Mix picks Halifax Pop Explosion: The Zolas get you singing along

The Zolas

Every week, we here at Mixtape like to introduce you to a band or musician that we think you should get to know about. This week, in celebration of the Halifax Pop Explosion announcing its lineup, we present you with Vancouver-based duo, The Zolas.

Guitarist and vocalist Zachary Gray and pianist Tom Dobrzanski have been making music together for a long time. Their first musical collaborations were with Lotus Child nearly a decade ago and over the years they have managed to concoct a sound that is entirely their own.

While recordings include a wide array of other instruments and sounds, their live shows are always just the two of them. Yet, despite that fact, they manage to provide fans with live performances with an increadible amount of gusto, giving each note and each lyrical word a one-two punch of pop and creativity.

Since the pair reformed as The Zolas in 2009, they have releases two LPs – Tic Toc Tic in 2010 and Ancient Mars in 2012, both of which got quite a bit of airplay through alternative radio channels such as CBC online and SIRIUS radio stations. Both albums present a kind of indie prog-rock that is captivating, organic and sounds as if it was easily created by these two best friends.

You can catch these dudes playing at the Halifax Pop Explosion, as well as a number of locations across Canada in October and November.

Photo: Supplied