Hey ZOLA and Christen Morrell! How has 2019 been for you so far?
ZOLA:
2019 has been great for me so far, I quit a job I wasn't happy with and have been really focusing on my production. I'm excited about the releases I have lined up and recently signed my first track to a label!
Christen Morrell:
So far, 2019 is going great! After finishing my second year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, I returned home for the summer to Annapolis, Maryland where I had a number of performance opportunities locally and in Washington D.C. I was also able to enjoy reconnecting with old friends, did some travel/backpacking internationally and having more time away from my academics to focus on my songwriting. Now back at Berklee, Boston for the Fall semester, I’m looking forward to continue honing my craft, work on some new releases, perform around the city, and prepare to move back to Valencia, Spain in the Spring.
Tell us about the creation process for your latest track "Our Last Summer"!
ZOLA:
I started producing the track while I was on vacation in Mexico. I was in a bit of a life-slump at the time and was incredibly unhappy at my sales job. I also had started thinking a ton about how everyone follows this path where they start going to school at around age 6, and then it's just school school school work work work. I don't know how we're expected to figure out what our passions are and commit to a job where we'll be spending a large portion of our life. I told Christen I wanted the lyrics to comment on these thoughts I'd been having, a sort of break from the norm. We decided that summer nights/adventures would be a good theme for the lyrical content. After that, the lyrics were all Christen.
Christen Morrell:
Daniel sent me this track towards the end of my Spring semester and I immediately heard the potential for it. The track just sounded/felt like Summer and being so close to ending the school year, I was already in that mindset, (i.e. - tired of working and ready for vacation). Originally with the songwriting we were thinking about finding a rapper for the second verse, but being as Summer’s peak was passing, we made a team decision that I should go ahead and write the second verse in order for us to be able to release it in August… Maybe in a remix for next summer though! ;)
Where is the best setting to listen to "Our Last Summer"? What do you hope people take away from it?
ZOLA: I'd say the track plays well in warm weather and party environments. Based on what I mentioned before I want people to go out and enjoy life whenever they can. I think people should take more time to break from the norm and the sometimes mechanical nature of life.
Christen Morrell:
Exactly what ZOLA said! I think this song could also be played in the dead of winter when the summertime sadness comes in and you’re feeling nostalgic… tbh that’s probably what I’m going to do.
What was it like working with together again? Is this something we can expect to see more of in the future?
ZOLA: I've worked with Christen on two previous songs. Honestly it's always a pleasure, she has a great voice and is a talented lyricist. We've already started working on another project together.
Christen Morrell: I love working with ZOLA. His tracks are always refreshingly different and have a clear structure that allows me to form a song lyrically. Apart from being an extremely talented Producer/DJ, his communication while working is really good which important when collaborating.
Can we expect a larger full-length album from you in the near future?
ZOLA:
Personally, I'm planning on releasing a single around once a month. I released my debut EP, Take Off, a little over a year ago and have been focusing on consistent output.
Christen Morrell:
My debut EP is out on all streaming platforms but currently, I’m working on a few single releases for this Fall and January 2020.
What other projects are you working on?
ZOLA:
As I mentioned before I just signed a track to a label, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to specify which one, but that was a goal of mine for 2019 so I'm pretty excited about that. I'm also working on a couple of other singles to release throughout 2019/2020. I can't wait to share them with everyone!
Christen Morrell:
Currently working on a few single releases for this Fall and January 2020.
Connect with ZOLA and Christen Morrell on social media:
ZOLA -
Instagram www.instagram.com/zolamusicofficial Facebook www.facebook.com/zolamusicofficial
Christen Morrell -
Instagram www.instagram.com/christenmorrell
Twitter www.twitter.com/ChristenMorrell