do it too. Forget about trying to get signed, take a DIY approach instead. It’s a harder road, but it’s worth it to know that you didn’t have to rely on someone else to make you successful. Your efforts are what made you successful.
Lyrically, this song talks about the pros and cons of being signed to record label and how this has led them to their new direction. Anyone can be upset about things not working out with a record label, but this is not the first time this has happened. ZIG MENTALITY wouldn't be who they are if a producer told them what to do and tried to change who they are. The reason that Zig is great is because they are themselves.
Everyone should take note of what these guys have done, because if you want to be creative and have something that is truly yours without anyone's criticism causing it to change, then you to need to do it yourself.
The reason why great things become subpar is because of the people who think that something is too different, and this input makes us question if what we're doing is going to be liked. People have to remember that they are the ones creating, and not everyone is going to like what you're doing. As long as you feel that you're creating something that is original, that's what matters.
People will always have something to say, so don't let those people change who you are. If you have an idea, go with it. Stop worrying about what they think, and start focusing on what you think.
Zig wasn't afraid to create something that is 100% them, and as a result, they're one of the best bands ever.
Listen Here: Retronaut Jukebox