Zed are riding high on the local music scene. Leanne Moore caught up with lead singer and guitarist Nathan King to get some inside info on the group.

Heads turn when Zed’s lead singer Nathan King arrives at an Auckland café for lunch. But one of the nicest things about this babe magnet is that he’s totally oblivious to the effect his dark good looks have on the opposite sex. And on top of those film star features, which aren’t really done full justice in photos, he scores even more brownie points with his friendly and easy going personality. Munching on a mushroom and brie burger and sipping spirulina, Nathan, 21, marvels art Zed’s success. The Christchurch band’s first big break came four years ago when bass guitarist Ben Campbell’s dad heard them practicing. He recognised Zed’s raw talent and sent some demos to family friend and Kiwi music icon Ray Columbus, who immediately signed on as their manager. A few months later Columbus scored them a publishing deal, and the band’s hit singles ‘oh, daisy’, ‘I’m cold’ and ‘glorafilia’ followed. With the release of their album ‘Silencer’ and a tour kicking off on September 22, Zed has all the signs of a band destined for very great things.

You formed Zed while you were at school. How did that come about?
It began with Ben and I as a jazz duo and at that stage we were actually writing jazz and really cheesy stuff that your parents and grandparents would like. It was music that we grew up with. At that stage Ben was 13 and I was 15 and as we grew up, the music we were listening to changed a lot and our writing changed too. It got to the point where the songs were starting to sound a bit poppy and more contemporary so we got a drummer (Adrian). Up until then I had just been singing but I started playing guitar, acoustic initially and then electric, and Ben changed from piano to bass guitar.

Would you describe yourself as a moody or maudlin teenager?
No, not really. There wasn’t really much of a dark side to me and I don’t think there is now, although sometimes I’m told I’m quite quiet and the producer who worked with us on the album says quiet ones are the ones you have to watch (laughs)

When did you discover you could sing?
Up until I was 15 I was really into sports, cross-country running and triathlons, but I got sick of it about six years ago. A lot of my friends were into music and they were getting quite serious and they seemed to be having a lot of fun. I started playing the guitar and I joined the school barber shop quartet, and I was really surprised when they said I had a great voice. In 94 I entered a school singing competition and I actually won. We formed the band around that time and started writing.

Do you have any ritual that you perform before you go out on stage?
I pray (much laughter) because it’s so flipping scary. I’m usually quaking in my boots before I go on stage. The four of us always get into a huddle and let each other know we are going to be supporting one another on stage 100% and that w are out there to have a good time and to make other people have a good time.

Does it get easier the more often you do it, or more difficult as the crowds get bigger?
It’s got nothing to do with how many people are there. In fact, sometimes when there’s less people it’s way harder. The only thing that’s still hard is to make a good show because you are always raising your standards. What we consider an average show now we would have thought was really great two years ago. That’s what keeps it really interesting and sometimes difficult.

Which dead rock star would you most like to be reincarnated as?
John Lennon because I have a hug admiration for the Beatles. It would be amazing because he lived the life hat most people are only able to dream about. I don’t know if I would enjoy it but it would be really interesting to know what was going through his head and what made him do the things he did. But I have to say I think the reincarnation thing is pretty crazy and not something I believe in.

Is the song "oh Daisy" dedicated to anyone in particular?
No. It was written by Ben and he was literally sitting outside on the grass and he was surrounded by daisies. He was just wondering if daisies could talk what you would say to them and what they would say back. People think it’s about ex-girlfriends, but I don’t think so.

What about the girl in the "oh daisy" video with the black plaits. Is she a friend?
The director got her for us but in a cool twist of fate she has just moved in next door to Adrian, our drummer.

And what about the blonde in the ‘glorafilia’ video?
I was out shopping with a girlfriend (as in friend, not a romantic interest), and I was telling her how we really needed to find a girl for the video. We were in a shoe shop at the time and she pointed out Stephanie and said, "what do you think of her?" I thought she was perfect but I was too embarrassed to ask her myself so I got my friend to go up and ask her and she gave us her number.

You must have a few female fans?
Yeah. Every so often you get these rogue letters that appear in your letter box that have been dropped off, and instead of a stamp there’s a photo of me. It’s really cute, but I think they are usually a lot younger than me so there’s not much chance of a serious romance.

Are you in love?
Um, no. I’m not in love with anyone. I have got lots of friends who are girls and there could be a chance of something happening. I guess there’s sparks flying but nothing that I would call love.

Ever?
I thought I was I love before but I’m single now so maybe it wasn’t. I’m definitely looking out for the right girl.

Did the break-up of that relationship spark any songs?
Yeah. The only good thing that comes out of a break up is a lot of songs. One of the tracks on the album was written just after our break-up and it’s aptly entitled ‘he’s sad’. If find it really strange that you can often write quite honestly about your deepest feelings and then put it out for the general public to listen to and they can get a window into your life. You have to be a little bit careful about what you write but I think it’s really cool to be able to be honest.

What do you look for in a woman?
They have got to be fun. That really attracts me, someone who makes me feel good when I’m around them. Equally important is that I make them laugh and have fun too because I hate being a downer.

Zed’s taking off - what’s it like hanging out with the band?
It’s a lot of fun. We all get on like a house on fire. Every so often you get this flare up of rivalry where one person is not having a goo day with another person but on the whole they are just like brothers and we really love each other. Although maybe you shouldn’t say we love each other - you know what I mean. When it really boils down to it, if their life was on the line I would do anything for them.

What inspires you?
Things that happen in my life. If I have a relationship break-up of if something really good happens, I meet someone cool. Maybe a lot of songs are written about love and girls and thing like that because it inspires you to write poetry, which is what songs are in a way. It’s about strong emotion, whether it’s good or band. Luckily for us it’s usually good. Not too much angst.

Is there an angsty song on he album?
I don’t think there are any at all. There’s lots of questioning songs like ‘come on down’, which is all about why you are here. I think everybody wonders about what the point of being on this crazy planet is.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Finished recording our third album, touring Europe and playing at the Glastonbury festival in England. That would be awesome.
 

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