Chris J. Norwood takes fellow musician Emmeline on the journey of his song "Good Guy With A Gun"

PODCAST INTERVIEW


"'How do you stop a good guy with a gun?' This poignant question concludes the chorus of Chris J. Norwood’s brand new single." I'm loving the latest episode of the Journey Of A Song podcast with host Emmeline discussing "Good Guy With A Gun" from Chris' just-released new album 𝘐 𝘈𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭 on State Fair Records. The two “talk about telling one's story through music, how songs can give each of us better perspective and deeper empathy, and how music has the potential to start important social conversations."

American Songwriter goes deep with J Hacha De Zola, breaking down the process and vision behind new LP Easy of Eden

FEATURE


“J Hacha De Zola is mostly self-deprecating when it comes to his art, but there’s a methodical movement to his musical madness," writes Tina Benitez-Eves, doing an incredible thing at American Songwriter and digging deep for this overview.

I’ve worked with J for a long time, and it's one of those situations where I have the privilege of seeing an artist create a persona and then systematically step into it over time. This piece reflects that back to me… love it! Okay, back to the hype: 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 is out now. Listen to it over and over and over at Fanatic.lnk.to/JHachaDeZola-EastOfEden. 

According to Ghettoblaster, J Hacha De Zola's "Sad Song" is "a love song that has no comparison in its majesty." Damn!

FEATURE


J Hacha De Zola’s fifth album East Of Eden is out now and receiving lots of love because it's lovely. Ghettoblaster has been going deep, interviewing De Zola and naming the deep cut "Sad Song” - a deep song itself - as one of the "The Best Songs This Year (So Far)," saying, “It’s a love song that has no comparison in its majesty." Well, damn!

J Hacha De Zola bares his soul in a far-reaching interview with Ghettoblaster

INTERVIEW


In a far-reaching interview, J Hacha De Zola tells Ghettoblaster about a grip of heady topics including growing up as the son of immigrants, his early love for Afro-Cuban music, and how he’s always striving to create something unique with his music. He’s succeeded on 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 (out now via Caballo Negro), which, as Ghettoblaster notes, is a vivid expansion of his “urban junkyard” aesthetic.

Central Track talks to Abbreviations about their debut single and future plans

INTERVIEW

The debut single from Abbreviations is out now via Red Zeppelin Records. Dallas’ Central Track has interviewed to the dreamy, spaced-out band comprised of North Texas scene veterans about how they came together and what they’ve got planned - including a show presented by The Doublewide on July 30 with label mates God of Love and Bayleigh Cheek.

Alex Green speaks with J Hacha de Zola, who can turn "scrap" to "pure gold"

PODCAST INTERVIEW


Proud as hell today of Mr. J Hacha de Zola upon the release of his fifth album East of Eden, a big 'ol artistic and stylistic leap forward for this Jersey City boy. He recently discussed the new record with Alex Green, host of the Stereo Embers Podcast, which is itself becoming one of the essential interviews for emerging and career artists.

Green likens De Zola to “a feral blend of David Johansen, Screaming Lord Sutch, and Nick Cave” and writes that “he knows how to take rusty horns, scrap metal saxophones, guttered guitars and battered drums and turn them into pure gold. East of Eden is an aching collection of dark and dreamy doo-wop, street soul, and urban R&B. It’s J Hacha De Zola in his most unvarnished and purest iteration."

Check out the podcast and then check out the album.

The Morning Call appreciates Mark Bryan's "rootsy, unpretentious quality"

REVIEW


In a recent review as park of a “best new music” roundup, The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania wrote that Midlife Priceless “suggests Bryan brings more to [Hootie & the Blowfish] than appearances suggest. Bryan’s solo songs have a bit poppier feel than Hootie & the Blowfish, but there’s still a rootsy, unpretentious quality to these songs.”

Adam's World engages J Hacha De Zola, whose East of Eden arrives next month, in a charming chat

INTERVIEW


Another great chat to chat about! J Hacha De Zola and Adam Bernard recently met on Zoom to open a pack of ProSet MusiCards and talk about the great artists therein, from Tina Turner (“at the top of the list… a force of nature”) to MC Hammer (Spoiler alert: yes, J did once own parachute pants), and how each relates to De Zola’s musical upbringing.

J Hacha De Zola’s new album, East of Eden, is out on June 11 and lead single "Lost Space" can be heard everywhere here.

J Hacha De Zola appears on the Enter The Shell podcast

INTERVIEW
Before the latest single from J Hacha De Zola’s new album 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 drops tomorrow, take a listen to his recent appearance on the “What The Music?!” podcast from Enter The Shell.

De Zola’s Greatest Hits is available now. His new album, East of Eden, is out on June 11 and lead single "Lost Space" can be heard everywhere here.

NJ Digest conducts a long, illuminative interview with J Hacha De Zola

INTERVIEW


New Jersey Digest has a long and illuminative interview with J Hacha De Zola, who is prepping for the release of East of Eden next month while concurrently promoting his recent Greatest Hits package (on all DSPs now, alongside East of Eden advance single “Lost Space”).

According to the site’s Amaris Pollinger, that collection is “proof of his polished sheen of genius,” while the forthcoming LP is his “masterpiece (so far).” Enjoy their conversation, which delves deep into the origins and evolutions of De Zola’s persona and sound.

J Hacha De Zola's "Strange" is "Song of the Day" at Eat Sleep Breathe Music

FEATURE


J Hacha De Zola’s “Strange” - available now on his recently-released Greatest Hits package - is today’s “Song Of The Day” at Eat Sleep Breathe Music. “This song paints a vivid visual for the listener,” the site contends, predicting that “you will get swept up with its woozy instrumentation and alluringly curious lyrics.”

De Zola’s newest single “Lost Space” will be streaming everywhere tomorrow, and the all new East of Eden LP arrives June 11.