ALT-POP ARTIST ZELLEN RETURNS WITH DOOMSDAY LULLABY ‘DOWN AT THE SHADY’
Alt-pop artist/producer Zellen (AKALiesl Pieterse) returns with nostalgic, pop-infused, doomsday lullaby 'Down at the Shady' - the first single from her forthcoming EP, set for release in 2022.
'Down at The Shady' is a pivot from the electro-pop style of Zellen's earlier releases towards a sonic landscape inhabited by lilting piano, tremolo soaked guitars, woozy horns, strings and synthesisers.
Lyrically, the track sets the scene in a downtown dive bar, where a bartender dolls out advice to broken souls disenchanted with a crumbling world. Here, tales of late-night abandon, heartache and political exasperation confound with a sense of romance, adventure and optimism not yet entirely lost. Somewhere in the ruins of a society on the verge of collapse, Zellen's tender yet brazen lyrics capture both heartbreak and hope in a single cocktail - ‘the truth is that the world is dying, it just matters if you’re trying’.
The songwriting process for 'Down at the Shady' was largely improvised, initially without a particular experience or topic in mind. Sitting at her piano, the words for the track flowed out organically and, as Zellen reflectively remarks, resonated with her immediately:
"The lyrics weren't a far stretch from my reality at the time of writing. I was working at my friend's bar - 'The Shady Lady', contemplating the bartender-patron relationship. In the song I wanted to explore this unique kind of intimacy - as a bartender, you take on the role of confidant, lending an ear to people's stories, fears and desires.”
Penned in early 2020, when Melbourne's art scene was yet to experience the devastating impact of the pandemic, in its place, a plethora of separate issues were at the forefront of political discourse. The unrest resulted in a swelling societal outrage, particularly from the arts community, inspiring the lyrics and sense of sonic urgency that 'Down at the Shady' embodies. Zellen continues:
"Upon writing the track, The federal government had just axed the 'Department of the Arts', sending a message to artists that said 'we don't value you!'. There was smoke in the air from the devastating Black Summer bushfires in Victoria, where musicians, artists and bars were some of the first communities to assist fundraising efforts.” The government's inaction on climate change just added to the blow. I could feel the despair amongst my friends, and The Shady was a haven where community and Pina Coladas offered some temporary respite amongst the chaos."
In between Melbourne's turbulent lockdowns, the bones of the track were laid down by Zellen, along with musicians Holly Thomas (drums), Tim Baker (guitar) and Alex O'Gorman (bass) from Alex's treetop studio in the Victorian countryside. World-renowned composer (and Zellen’s old friend) Chris Williams (Sydney Theatre Company, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, The Song Company) worked on the orchestral arrangements from London, Zooming in for the brass recording session in Melbourne. On collaborating with Chris Williams:
"When 'Down at the Shady' was beginning to take form, I knew I wanted to collaborate with Chris Williams to arrange the orchestral elements. I sent him a rough demo, musical references and a few abstract adjectives, and he speedily came back with a musical sketch so wonderfully disarming and perfect my heart pretty much exploded."
Designed to be listened to as street lights flicker and the night begins to call your name, 'Down at the Shady' is the first of a collection of existential anthems offering a sense of starry-eyed respite from a world in turmoil. In Zellen's own words: "We're all here so briefly, might as well love and live with abandon."
ZELLEN SOCIALS:
