Emerging from the vibrant music scene of Naarm/Melbourne, Australia, funk-pop artist Zachary Leo has graced us with his poised new single, “Pretty Girl”. Produced and mixed by the talented Tobias Priddle and mastered by Pieter De Wagter, this electrifying track seamlessly melds disco-funk with modern pop elements, resulting in a delectably stylish aesthetics. Drawing inspiration from acts Prince and Funkadelic, Zachary takes listeners on a journey driven by suave guitar chords and percussion, creating an soundscape that perfectly complements his ornate melodies.
In “Pretty Girl”, Zachary explores the exhilarating experience of falling in love for the first time, capturing the intricate mix of fear, vulnerability, and swirling emotions. The song serves as a testament to his lyrical prowess and ability to convey profound sentiments in an accessible and relatable manner, as we are transported into a world where infectious rhythms intertwine with Zachary’s soulful vocals.
Accompanying the release is a nostalgic music video, filmed, directed, and edited by the Brandon Carr. Embracing a grainy, 70s aesthetic, the video showcases Zachary’s humorous nature: explaining the creative process behind the video, Zachary revealed that he and Brandon had no budget for a video, and after listening to records and sharing some drinks, they spontaneously decided to start shooting footage for the song.
“The video was shot and edited all in the same day and doesn’t follow a specific concept,” Zachary explains. “Our main goal was to make each other laugh during the filming process. The recurring banana theme, on the other hand, was more of an ironic element, as it visually appealed to us, despite my personal dislike for bananas.”
The instrumentals, captivating vocals, and impeccable production exhibited in thus song showcase Zachary’s undeniable talent as an artist. With his fusion of funk, pop, and a touch of vintage flair, Zachary forges a distinctive sonic identity that sets him apart from the crowd.
To celebrate the release of the new song, Zachary took the time out of his day to answer a couple of questions for Eat This Music as part of our “What I’ve Been Listening To” series.
Who is Zachary Leo and how did the namesake come about?
I am an artist from Naarm/Melbourne, who creates music that is a fusion of Funk/Rock/Disco and even some psychedelic influences. I take influence from artists like Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Funkadelic/Parliament and Tame Impala. Zachary Leo is simply my first and middle name, I was playing a bunch of gigs under my full name early on and heaps of people where spelling it wrong or having trouble pronouncing it (I didn’t think it was too tricky haha) so I just felt it was easier to simplify it.
What artists or bands are on your must-listen to list lately and why?
Other than my usual addiction to anything Parliament/Funkadelic/P-Funk, I have been listening to a heap of Australian artists lately, in particular Kesmar and The Lazy Eyes. Kesmar is an incredible dude, if you dig any of that vintage sound, he’s got you covered, and writes some beautiful melodies, always has really nice sounding mixes as well. The Lazy Eyes! They are crazy good! Imaginary Girl is one of the best songs ever written.
When you go into the recording studio to work on new material, what are your must-haves?
When I am in the studio writing music, I need lots and lots of coffee, as well as all my guitars and synths within arms-reach so I can access them all super quickly to put down whatever ideas come to me. Usually this creates a super messy space, but it’s how I work best. When I am in the studio recording, I usually drink a lot of tea, whether that’s liquorice tea and honey for my vocals or peppermint tea when I am just chilling, so that’s a must have!
I also always have Seinfeld on mute when I’m in the studio for recording and writing, it’s a massive comfort thing for me, it puts me in a safe space and really helps me to ease up and produce the best music I can. Working with my producer Tobias Priddle has been amazing, because we record all the music at his house and all of these ridiculous must haves are super easy to achieve. I have found recently that making and recording music in a studio set up that feels like home is my favourite space to create, it’s safe, it’s familiar and its way less controlled and sterile. So, a comfortable space is also a must have.
Which song of someone’s else’s (artist or band) would you have liked to feature on and why?
I think if Kevin Parker or Pharrell ever wanted to have me play some Wah or Fuzz guitar on a record, I’d happily oblige.
Which song, or songs, of yours would you recommend to a first-time listener and why?
I think ‘Pretty Girl’, my latest song, perfectly captures the direction my music is heading in. It takes off from my last singles ‘So Good’ & ‘Can’t Get Enough’ with that disco/funk/70’s sound, while also introducing some of the fuzz and synth elements that people are going to hear a lot more of in my music to come.
What led you into using music as your creative outlet, and keeps you making music?
I think the best way to describe why I do music is to think of your favourite artist and the feeling you get the night before they release a new album or a new song, or the feeling you get when you hear a song for the first time and it blows you away. All the goosebumps, excitement and euphoria that comes with that. I’ve had a whole lifetime worth of those experiences already and all I have ever wanted since I was like 5 years old, is to give that feeling to someone else through my own music, whether it’s one person or many.
