From being “sucked into a screen” to taking the stage across Japan and the UK, anime-inspired noise-rock band Zeroz are back with their most chaotic creation yet: ‘The Dumbest Song Name Possible’. It’s the lead single from their upcoming third album The Dumbest Timeline, a roaring, distortion-soaked punch to the gut that captures their love for left-field soundscapes, relentless energy, and anime-fuelled resilience.
Equal parts catchy and cathartic, the single is a sonic riot full of angst, humour, and heart. But behind the chaos lies a deeper thread, a tribute to fictional heroes who keep fighting even when the odds are stacked.
With a third album on the horizon, a mobile app in the works, and new tour dates on the map, Zeroz are building a world they can call their own. We sat down with them to discuss their origins and inspirations over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Probably the Piano, or maybe the drums. The Bass is the first instrument I started teaching myself (I was lucky enough to receive a Bass in my sixth year of school), and I love the Bass deeply, but there has always been something so deeply meaningful and romantic about the piano for me; and it wasn’t long after I received that bass, that I also gained access to a keyboard and began teaching myself that (Keyboard, the cousin of the Piano).
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Mostly various genres of kool-guy rock music, some folk music, and a sprinkling of Indie music (across genre) that happened to make it in front of me. But, cool guy rock music was definitely the initial seed that I grew from, musically.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Nevermind, by Nirvana. My older brother convinced me to split the cost of the album 50/50. I actually didn’t like music before that (I was very very young, and grew up in an abusive alcoholic family, where classic rock was always blasted from the speakers at home by drunk assholes), but within the first few seconds of listening to “Smells Like Teen Spirit” everything changed for me.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
There is no song written by someone else which I wish I had written myself. I have nothing but respect for my fellow musicians who have written excellent music. I simply wish to leave my own mark, in some kind of meaningful, new, song by me.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I like to pick certain pieces of art to listen, read, and watch while avoiding anything else. I typically set up a new DAW or some type of new equipment to try out new ideas on. I kinda isolate out the rest of the world and try to go back to the same place (mentally, internally) that I always go to when writing anything–I just try to do everything I can to foster that connection and be as honest, sensitive, and raw about it that I can, while also setting up a pipeline to let ideas easily flow and be easily recorded in high quality, structured, formats.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I listen to a lot of artists in a mix of singles and albums, and I listen to a loooooot of music so there’s constant rotation. Buuuuuuut, I can name a few artists/songs that I’ve been listening to for the past 3 weeks: B.O.B. - Outkast; Chief Rocka - Lords Of The Underground, Where This Flower Blooms - Tyler The Creator; Kick Back - Kenshi Yonezu; On The Way - AiNA; O Avalanche - Fionn Reagan; Bottomless Pit - Death Grips. There’s way more but that’s a pretty representative sample. I also think Yeule is super duper cool!
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I would looooooooooooooooove to open for My Bloody Valentine. They are a massive influence on me, and I think I would genuinely shit my pants if I got the chance to open for them.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Writing truly great music and connecting deeper and deeper to music over time through growth of technique, experience, and understanding: there is no reward greater than the simple connection to music.
And what is the most frustrating part?
There is none. Art is everything to me, I’m grateful to be able to pursue art with everything I have. The world may suck ass, but I have zero frustrations with art.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
I don’t think I’ve ever received advice as a musician, I’m entirely self taught. I will say, I’ve received lots of great tips on equipment care, and how to navigate a professional career in art, and little things here and there–like people explaining techniques to me, but there’s no real best piece of advice as a musician. Something meaningful I have learned as a musician, having spent most of my life constantly working on art, is to appreciate music without any strings attached–to have nothing but love, respect, and devotion to art regardless of what people think of you, how much success you have, or how people react to your decisions about art.
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Listen to Zeroz's new single 'The Dumbest Song Name Possible' below.