UK-based artist Zak Joshua first broke through on the electronic music scene when his debut solo track Figure It Out was uploaded to renowned tastemaker YouTube channel Selected. It has since gone on to accrue over 5 million views with a subsequent official release updated with new vocals and a fresh sonic polish in 2019. This set the wheels in motion for a re-evaluation of Zak’s goals as an artist, and a renewed ambition to make his mark on the dance scene at large.
Now, he is set to present the third release on his own NEMESIS92 imprint with ‘Signora’, a deeply atmospheric, progressive cut with slick production and a breakdown of epic proportions.
We caught up with Zak Joshua to talk about his latest release, ‘Signora’, his origins, favorite record, and how one track shaped his future.
Electronic Groove: Hi Zak, welcome to EG. How have you been doing? How have you coped with the pandemic? How are things looking in the UK for the music industry right now?
Zak Joshua: Hello! It’s been a strange 18 months, to say the least. From a purely selfish point of view, it’s been great to take some time out from my usual hectic schedule and devote some time to myself; I spent a lot of time during the early days writing new music and relaxing. I’m itching to get back to normal life now though! Clearly, the UK music scene is struggling as a consequence of what’s happened, many professional musicians and DJs that I personally know have had to take on other jobs in order to make ends meet.
Electronic Groove: Speaking about the music industry, you’ve got quite a peculiar connection with it through your father, right? How did you get started in music? Have you always been attracted to Electronic music or did the love take some time to develop?
Zak Joshua: My dad was one of the first large-scale legal rave promoters in the late ’80s and early ’90s, putting on shows across the Midlands with huge acts like the Prodigy & Carl Cox. After that scene kind of went away he owned numerous bars and clubs that I worked in as a teenager. He wasn’t a musician himself, but from an early age, he introduced me to all sorts of music that are still major influences of mine today. When I was a child we’d drive down the M1 listening to Depeche Mode and Dr. Dre. With regards to the electronic music scene, this wasn’t a love that developed until I was an adult. I grew up playing guitar, listening to indie & alternative bands (even going through an emo phase!) and I still listen to a lot of that stuff today. It wasn’t until I had experienced going to nightclubs and festivals as an adult that I truly understood the power of the electronic scene.
Electronic Groove: We could say you had your break with ‘Figure It Out’. What’s the story behind that one? Did you ever think you’d rack up over 5 million plays? Did that change your mentality or your approach to your goals in any way?
Zak Joshua: I can honestly say I never expected ‘Figure It Out’ to do as well as it did! I made it when I was still working full-time in mechanical engineering. I would have been 22 at the time, really I was just experimenting with music production, not taking it seriously; I didn’t have much knowledge in terms of sound design, mixing, mastering, etc. I actually made around 5 or 6 tracks around the same time, and this was my least favorite one. I sent the tracks to the guys at ‘Selected’ (the label & YouTube channel), who are huge now, but were relatively early in their ascendance at that point. They uploaded it and it took on a life of its own! The success of that track gave me the confidence I needed to pursue a music career; in the next 6 months, I quit my job and was on my way to study music production at university.
Electronic Groove: And how you do feel about your sound? How would you describe it to someone that’s never heard your music before? What elements are the ones that ‘move’ you?
Zak Joshua: My sound covers a lot of ground; I enjoy making everything from vocal-led, radio-friendly Dance music to underground Lo-fi house & melodic techno. I think the common thread that runs through my music is that I want it to have an emotional impact; I want people to be able to listen to my music in multiple settings and feel something, whether it is on the dance floor, at home, or in their car!
“It wasn’t until I had experienced going to nightclubs and festivals as an adult that I truly understood the power
of the electronic scene“
Electronic Groove: Right now you’ve got a new progressive single in ‘Signora’, which will be available via Additive Music. What’s the inspiration behind this one? Do you have some kind of ‘process’ or workflow by now, or does each track demand something entirely different?
Zak Joshua: ‘Signora’ is a track that I worked on late last year during the lockdown. I had been listening to a lot of neoclassical & melodic techno music at the time, and I felt that there was a possibility to create something that bridged the gap between the two. I’ll let you in on a little secret. The operatic vocal during the breakdown is not a live singer recorded by me, it’s a vocal created using the powerful East West operatic vocal kit, which allows you to construct opera vocals using phrases that can be played in on a midi keyboard to whatever notes you want. In terms of process, I tend to spend at least an hour a day bashing out new ideas, really simple 16 bar loops, and then I will look back at the collection of ideas I have and pick out the best ones to finish.
Electronic Groove: And what’s going on with NEMESIS92 at the moment? What drove you to set up your own label? What kind of music are you looking to put out through the label?
Zak Joshua: I wanted to set up my own label as most of my music fits between ‘sounds’, therefore it can be difficult to place some of my records with more established labels. This way I can still put out whatever I want under my own brand. Currently NEMESIS92 is only for my own releases but I may consider putting other artists out in the future. The name of the label is taken from my dad’s 90’s rave promotion company, NEMESIS.
Electronic Groove: How do you envision the return to clubbing? Do you think we’ll be looking at some immediate changes regarding some of the social issues that have taken center stage during the pandemic?
Zak Joshua: Who knows what’s going to happen? There are a few ways of looking at it; firstly, many clubs have gone under. Will they be replaced by other proprietors or will they be replaced by residential complexes? Secondly, young people who make up the majority of the club-going public have suffered economically during this time, which may mean that they no longer have the ability to spend money at the weekends. Having said this, if we look back at other situations in the past, like prohibition in America and the last financial crisis, people often need a release from the situation they find themselves in and spend more time and money on going out and enjoying themselves. I don’t think we will know which way it will go until this time next year.
Electronic Groove: What would you say is your favorite Electronic tune ever? What is it that makes that one so special to you?
Zak Joshua: What a tough question! The one track that really sticks out in my mind is ‘Rob Dougan – Clubbed To Death (Kurayamino Variation)’. Most people would know this track from the ‘woman in the red dress’ scene from ‘The Matrix’. I first heard this track when I was about 7-8 years old and I realized there was an entire world of music outside of what was being played on the radio. Rob Dougan’s album ‘Furious Angels’ is one of my favorite albums of all time.
“The success of that track gave me the confidence I needed to pursue a music career”
Electronic Groove: What’s in store for Zak Joshua for the rest of 2021? Any milestones you’re particularly looking forward to?
Zak Joshua: I have plenty of new music ready and waiting to be released over the next 6 months, and mainly I just want to get back into the swing of normal life and get back out DJ’ing again!
Electronic Groove: Thank you for sitting down with us Zak! We wish you all the best for the future!
Zak Joshua: Thank you so much, it’s been an honor!
Zak Joshua’s ‘Signora’ is ou now via NEMESIS92. Stream and buy here.
Follow Zak Joshua: Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud | Spotify
