zaza says...

Brooklyn duo Zaza are Jennifer Fraser and Danny Taylor. Emanating from the indie psychedelic shoegaze scene humming out of Williamsburg at the moment, their sound adds something more mystical and ethereal to the mix. Kluster’s Sacha Vukic spoke with Jennifer Fraser about New York, making music, and acts of fate.

Covered: pyschedelia, inspiration, David Byrne, the EP, the name, touring. 

Sacha Vukic: You are based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. What’s this we hear about an indie pop psychedelic shoegaze scene emerging outta there?

Jennifer Fraser: I definitely agree that there’s something psychedelic happening within our midst. I don’t have a name for it and I don’t think that any of those applications are perfect, but yes. Something wicked this way comes.

There’s Amazing Baby, MGMT, Chairlift, Grizzly Bear - all these bands with beautiful sonics, interesting compositions. Everyone brings something extraordinary right now. That’s why I think it’s so hard to classify, but yes, we’re in good company.

SV: Are you at all influenced and inspired by one another?

JF: No, not so much. I don’t think that at all. I think we all have the same influences from the past I think that there’s an energy that generates through all of the bands, like a sense of support and a sense of healthy competition. But no, I think New York consists of so much inspiration in everyday life that it comes from everywhere.

SV: What do you think about making music and being creative in New York City? It’s so intense – do you think it helps or hinders the creative process?

JF: It’s so electric here. I mean you can just feel it. It’s just palpable, but it is really hard to designate your time. My life is completely devoted to Zaza and Danny and writing and I always make time to go and see other bands, witness art.

There’s just amazing things. David Byrne, just a few months ago, had this installation, where he made a whole room an instrument making industrial sounds, attached to an organ. It sounds strange, but there’s just always art to see, there’s always productions here, amazing food, always something to do. Yes, you can get lost in it, but you need to have a good balance.

SV: Did the city itself influence the Cameo EP?

JF: I think the isolation of New York winter did, I think the isolation of New York winter was when we started writing together, Danny and myself. We conveyed a sense of isolation and cold and darkness. We were watching a lot of vampire movies and listening to a lot French Pop at the time. And ummm that’s what came out.

SV: You guys are originally from the west coast, what originally drew you to New York?

JF: What didn’t draw me to New York City. I had been here many times when I was touring with the band The Warlocks and every time I came here it was completely extraordinary and completely magical. Everything I’ve ever wanted. So when I felt I had no other choice and I bought a one-way ticket here.

SV: So, according to your bio you and Danny were connected by fate. Tell us about that.

JF: It’s as simple as we both met somewhere, and we both knew we would become important, so we both drove our arses out into the middle of Brooklyn and yeah, spent a winter behind doors.

SV: Right, and each song on the EP was made for one another?

JF: I would say that, everything I produce is in his honour.

SV: The bio alludes to the EP being quite personal…

JF: Every song is about each other. Actually, the EP is the bio!

SV: So how do you both contribute to the music?

JF: Everything is 50/50 I guess that’s all I can say. It’s very intricate. You know all of his strengths are my weaknesses and vice versa. It’s disastrous when we are left to our own devices. However, together … I think it sounds pretty lovely.

SV: What does Zaza mean or represent, if anything?

JF: Yeah, it represents everything and nothing at all, actually. It’s just a word that’s meant to have many meanings, but it’s just a word to denote shadows and mystery and the feeling that there’s one person who understands everything. Like you are in on the secret, that’s what Zaza means.

SV: Are you planning any tours through Australia?

JF: Yeah, well we’re hoping as soon as possible. At the turn of the year we’re hoping to be out there.

zaza