10 years ago, the world of dance music gave rise to a talent wrapped in mysterious and melancholic productions. He would go by the nickname ZHU and, as a true testament to his electronic prowess, he quickly earned a Grammy nomination with his chart-topping debut single, “Faded.”
Over the decade, the San Francisco native honed his sound, starting with 2016's elemental tones. Generation why to the forward-thinking soundscapes to be found in 2021 Dreamland. Through star-studded collaborations and synths, he advanced his craft, with the future always at the center of his goal.
However, for his next project, ZHU returned to the city by the bay in hopes of gaining inspiration through introspection. And so, with his feet back on San Francisco soil, he took advantage of his past, manifesting a set of melancholic melodies collectively baptized as FUNNY.
Born in the hallowed halls of the city's famed Grace Cathedral, the aptly titled album reveals ZHU's pilgrimage from darkness to light. A departure from the past she's ready for the dance floor, FUNNY It forces us to enter the mind of the virtuous producer and follow his crusade.
The Nob Hill sanctuary where all 21 tracks were recorded unearthed a variety of emotions from ZHU, resulting in a vulnerable effort. Themes such as confusion, anguish, longing and insecurity can be found throughout the two-disc album.
Sonically, FUNNY is cohesive and stays the course with bass and synth productions combined with ZHU's signature breathy, sultry vocals. However, the contemplative journey takes surprising detours along the way, playing with different elements from across the musical spectrum.
On “Praise,” for example, guitar stings play as BANKS serenades us in an unexpectedly fiery rap alongside ZHU and bludnymph. Hip-hop beats can also be found on “Devil's Prescription” and “Blind Believer” (featuring Rea Cragun and Rexx Life Raj).
Gritty, industrial productions embrace each other on “Rolling” (featuring The Bloody Beetroots) and “Days Before Grace.” Meanwhile, rock-inspired features are prominently displayed on “Villain,” “Love Is Strong,” and “Thrill Again” (featuring UPSAHL).
However, the best use of these hidden genres is found on “Dragonfruit”, where ZHU teams up with Emotional Oranges to create a passionate piano-driven gem. Here we find a surprisingly delicious exploration of drum & bass over seductive lyrics.
The final highlight in FUNNY is his latest single, “Settle For Less,” featuring Sabrina Claudio. Beginning with a series of haunting keys over Claudio's smooth vocals, the cut crashes into a surge of rhythmic percussion as ZHU's notes join in midway. Then, the album is sealed with a kiss while a sensual saxophone bids us farewell.
ZHU's excursion back to his hometown resulted in nearly two dozen tracks united by dark tones and minimalist melodies. A compelling departure from his previous projects, FUNNY is an artistic endeavor that ZHU needed to undertake as he immersed himself in a spiritual realm surrounded by the stained glass windows and marble columns of Grace Cathedral.
Listen to the full album below and find it on streaming platforms here.
Follow ZHU:
Facebook: facebook.com/zhu
X: x.com/zhumusic
Instagram: instagram.com/zhu
Spotify: spoti.fi/391vjDR
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