[photos by Justina Villanueva]
Deer Pink, the new album by ZVI – the solo project of NYC-based multi-instrumentalist Ron Varod, known for his roles in Kayo Dot, Sabbath Assembly, Psalm Zero, So Is The Tongue, and more – is set to be issued next week through Nefarious Industries. Ahead of its release, Varod kicks off a West Coast tour this week, leading with a one-off show in Philadelphia, and in conjunction with the dates, the mesmerizing new video for the song “Dear Pink” makes its debut through an exclusive at Cvlt Nation.
While previous ZVI material can be interpreted as a minimal experimental drone twist on the traditional singer/songwriter, 2019 ushers in a new era of experimentation with the Randall Dunn-produced Deer Pink.
Varod offers with the release of the “Dear Pink” video, “After we laid down some guitars and synths during the first sessions for this record, Randall suggested doing some drum programming at home before we got together again. When I thought about how I wanted to approach the beats I started having flashbacks to me as a teen, sitting at home drawing comic books listening to the Lost Highway and Spawn movie soundtracks in my room. I got way back into ’90s trip-hop and electronica and used that as a jumping off point for fleshing out the album.”
With the premiere of the “Dear Pink” video, which was created by Emily Harris, Cvlt Nation writes how Varod, “has created one of the most moving records of 2019, which is why we feel so honored to be sharing with you this amazing video… This record is sonic proof that music has the power to build and destroy. ZVI‘s music is making me feel human again!”
See ZVI’s entrancing and surreal “Dear Pink” video at Cvlt Nation RIGHT HERE.
Nefarious Industries will issue ZVI‘s Deer Pink on CD and digital platforms next Friday, April 12th. Find preorders, including merch bundles, at the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
Varod kicks off a tour this week supporting the album, leading with a one-off in Philadelphia this Thursday, April 4th with Gargoyl, featuring members of Revocation and Thanifaxath. From Philly, he flies out to the West Coast for two blocks of touring, beginning with a four-date trek through Southern California April 4th through 7th alongside Jerkagram, with other acts including No Lights featuring members of Kowloon Walled City and more also playing throughout the run. Directly following the tour, ZVI heads north for a three-date Pacific Northwest run April 11th through 13th with To End It All and Xiphoid Dementia.
ZVI Tour Dates:
4/04/2019 The Fire – Philadelphia, PA w/ Gargoyle, Shardik [info]
4/05/2019 The Smell – Los Angeles, CA w/ Jerkagram, Thief [info]
4/06/2019 The Sorting Facility – Paso Robles, CA w/ Jerkagram, Malfet [info]
4/07/2019 Elbo Room – Oakland, CA w/ Jerkagram, Ensemble Economique, No Lights [info]
4/11/2019 Teatro de la Psychomachia – Seattle, WA w/ To End It All, Xiphoid Dementia, Vanessa Skantze, Lye Feast [info]
4/12/2019 Cryptatropa – Olympia, WA w/ To End It All, Xiphoid Dementia, Clayface [info]
4/13/2019 Azoth – Portland, OR w/ To End It All, Xiphoid Dementia, Caustic Touch [info]
Fully written by Ron Varod, who contributes vocals, guitars, synths, programming, and electronics, ZVI‘s offers six lush tracks delivering a diverse forty-six minutes of avant/experimental tones and movements, the album introducing psychedelic analog synths and trip-hop inspired drum machines while flirting with pop melodies. The LP was engineered, produced, and mixed by Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Earth, (Sunn O))), Anna Von Hausswolff, Boris) and mastered by Brian Pyle of Ensemble Economique. The record features contributions from Randall Dunn as well as Carl Gene, Toby Driver (Kayo Dot, Secret Chiefs 3, Tartar Lamb, Vaura), and Matthew Keys (A Fucking Elephant, East Of The Wall), and is complemented by the artwork of Paul Cristina and layout by Greg Meisenberg.
Watch for additional videos and more on Deer Pink to be issued in the weeks ahead.
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