Genre wise an eclectic mixed bag, Zapho draws from pop, alternative, soul, and indie influences, creating a unique sound that is truly her own. Infectious hooks, driving beats, rich electro soundscapes all wrapped up in her memorable alt-pop sound, she is an artist that has been noticeably impressing the industry since her launch in 2019. A long awaited debut album, the time is right for Zapho to release this 10 track collection to the world, set to feature collaborations with fellow artists Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Decarteret and producer Steven McCann aka Rvstless. Zapho effortlessly infuses LGBT+ themes, female-focused narratives, that cross genres and push musical boundaries, with catchy melodies that feel familiar, yet totally new. With past experiences acting as tour support for Cathy Davey, as well as playing in her band, Zapho was awarded First Music Contact recording stimulus and the Arts Council Agility Award in 2021 in order to pursue releasing her debut album. This artist is about to embark on a truly exciting time, sharing this body of work that has been compiled of coming-of-age experiences and heralding the establishment of her own voice and identity.
Sylvan Esso - Coffee
I was told I was going to this gig in the Workmans on the quays. I never heard of this new American band, I was told to have a listen to their track coffee as a reference to see if I would dig their sound. I had very little idea of what I was walking into. I was drawn in by this song particularly, by the vocal and the styles of production and the unusual lyric and style of storytelling. I quickly became obsessed with their music, as did the rest of the world. The next time I saw them was at a massive concert in Central Park in NY. They have blown up since and rightly so. They set the bar to which I aspire to reach.
Nick Drake - River Man
This was the first song I ever musically analyzed in college. I had never listened to a song with the intention of breaking down exactly how it was made, I just enjoyed it in blissful ignorance . In my first year, my lecturer Colm said to the class to close your eyes, lie down on the floor and listen to every sound created, every instrument, the vocals, the lyric interpretation, the essence of camaraderie between each sound, weaving and flowing around as one but all separate. It's now how I listen to everything, in a way it's a curse because I always feel the need to understand the music, or why it is the way it is, as opposed to just being a music fan listening for pleasure. It's super rare a song catches me off guard where I'm totally lost in it without trying to understand it.
Korn - Freak on a Leash
My eldest brother Andrew was a massive mental head. Strictly speaking I find some mental music hard to connect with because of aggression and scream vocals. However Korn showed me that you can bring in many styles into a genre, the music is heavy but so hefty and hook filled. His vocals combine elements of pop, hip hop, rock all based around metal instrumental elements and there is some great musicality in there. The structure and production style as well make that kind of metal music accessible to a more mainstream audience. Big fan, helped me perhaps engage with the darker elements that are in my music.
Feist - Musahaboom
I went through a major phase of being obsessed with female singer-songwriters, the Regina Spektor’s or Kate Nash’s or Ingrid Michaleson's of the world. I came across this song by Feist. I think I tried to copy her or emulate elements of her writing style. I saw her music in films and on ads, and that's what I was always chasing. I just wanted to hear my music in like Grey’s Anatomy or something. Mushaboom is a perfect radio friendly synch friendly track. This type of music helped to get me in a business headspace as to understanding what is commercial and how to make music that had those elements.
Burt Bacharach - Look of Love - sung by Dusty Springfield.
One of the sexiest love songs sung by goddess Dusty S. I was always a huge fan of Burt Bacharach and Hal Davis. Both genius songwriters and producers that have written some of the best pop and love ballads i’ve ever heard. Honest songwriting, great music integrity, timeless gold.
Laura Marling - I was just a card
I saw her perform this track in Vicar St when I was 20. I stood right at her feet as she played this brand new unreleased song to her adoring audience. It was new to the world, but as I was listening to it, I felt like I already knew it, that this song was somehow my journey. I have never felt so much emotion or musical and melodic satisfaction. She had a massive amazing band, with a lot of dynamics. In that moment, her performance and connection of this song showed me how music can literally transform your life and inspire you to create that connection in your own music, with your own audience. I want a 20 year old staring up at me as I sing my heart out thinking the same thing.
Erykah Badu - Other Side of the Game
I remember hearing this song and being obsessed from the get go, I learned the bassline and couldn't stop playing it along with that soulful vocal. She was one of my intros into soul, r&b and groove based music. Erykah’s lyrics and metaphors throughout would always play like a story so clearly in my mind. I would say, for the new Zapho sound, Erykah would be a huge inspiration for the soul or r&b elements of my music being sparked off with her influence. She manages to capture such an array of emotion or slickness with her voice.
Jon Brion - Piano Two
This is a song I heard in a really weird and bizarrely brilliant movie called Synecdoche New York. The whole movie was abstract and hard to follow as the concepts were deeply philosophical and multilayered. Piano Two is a short piece of music that is just piano and a very light electronic synth beep arpeggiator. I was moved to tears listening to the chord progression, it felt very painful to listen to, and with the juxtaposing image on screen I felt such sorrow and connected to the synths, they sounded like sad robots crying, on a base of natural piano, its really minimal but so effective.
Doctor Hook - When You’re in love with a Beautiful Woman
I always loved this song, it's probably one of the only songs my dad showed me that i actually liked. We have very different music tastes. I love it even more because now I actually do love beautiful women and that song always crept into my mind years later. It's super good craic, the music and groove and play with concept and lyrics are engaging and i remembering them to this day.
Disclosure/ Flume - You and Me Remix
This song is just so epic, the music video is pretty hot as well. Disclosure and Flume both equally inspire me as they were some of the first electronic producer based artists that started making phat bangers that caught my attention and that of the world. I feel like they brought that style of music into the mainstream, using so many amazing collaborators on the topline. I saw both Flume and Disclosure live, and I watched how their music had the ability to make people dance and go crazy and feel sexy. Really amazing hooks and sometimes super simple beats and grooves.