Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Zebedee
“Psych rock” could mean anything in today’s increasingly eclectic landscape, from the earlier sounds of the British invasion to the later developments of prog rock and heavy metal. Often, it means everything and nothing, resigned to spaces that use similarly ambiguous labels like “post-punk”. On the contrary, Zebedee emerges like a fiery flame of confidence, its psychedelic rock associations brimming from a cauldron of know-how rather than peering from the depths of a band confused by what it has to offer.
The band earned the descriptor for various reasons, including their ability to deliver fast-pumping rhythmic rock notes with a refined edge, making gravitas never really that far away from their open, accessible, and honest lyricism. Their latest effort, Going Nowhere Fast, sits at the intersection between new-wave psychedelia and desert rock, drawing from other arenas like indie hip-hop and underground to create a sound that appears uniquely their own.
Comprising Zeb Row and Kelsey Van Mook and produced by Daniel Avila, the record combines stadium-calibre chants with contemporary societal issues to mirror the anguish experienced by many during and after the pandemic. According to Row, the songs navigate “the sad, desperate, self-obsessed reality we live in, and the defence mechanisms we use to cope with it,” providing an interesting perspective on leaning into struggles rather than letting them consume you.
This gifts their sophomore album a distinctive edge compared to their self-titled debut, which adopted the same contemplative aura but came tinged with self-reflection through its melodic-driven quality. Going Nowhere Fast, by contrast, adopted a more overt darkness, reflecting the human condition’s chaotic nature during life-altering circumstances outside of the usual terrain.
To understand what makes them tick, Far Out spent ten minutes with the band to ask the all-important questions, like which songs they are the most proud of and what makes the perfect funeral song...
Quick-fire questions with Zebedee:
What’s your favourite album of 2024 so far?
“I loved the long-awaited ORB album Tailem Bend. Good band from Australia. We are simply just the best.”
What song would you want played at your funeral?
“‘Satisfied Mind’ by Jeff Buckley. Easy question.”
Do you believe in ghosts?
“No, but I do believe in fairies.”
With an hour to kill and no plans, what are you doing?
“Joint… Guinness…. West Ham United Podcast.”
What’s your most controversial cultural opinion?
“Oooff… OK. Chappell Roan is NOT a drag queen.”
What song are you the most proud of?
“I’m always obsessed with the last song I wrote. So it changes on a weekly basis.”
Who is your biggest influence?
“The Cramps. QOTSA. Jeff Buckley.”
What is the ultimate comfort movie?
“Drop Dead Fred.”
What would be your fantasy concert?
“Probably check out the Pulse show with Pink Floyd. I’d be down with some crazy diamonds.”
What movie makes you laugh the most?
“Anything with Gene Wilder.”
Are there any conspiracy theories that you sort of believe in?
“Not a big conspiracy theory guy. I leave that for stupid people.”
What are you the most looking forward to?
“Not being broke.”
Who is the greatest songwriter of all time?
“Nick Cave.”
What was the first artist you remember falling in love with?
“The first band I fell in love with was a little group called Kiss. ‘I was made for loving you baby’…that blew my mind. I was four. I think I just liked face paint and disco.”
Are The Beatles overrated?
“Absolutely not. The Stones are the glorified, overrated blues cover band I believe you are thinking of.”
