Real Vibes with Zully

Getting to know a young artist that wants to share a different and unifying message.

One of my recent photoshoots was with the guys from The Oven Recording Co. here in Guadalajara. While being in their studio, they told me about a new artist that was currently recording with them, and how it would be great if I could make a shooting with him. That’s when the name of Zully was mentioned. I remembered that we already met before in another studio. And finally we had the chance to chat and listen to some of his tunes. Without hesitating, we made a schedule.

FA- How and when your interest in music began?

Zully- Music has always been an important part of my life. I had my first band when I was 12 years old. For a while, my interest was in American Football, but then I had an injury that unfortunately made me quit the sport. After that, I started focusing on a more artistic side of me. I made another happy punk band called Máquina 301. I also worked on musicals and as a production assistant at Universidad de Guadalajara. When the band split up, I decided to make a personal project and specially with all the freedom that it provides. As a stage actor, you are not representing your views. You are merely interpreting. That’s when Zully was born.

The initial idea was a 10 song compilation, but I made the decision of going with singles. It gives some advantages when it comes to timing, giving the people a chance to get immerse in every song separately. No rushing, no skipping to the next song like on a normal album.

FA- How do you define your sound?

Zully- Honestly I don’t like getting into genres. I prefer to focus on the message, rather than on the sound I decide to adopt for a specific song. But I like to maintain certain latin rhythms on every structure.

FA- I guess there was a path that led you to accomplish this. Who is your biggest inspiration?

Zully- Good question. A little difficult for me to answer because there’s a lot that inspires me. Although, when I’m composing a song and I have to make an important decision, I ask myself: What would John Mayer would do?

Besides him, I could mention some reggae bands, like Golden Ganga. I just love the transitions that they make in their songs. From full rock, drum & bass to the very essence of reggae and pop.

FA- When you are in the studio, and based on what I have heard of Zully, what’s your opinion on the controversial subject of digital vs analog?

Zully - I think they are complementary. But one of the merits that digital offers, is that now there are no excuses of not having an instrument physically. It democratizes the creation process. That’s why I admire so much Hip-Hop. It is simply founded on getting over any difficulties. At the beginning they didn’t have instruments, they just sampled songs as the base for transmitting a message. I would have to mention NWA, Wu-Tang Clan and Community as some influences. I also like Trap and Sugar-Trap.

FA- What’s the message you want to share?. What do you want to provoque with it?

Zully- I like to talk about reality from a social point of view. Catharsis experiences, moments of clairvoyance where everything changes, some raw and specific sentiments. I focus on the poetry on songs, play with rhymes, make something exotic and extravagant.

To fully embrace a different point of view from a positive way. I want people to feel identified, based on personal experiences. Grab by the hand to the person that will lend their ears for those 2 or more minutes.

FA- You give them/us some freedom to embrace and adopt your music to our daily life.

Zully- That’s what it’s all about. To give people the chance to find and create their own meaning for each song.

FA- How does this global situation affected you.

Zully - It became a bicolor. It was like someone changed the light on a stage to a more contrasted one, where new elements appear. For example, I would never imagined on making streams, but this situation led me there. It showed me another way to get closer to people.

I had a very cool experience on these platforms when we shared an online show with Caloncho.

The audience has been pretty good. It keeps growing every day, and so am I. I keep learning more about these tools so I can reach more and more people without risking anybody’s health.

FA- What’s the next plan for Zully when everything goes back to normal?

Zully- Hit the road. Specially on tourist spots, where you can find a mix of audiences from different places, cultures, etc. It could be a one man show. Maybe something acoustic or with the help of someone else, like a DJ, mixing on the background and creating some complementary sounds.