Need a new song to electrify your Halloween spirit? Zanilonia have the fresh release you’re looking for, dropping their latest single Close To The Bone in the last few days of September – and, believe us, this spooky pop/rock track is truly one you can’t miss out on.
Close To The Bone captures sounds like pick ‘n’ mix candy in your pumpkin pail: machine beats setting a steady groove for Zanilonia’s basslines to creep and crawl over, like a spider plucking about its silver web. Gothic pianos line the mood, their intermittent melodies like drizzling rain across the band’s dark and eclectic soundscape.
A Ghostbusters-style synth fleshes out the brewing witchery, horror, and suspense, topped by natural vocals carrying a catchy chorus hook that’ll stick in your brain all day. Janky rhythms and haunting tones comparable to a cursed 90s video game soundtrack invite a stunningly experimental feel, each sitting perfectly flush within Zanilonia’s eccentric Halloween context.
But what is the song about? According to Zanilonia’s founder and songwriter, David Zee, it follows a “relationship that started out well but went badly” – a supposedly generic topic, yet David’s interpretation is practically incomparable to any we’ve heard before. It all comes down to his backstory and brave refusal to appeal to the masses.
Like many lifelong musicians, David Zee has worn many hats over the years – recording under multiple names, collaborating widely, and chasing the elusive dream of “making it.” But these days, he’s found something far more rewarding. Through his current project, Zanilonia, David has embraced the freedom of modern digital music-making, focusing purely on creativity and connection. “I have decided in my ‘later years’ to not worry about marketing, bands, releases, deadlines, and all that,” he shares. “This music is a labor of love for me.”
It’s a refreshing perspective that radiates through his work. In an era where technology has leveled the playing field, David sees his continued passion not as a second act but as proof that music truly belongs to anyone who loves creating it. After decades of writing and recording, he’s still having fun, and he’s not planning to stop anytime soon.
Our verdict: Recommended
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BELOW: Listen to Zanilonia and check out their music on Apple Music, Deezer, Soundcloud, Spotify, YouTube and more. Please support Zanilonia by visiting their website and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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