Interviewing The Artist: We-Are-Z Gives Human Commentary Through Good Music

We-Are-Z was recently featured on Diandra Reviews It All because, frankly, they are FABULOUS! This punk-funk band is not confined to musical stereotypes or rules. These men see sound as the soul’s form of expression, and, for that reason, it should speak however it wants. Thus, I was excited to interview We-Are-Z because, like their music, they offer wisdom and spontaneity in each of their answers. They are a band that strictly stays in the musical moment. 


Diandra: What was the inspiration behind Goldigaz?

We-Are-Z: That sinking feeling of seeing a world around us becoming ever increasingly obsessed by money and material gain.

Diandra: So if you can sum up Goldigaz message in one sentence what would it be?

We-Are-Z: Money and material aquisition will never of itself fill the hole in your soul, it can
never be your personal salvation.

Diandra: What was the hardest part about filming the video? What was the best?   

We-Are-Z: Our fantastic Icelandic directors Sunneva Asa Weishappel and Ani Olafsdottir pushed us
way out of our comfort zone. In principal we are always up for stepping outside of
the envelope, but the reality was that half the time we didn’t really have a clue what was going on,
and that wasn’t easy. On the plus side, that made it exciting too. We had a feeling something
special was occuring.

Diandra: Goldigaz, like many of your songs, speaks on topics and images of auto-destruction. What of music do you feel highlights better, compared to other art forms, an inner need to destroy?

We-Are-Z: I’m not sure I would agree that music can highlight any better than other art forms the need for inner destruction. All the great artists throughout history at some point observed the human tendancy to self destruct. Our medium just happens to be music.

Diandra: From your video to your general songs, your band is aimed at pushing both sonic and sentimental boundaries. Who is the artist that you feel both most inspired you and pushed boundaries?

We-Are-Z: Really, anyone who took things as far as they possibly could in the search for an extremity of feeling and experience. From the mythical Icarus, who was at the leading edge of the eternal human desire to take to the skies, to Philipe Petit, the French highwire artist who in 1973 quite literally did take to the skies when he strung a cable between the twin towers of NY and proceeded to cavort back and forth. That was great art, his goal was not just the achievement of the feat itself, but to perform to the observing crowds, to give them something magical and inspirational.

Diandra: Your band is incredibly creative and eccentric in concept, what has been the hardest part of putting together the vast sounds, cultures, and ideas your band shares?  What has been the most fun?

We-Are-Z: I hope I don’t sound cocky, but there wasn’t really anything hard about putting all that together. We’re not musical purists, for sure, we love playing our instruments, but we also love
creating any sound out of anything, getting it into the computer, smacking it, twisting it,
caressing it, sprinkling it. That’s a lot of fun.

Diandra: If you can sum up the ultimate message and sentiment We Are Z stands for, what would it be?

We-Are-Z: Personal and collective liberation through music and performance. To free ourselves from the self imposed constraints the human race has sadly created for itself. To elevate ourselves and our audience. That is our goal.

Diandra: Your music contains social, political, and cultural commentary. What of your music and band’s essence, do you feel adds to such conversations? 

WeAreZ: The starting point for the social, political, and cultural commentary you mentioned, is that we are very big observers of the world around us. That fuels our musical expressions.
We all come from very different backgrounds, musically and culturally. We hope that all of
this will inherently add a lot to such conversations.

Vast is a light term to describe We-Are-Z in sound and spirit. The very notion of this band, and their musical stance, moves me as a listener. To unite people from different cultures, creeds, and musical trainings to create music is powerful. Yet, to bring music that is good and carries a virtuous purpose is empowering. Their songs may be sonic pleasures, but they are also heartfelt, insightful lessons on to be a better human being.

Click Here For More Information on We-Are-Z.