Manchester label Bambanani introduce their latest signing, Salford raised newcomer Zak Alexander.
After gigging and road-testing his unreleased material with his live band, the 21- year-old songwriter is finally ready to let his songs out, through his debut EP Not In Your Life Anymore. The four-track collection will see a digital release on September 13th, with a limited physical release later this year.
Bambanani, which translates from Zulu to mean hold each other, is helmed by Levi Love. Unity and diversity are two themes that can be traced throughout anything Levi has touched, the records he produces, the audiences he DJ’s to, and the artists he brings together.
Now he extends this offer to Zak Alexander, whose music takes inspiration from the blending of rock and electronic styles of Radiohead, to the soft tones and gut-wrenching honesty of Alice Phoebe Lou.
After beginning his journey of song-writing during lockdown, Zak started testing his songs to live audiences at various open mic nights around Salford.
Soon it became clear to him that the songs would benefit from collaboration, and he quickly enlisted Piers Griffin on bass, as well as Elliot Barret on drums, whom both he met through his local music school, The Music Shed. He debuted his material in early 2023, where he supported Amber Calise at Lions Den in Manchester, before embarking on a short run of support slots throughout the rest of the year to further flesh out the songs.
After settling on arrangements and dwindling down the songs to what would make up Not In Your Life Anymore, Zak sought out Manchester producer Kevin Foy to produce the record. Foy was chosen for his easy-going yet focused work ethic, clear communication, and dedication to bringing about an organic live sound from the musicians.
The four songs that make up the EP reveal the breaking down of a friendship in four parts. The first three came early in Zak’s exploration of composing, while the EP closer and lead single, ‘Have You Changed?’, was written three years later, highlighting how the artist has matured as he contemplates the narrative.
Ultimately, the pacing of the EP reveals a songwriter lashing out after he’s been wounded, painting the songs with initial harsh lyrics, reflective of the bitter state of mind they were written in.
The title track, ‘Not In Your Life Anymore’, sets the scene, with verses made up of soft finger-picked electric guitar, contrasted with a pop-punchy chorus. ‘Apology’ shows the absolute raw talent of Barret’s drum skills, further pushing the angst and brittle feelings of a falling out, held together by Griffin’s funky bass line. Up next is ‘What?’, again showing shades of disbelief, as well as a new colour – doubt and contorted reality.
The melodic guitar outro drives home the themes of the song, leaving space for the swan song of the EP, ‘Have You Changed?’
The closing of the EP hints at a folk, bare-bones, vulnerable side to the singer- songwriter that has, before now, been hiding.
The gentle brushes of an acoustic twelve string guitar lay the rhythmic foundations of the song, with an eerie mellotron joining at the first chorus.
Griffin once again lends his bass to the song, this time putting a melodic spin to his notes. Barret doesn’t introduce himself until the final chorus, as the song explodes, and Zak drifts off in space echo as he continues to ask ‘have you changed?’
Zak Alexander says:
“I’ve been sitting with these songs for so long now, it’s been cathartic to re-arrange, record, and now finally release them. I’ve always found writing songs to be a healthy way for me to process my life, and I’m looking forward to exploring new topics and feelings in future projects.”
