NJ Digest conducts a long, illuminative interview with J Hacha De Zola

INTERVIEW


New Jersey Digest has a long and illuminative interview with J Hacha De Zola, who is prepping for the release of East of Eden next month while concurrently promoting his recent Greatest Hits package (on all DSPs now, alongside East of Eden advance single “Lost Space”).

According to the site’s Amaris Pollinger, that collection is “proof of his polished sheen of genius,” while the forthcoming LP is his “masterpiece (so far).” Enjoy their conversation, which delves deep into the origins and evolutions of De Zola’s persona and sound.

Chris J Norwood's vulnerable, self-effacing songwriting - salted with a bit of required brainpower- is unique and uncool. "I Am Not Cool" arrives Aug 20th.

NEWS

Chris Norwood isn’t cool.

Or Chris J Norwood, as the Dallas-based singer-songwriter bills himself, is not cool.

So “not cool” that when searching for a synonym for “uncool” that starts with “J” in order to complete a lame joke, this writer could not find one.

Pretty damn uncool.

Norwood is honest, however, and in a world that becomes more cynical by the moment, the kind of honesty that he conjures and delivers so eloquently and elegantly on his new, very uncool, album I Am Not Cool (Aug. 20th, State Fair Records), well, that kind of uncool is... cool?

The album is the follow-up to Norwood’s much-praised 2017 debut record Longshot.

In addition to Norwood’s genial ability to say things you may not want to hear and leave you appreciating the experience, he is also masterful at a kind of tongue-in-cheek levity that is sorely missing from this genre.

There’s only two kinds of music

What’s true and what ain’t

It only takes three chords to set the record straight

Norwood sings these lyrics on the “I Am Not Cool” title cut, a perfect example of how his economy of words is quizzical, meta, and puts a smile on your face all at the same time.

I Am Not Cool, the second album by Chris J Norwood arrives via State Fair Records on Aug. 20th.

Sodajerker talks with Mike Viola, one of their favorite guests of all time

INTERVIEW

Sodajerker calls Mike Viola “one of our all-time favourite guests,” which is damned impressive considering that they’ve spoken to luminaries including Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Paul Williams, Graham Gouldman, Alicia Keys, Edie Brickell, Paul Simon, Beck, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Paul McCartney, Billy Ocean, Kate Tempest, Rufus Wainwright, Jeff Lynne, and, well, basically every beloved living songwriter from the past six or so decades.

The duo’s podcast has just posted its second interview with the Godmuffin creator, during which he “explains how he makes time for creativity, how the past informs his present, and how he is coping with the loss of his friend Adam Schlesinger.” They’ve also curated a career-spanning Spotify Playlist with much of Viola’s best work.

J Hacha De Zola's "Strange" is "Song of the Day" at Eat Sleep Breathe Music

FEATURE


J Hacha De Zola’s “Strange” - available now on his recently-released Greatest Hits package - is today’s “Song Of The Day” at Eat Sleep Breathe Music. “This song paints a vivid visual for the listener,” the site contends, predicting that “you will get swept up with its woozy instrumentation and alluringly curious lyrics.”

De Zola’s newest single “Lost Space” will be streaming everywhere tomorrow, and the all new East of Eden LP arrives June 11.

New Noise praises the "sly humor" of The March Divide and premieres the lyric video for "I Believe"

LYRIC VIDEO PREMIERE



On cinq, the newest album from The March Divide, the songs are “personal, but always safe-effacing, and with sly humor underneath their rich production and get-to-the-point style.” This is according to New Noise Magazine, which is hosting the premiere of the Hector G-created lyric video for album closer “I Believe.”

J Hacha De Zola finds his voice on East of Eden advance track "Lost Space," streaming now on Glide Mag and available everywhere this Friday

SONG PREMIERE


It's a more accessible J Hacha De Zola we're hearing on "Lost Space," the first single from the all-new album East of Eden, out June 11. He says, “I truly feel that I have found my own voice.”

The single, out this Friday, premieres today at Glide Magazine. The site writes that De Zola "channels his inner Jim Morrison as he croons about the tragedy and pitfalls of isolation. There is something funky and soulful... saxophone, dreamy guitar, and airy harmonies, all of which come together to make this one satisfying tune."

