Zoe’s Shanghai - Lava Love (Album) + 10 Questions

‘Lava Love’ was recorded in an old stable in the French region of Auvergne - known for its mountain ranges and dormant volcanoes, this region could not have been a more apt setting.

Lava and love portray in fact a dynamic flow of memory and meaning pouring out of Zoe’s Shanghai’s heart. In and out of the metaphor, Lava and love can be powerful, frightening, beautiful, dangerous and at the same time are essential elements that create fertile change and growth.

Through the 11 songs, the band evoke memories and pose questions - inner dialogues, life stories, encounters and relationships - ‘Lava Love’ depicts a kaleidoscope of moods and feelings, prompting the listener to open to the conversation: while each song presents a microcosm on its own, the album manifests itself in the shared musical experience - immersive music to listen to and enjoy with your loved ones.

Produced with Oli Barton-Wood (Nubiyan Twist, Joe Armon-Jones, Nilufer Yanya), the sound of ‘Lava Love’ brings together hypnotic melodies, groovy rhythms and thoughtful lyrics - fusing the essence of multiple music styles and forging Zoe’s Shanghai unique contemporary soul.

Zoe’s Shanghai sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

Both my parents expressed their passion for music in different ways. My dad collects vinyls and my mother loves dancing, singing and having it around so my brother and I have been enjoying it together thanks to them since we met.

My dad would often make us cassettes like this one (K7 in French is read like “cassette”) my brother and I were 1 and 4:

The playlist of this K7 is an example of how diverse the variety of music I grew up with would be:
La India - Ese Hombre
Dario Moreno - Quand elle danse
Gloria Estefan - Mi Tierra
Edgar Nibul - Mouvement d’avion
Stellio - Oue Oue Oue Oue
Young Tiger - Calypso Be
Buckshot LeFonque - I Know why the caged bird sings
Ray Barretto - Happy Birthday
Willie Colón y Hector Lavoe - Ah Ah O No
Markita y Celia Cruz - Mi Tierra
Vincent Malone - Indiana Jones
Gigli - Mamma, Mamma
Björk - It’s oh so quiet
Shaggy - Bombastic

Cachao - El son no ha muerto

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Amore

Buena Vista Social Club feat. Eliades Ochoa - Macusa

Goran Bregović - Cajesukarije Cocek

Abbey Lincoln - First Song

That’s why when I’m asked to define the band’s music style, i find it so hard ! We really just go deep into music that’s moving.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

We’re living very exciting times in terms of music. We have access to everything that has been recorded until today, plus all the sick tunes that are getting released on a daily basis. The London scene is bubbling with talent and going beyond genres, which is genuinely inspiring, because in the band we just want to listen to and play music we vibe with, beyond genres and dismantling boxes. Alfa Mist, Mansur Brown, Maxwell Owin, Puma Blue, Kokoroko, Oscar Jerome, Yussef Dayes etc. are big inspirations, with whom we’d love to work with for sure! We really like what’s happening on the Melbourne scene too, with Hiatus Kaiyote, 30/70 and Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange.
We’re also really influenced by our jazz classics, Cuban trova, Congolese soukous and I have to say it - so much more!

3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing the music during the corona virus pandemic?

We’re spread across Paris and Barcelona, so the travel restrictions have been problematic. But we were lucky to have Lava Love (our new LP) keeping us warm and busy with long hours of post-production and mixing. We’re so lucky to live at the age of the Internet. We were able to stay connected and keep working in the same direction to create this LP we’re very proud of. It helped to keep us good crazy through these crazy times.

4. How would you describe your sound?

Hmmm it’s multi-faceted, we strive to incorporate everything we love about music in there. We don’t deny ourselves as long as it feels right. We work to oscillate between temperatures and try to expand spectrums. I hope it can’t be pinned down to one genre, but we always want soul in what we do. It allows us to always relate to the songs, to be touched by them and that doesn’t go away.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

Having my mum listening to her favourite French radio FIP, as she does everyday and hearing our music getting played. She texts/calls me every time she hears it. I think that for her, having her daughter’s music played amongst really cool and relevant tracks is very special.
There would probably be other moments, but the intimacy of this makes it stronger.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

I don’t know if I’m the best for advice but I’d say have fun. Music is a sanctuary, a place to express yourself, play, make mistakes, explore and share (if you feel like it). If you’re having fun and putting love into it, then there will always be people to vibe you. I’d also say try to collaborate as much as you can, I’m saying this to myself as well :)

7. Are there any artists on your radar at the moment that we should check out?

Mansur Brown for sure! Also, Tirzah, Bonnie Banane (first contemporary French artist whose music I really vibe with). Then, he’s not recent but I’ve been listening to a lot of Camarón de la Isla lately, check out his live performances.

And lastly, Hendrix Harris, my brother, who’s releasing an EP in a few weeks. Only banger tracks <3

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Bossa Negra by Elsa Soares

Shiroi by Mansur Brown
Undercurrent by Bill Evans and Jim Hall
I Want You by Marvin Gaye

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I got answers from Emerik, Alex and Landy for this.
Landy (drums, sound and mixing engineer): Chill while observing nature, in a nice spot. Meditate and cook.
Alex (bass): Play tennis and padel
Emerik (keyboards): Yoga and bouldering
Zoé (guitar, vocals): Look at images in cookbooks, source good quality and ethically grown local produce and cook for my partner and our friends. Try growing plants and customising my clothes with my craft club called TEC Tissue Evolution Club.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

Landy: drum kit, my “hey dude” shoes (they feel extremely comfortable and help to keep that kick pulsing tighter than the click) and my Nuraphone headphones.
Alex: My bass, my pedalboard and a warm coffee
Emerik: a Rhodes keyboard, a Strymon Big Sky pedal and the RC-20 plugin

Zoé: Bananas, curiosity and focus (I struggle with focusing for a long period of time, but in the studio I’m not too bad at it)