ZUKABy Nicky Baldrian
ZUKA
By
Nicky Baldrian
Based in Northern
New Jersey, rockers Zuka (name adopted from a secret old high
school slang) originally began in 1994 with founding member
Anthony Suriano writing and recording demo material that would
eventually become "Supplemental Restraints". By the
middle of 1995, Zuka found themselves ready to sign a 3 record
deal with the ASi Music Group (Artist's Serenity Intervention), a
regional independent label and music publishing company
affiliated with BMi. Once settled in, the band immediately began
to further hone their skills. The groundwork for
"Supplemental Restraints" commenced in the early days
of 1996, as the band entered the studio with engineer Brian
Fitzgerald. Nearly a full year in the making, "Supplemental
Restraints" was released regionally throughout the East
Coast on April 30, 1997.
The album was eleven tracks of catchy hard rock songs in the
style of Velocity and Nightranger, songs like "Precious
Time", "Driving And Cryin'" and "Straight
Away" showed pleanty of skillful musicianship. Frontman
Anthony Suriano came across as a Tommy Heart clone especially on
the gorgeous ballad "In A Sleepless Night", in short
Zuka's debut album showed tons of potential.
In the two years that have followed, Zuka has been steadily
building a solid foundation for which they can ultimately achieve
their goals of total regional success. With their intelligent
song writing and captivating live shows, they have begun to build
a dedicated fan base. In addition to being awarded many premier
performances at music festivals, benefits, and radio sponsored
events, they have also made it to the rotational airwaves of
nearly 20 college radio stations in the tri-state area, with
numerous spins at commercial radio on such stations as WZZO,WDHA,
and WHTG.
The band have also had the opportunity to perform at Musikfest
three times, "It's a huge national 10- day Music Festival
held every year in August." says Anthony "This event
attracts over a million people every year. Our most exciting show
by far was that we got to open up for the group
"Boston" as part of a radio station band competition
finalist. That was way cool!!!"
Best known for their impressive vocal ability and heavy guitar
instrumentation's, Zuka's members are Anthony Suriano (lead
vocals/acoustic and electric guitar), James Slick (lead
guitar/backing vocals), Dawn Suriano (backing vocals). The newest
members, MJ Law (Drums) from Solution a.d. (tag/Atlantic), and
the return of original bassist Benjamin Hall, give the band a new
level of enthusiasm and vitality.
Currently, Zuka has just completed their second album which will
be entitled "From here to Where?" is a more of a mature
album than "Supplemental Restraints". the album shows
Zuka sticking to their roots whilst exploring their musical
capabilities.
The cover artwork is partically eye-catching, At first the cover
looks like sand-dunes, but study the picture closer and it looks
like four naked bodies laying on top of each other. I could be
wrong about this but hey, it looks cool anyway
The band will resume live performances in April, with a release
date slated for July of 2000. Bookings for the spring and summer
East Coast promotional tour are currently under way.
"The first album" explains Anthony "was a great
learning experience. We made a whole lot of mistakes, and still
managed to make a bunch of fans and sell records! Fortunately, we
appeal to a wide range of fans. I would say our biggest range
would be the 25-45 age group, and then jumping down to the early
to mid -teens. The Gen x'ers here don't seem to care for our
music much; maybe it's not violent enough for them. I don't know,
but we're happy doing what were doing, and that's what's
important.ASI picked us up early on, so we got lucky. We had met
with several other Indi labels at the time, but no one would give
us a definite commitment like they did. We've been very happy
with them.
We have had minor skirmishes! We have been pretty lucky with ASi
though. We like being a big fish in a small pond. We tend to have
a lot more freedom, while at the same time, we're involved with
some of the decision making process, and the hard work that 's
put into promoting us.The main writers are myself and our lead
guitar player, Jim Slick (that's his real name, honest!). Jim
came on board about two and a half years ago. He has been great
to work with. We mesh very well together, and he has become a
good friend. As far as who does what, I will usually write all
the lyrics, and sometimes even the music. The rest we
collaborate, usually by locking ourselves in a room and hashing
it out, Jim on guitar and me switching between the drums and
guitar." he explains.
"When I am writing, I try not to be influenced by other
outside sources. I try to pull ideas from within and work off of
pure inspiration and emotion, based upon various situations. The
bands that have influenced me along the way, I would have to say,
are Styx and Kansas from the late 70's, the Scorpions and Dokken
from the 80's, and bands like Tonic and Dishwalla from the 90's.
As far as who spiritually inspires me, God does. Many of our
songs will have spiritual underlying themes or connotations about
them. I try to keep it a part of what we're doing as a way of
saying thanks for our blessings.
"Can't Have Me Now" was inspired from a girl I knew
when I was back in H.S. We could never seem to get it together. I
liked her, she had a boyfriend or just wanted to be friends. Then
when I had a girlfriend she liked me. You get the picture! Long
story short, she got married, had kids – I didn't. I always
stayed close to her and her family. Several years later, I guess
the honeymoon wore off and the reality of life and marriage set
in, that's when she decided to drop the bomb and wanted to start
something. Right Now! As much as I wanted to, I couldn't. I think
mainly out of respect for her family, plus I didn't want to ruin
a great friendship. Well you know what happens next. She got
totally pissed at me and she hasn't spoken to me since. Go
figure! Wait till she hears the song!! Oops!
"ISO.U" In search of you… a personal quest. It's a
realization that sometimes one must leave their surroundings and
sacrifice everything they have worked hard for in order to find
happiness.
"Unity" The song was written for mankind, as a
reminder.
It was inspired by the outcome of today's society and how it has
evolved into the degeneration of family, morals and values, not
to mention the loss of basic kindness toward one another. It
takes a look into a future of hate, selfishness and greed. The
song is a reminder for us to get it back and unite before it's
too late.
"Forever Yours" It's about that Love thing, and after
all the fighting, and the struggle to change each other is over.
It's the realization that you are meant to be.
"Rub one Out" Self-explanatory! This was Jim's moment!
From start to finish he Rips! We worked long and hard to get all
the lead parts to feel like a song and not a three and a half
minute lead solo!
"Seasons" This was mainly Jim's creation. It was
inspired by the seasons of time and the cycles of life. It has
many double meanings.
"The Way" A very spiritual song about a young person
wanting desperately to end his own life, and his guardian angel's
desperate quest to stop him and redirect him into finding the way
toward God and choosing to live. (Very deep)
"Holdin' On" This was written about several of our
friends who were signed to major labels, during when the mergers
and cuts were taking place. Bands were getting dropped every
week, and none of our friends made it through. We put the song
into our perspective of where we are in the big picture and what
are our slim chances of ever making it to the top, only to one
day suffer the same fate.
"Persian Kitty" Was inspired by a 19 year old go-go
dancer we met by chance Huh! And became sort of friends.
Well…. She was so unreal, bright and absolutely gorgeous,
but of course she came with a whole boatload of troubled past,
and me being the foolish one, who thought I was going to help
her! Right…. Well on a good note, I at least inspired her
enough to quit and go to College where she could become anything
she wanted to. Of course she hates me now, but in the long run it
will be well worth it, for her. That's what's important.
'The Passing" Was inspired by the death of a friend. We
wrote through many goose bumps and tears, as we created a musical
tribute and transition of the passing into the other side, where
someday we hope to meet again.
For the immediate future Zuka plans are to simply promote their
new record and to play live as much as possible, the bands status
in Europe is also on the rise so if your into melodic rock, then
check out Zuka, you may be pleasantly suprised.