The remixed & remastered compilation J Hacha De Zola’s Greatest Hits is streaming everywhere now.

Americana Highways calls The March Divide Beatles-esque while streaming new LP cinq in full

ALBUM STREAM


Congratulations to Jared Putnam on the release of his newest LP under the moniker of The March Divide: cinq. Americana Highways has a stream of the whole thing! The site says, “This album is pop indie folk by The March Divide that’ll recall the Beatles and contemporary sentiments. It ranges over lies, betrayal, frustration, and hope, with doses of muted euphoria.”

Previously, V13 called the record “a home run,” while Americana UK, Under The Radar, and American Songwriter have all praised single “The Funk That You’re In.” Get the album now (there are some very attractive t-shirt/coozie bundles) at themarchdivide.bandcamp.com.

Needed: Jared Colinger's The Enigmatic Foe project often reminds of a melancholy Andy Partridge of XTC.

NEWS

The Enigmatic Foe is the work of Knoxville-based songwriter and musician, Jared Colinger.

The tunes on his upcoming new album The Original Plan (July 30th) often remind of a melancholy Andy Partridge of XTC, which is, frankly, a quality we all need to hear about in music more often.

Essentially, Colinger’s pop tunes are wrapped in just enough self-awareness to be relatable, and just enough sadness to land.

Back to operating The Enigmatic Foe as a solo project, Colinger is once again the Mayor of his own Simpleton (XTC!), although there are a few citizens about including Frank Lenz (Headphones, Richard Swift) on Drums and Josh Dooley (Map, Fine China) on Electric Guitar.

The Original Plan was mixed and mastered at Swift’s studio National Freedom by Chris Colbert.

V13 shares "I Believe," from The March Divide's "home run" of a new LP, cinq

SONG PREMIERE

If you’re not yet a believer in The March Divide’s Jared Putnam, you will be after you get a little more familiar with this charismatic singer-songwriter. V13 just premiered his brand new single “I Believe,” a tender number included on his forthcoming album cinq, due tomorrow (Friday, April 23) via Slow Start Records. It’s one of the most intimate songs he’s ever written, and V13 says the whole new album is a “home run.”

J Hacha De Zola's Greatest Hits package gets a glowing writeup in The Jersey Journal; East of Eden is due in June

ALBUM REVIEW


Thoughtful words from Jim Testa of The Jersey Journal on J Hacha De Zola’s Greatest Hits. “It’s not all fun house mirrors and whoopee cushions. The haunting 'Strange' slows things down for a tortured love song; 'A Fool’s Moon' sweeps you off to romantic pre-revolution Cuba for a slow turn around the dance floor; and 'Syn Illusion' bids for airplay on Spanish pop radio."

Out now (w/ an all-new album 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 arriving June 11)!

Cover Me loves Dev Marvelous' "pulsing, vivid, and joyful" take on the bird and the bee's "La La La"

FEATURE


”Though Dev Marvelous’ take on the bird and the bee’s ‘La La La’ may bear some hallmarks of a solo production made in COVID-imposed isolation,” Cover Me Songs writes, “this is bedroom pop of a different and brighter sort: pulsing, vivid, joyful… Elegant electric piano stabs, tinges of nouveau samba, a wormy synth and impressive vocal stacks run through the track, evoking some of the most infectious and synesthetic pop work from producer Greg Kurstin (the ‘Bee’ to Inara George’s ‘Bird’).”

Dev’s full, funky collection of bird and the bee covers is available now from Release Me Records.

Americana UK recommends the "kinda funky" new single from The March Divide, whose full LP is out Friday

FEATURE

Head over to Americana UK to hear “The Funk That You’re In,” the “kinda funky” single from The March Divide’s upcoming album cinq. Link in bio.

The full LP is out this Friday, April 23 from Slow Start Records and can be pre-ordered now!

Jared says: “The album is made up of all the singles I’ve released over the last year, plus a bit extra. My friend (Short Eared Dog Photography) made the cover art for each of the singles & the album itself. Each cover is thoughtful in its character & meaning, while maintaining the album’s common theme. Neat, huh?! Which is your favorite? Seriously, I wanna know!” Be sure to slide right into his DMs with your answer.