We first heard from Zeela way back in December of 2020. At the peak of the pandemic he released the quarantine inspired Holiday song, “Christmas on FaceTime.” That track introduced readers of The Static Dive to Jay September, a multi-talented singer, songwriter and producer with a knack for creating catchy and relatable genre-bending Pop songs.
German-born and Swiss-raised, Zeela is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who has toured the world as a drummer, DJ and producer for a diverse list of artists. He has worked in a broad range of styles from Hip-hop to Metal, Pop, Punk and EDM. In 2019 he went solo with the single “You” and introduced a wildly creative sound that blends keen Pop sensibilities with Hip-hop funk, R&B soul and the sophistication of Jazz.
Since that debut Zeela has released a string of successful singles. With songs like 2021’s “Run Boy” he further refined his vibe. His songs deal with deeply personal perspectives on life, love, family and mental health. A skilled songwriter, Zeela pairs emotional and relatable narratives with inescapably danceable grooves.
“Journey” is the brand new debut EP from Zeela, released worldwide to all major streaming services on April 7, 2022. The seven song collection is born of that now clearly defined smart Indie Pop the prolific producer has created. The record is a soulful and funky mix of memorable hooks, infectious grooves and deceptively sophisticated musical arrangements.
From the 90’s R&B vibes and adventurous electronic experimentation of “SEXYMAD” to the Electro-Pop escapism of “WAKING DREAM,” we join Zeela on a personal journey of introspection, self discovery and interpersonal drama. Although the subject matter can be heady, the songwriter sets these intimate tales to a soundtrack of Pop bops and club bangers.
On tracks like “MYNAME” and “VICTORIES” Zeela is confident and self assured as he sings and raps about stepping out of the shadow of a parental forgive and seeing his name in lights. “ONE TOO MANY” takes the party to the dance floor with a Disco-infused ode to the virtues of excess. However, as is always the case with Zeela’s songs, there is more to the story than a simple party jam.
“SELF LOVE” is a nuanced examination of self doubt and reassurance. Musically the track gradually evolves from a psychedelic slow jam to a jazzy EDM jam. On “COLD FLAME.” Zeela offers an R&B/Dark Pop breakup song colored by an intricate mix of percussive electronic arpeggios, strings, lush vocal harmonies and high falsetto runs. The record closes on the synthy retro-Pop introspection of the smart and funky “WAKING DREAM.”
“JOURNEY” is a smart, sophisticated and infinitely fun collection. Check it out below or listen on your favorite streaming service. You can also hear the song “ONE TOO MANY” on the Deep Indie Dive playlist. Follow the links below to connect with Zeela. Get on his socials and get in the loop on all of the music to come from this deeply talented artist.
