Q&A: Zuli Jr Explores His Indie-Rock Roots in “Sweet Pea”
WITH A MORE STRIPPED-BACK APPROACH — indie-pop artist Zuli Jr, returns to his indie-rock roots in his latest release, “Sweet Pea.” The 30-year-old artist is back with a dreamy guitar-laden and distortion-heavy track following his 2022 single, “Play Yr Role,” a precursor to this sonic homecoming. His artistic direction, while divergent from the work that we most know him for, “feels inherently Zuli,” he says, and is his favorite song from his discography to date.
“Sweet Pea” still contains some of the signatory Zuli sounds he dove into in 2021 with his full-length album, Stop it God: hints of electronica in the auto-tune–dipped vocals, experimental instrumentation, and lucid lyricism. The lyrics are a particular highlight in “Sweet Pea,” as he sings, “Sweet pea on the balcony, two lips pressed against my cheek / My Daisy, lost in my daydream” in the opening lines of the track. He toys with a writing technique often employed by artists to envelope a story of self-discovery within what could be mistaken as a love song.
“It felt like a return to form,” Zuli says.
He is looking to release additional singles this year, but at the moment, it seems the artist is simply enjoying the genre-exploration “Sweet Pea” is leaning into. Luna had a chance to pick Zuli’s brain about “Sweet Pea,” his change in musical direction, and more. Read the interview below.
Photo by Jae Kim
LUNA: What made you prepared to release music this year?
ZULI: I think the biggest thing that prepared me for new music this year was really getting back in touch with who I am. A big part of my artistic journey in the past few years was testing boundaries and going outside of my comfort zone. This year, with releasing music and performing, I’ve come to a full-circle moment where I’ve felt a strong sense of returning to form; accepting the parts of myself that are inherently me and making music I strongly feel only I could make.
LUNA: A lot about “Sweet Pea” is quite removed from your previous work. Even the visuals for the song are such a different direction for you. Why did you opt for a stripped-back approach for this release?
ZULI: With my music videos, it’s probably the least thought-out approach for my work. For the most part, I sit with the song and the first idea that comes to mind is usually what I will go for. When I listened to “Sweet Pea,” I didn’t see this grandiose video. I knew it needed to be simple. After our shoot on the beach, it was a no-brainer. Having it be black and white not only fit the tone of the song but accentuated the mood and performance of what we shot. I think it’s one of my favorite videos we’ve ever done.
LUNA: Stop it God was a lot more electronic in sound, but your last single in 2022, “Play Yr Role,” and “Sweat Pea” are pulling more from indie-pop and indie-rock sounds, respectively. What was the reason behind these choices?
ZULI: As I said, it felt like a return to form. My first album was very much in the indie-rock headspace, and I really shifted gears for Stop it God. With both “Play Yr Role” and “Sweet Pea,” I’ve been trying to find a middle ground for what made both of those albums so special. I’m not just one thing, and trying to be one thing was limiting my potential … I was putting myself in a box. Finding space for all the different aspects of what inspires me has really helped me accentuate my artistic voice, and melding the worlds has brought about some of the most exciting work for myself.
LUNA: There is a very strong sense of wistfulness and longing in the lyrics — could you tell me a bit about the inspiration behind the lyrical content?
ZULI: At its core, “Sweet Pea” is about acceptance. Acceptance of your work, your relationships, your choices, and regrets. I tend to romanticize my life in a lot of my songs and this one in particular is a perfect example of that. There’s not one particular person or place that defines “Sweet Pea.” Rather, it’s a state of mind. Realizing that things change; you are who you are. The first step is acceptance, and “Sweet Pea” is my first step.
LUNA: Who were some of your points of reference while making “Sweet Pea”?
ZULI: I think looking back on my catalog was a big point of reference for this song, but also all of my heroes [who] inspired me along the way. Everything from The Beatles and The Beach Boys to Frank Ocean and Dijon. My goal is to encapsulate my own world with timeless melody and hi-fi sonics. Mixing pop, rock, and R&B into something I can call my own.
LUNA: How do you go about preparing for releasing music? Was the process any different for “Sweet Pea”?
ZULI: I’m fortunate to surround myself with a tight-knit team of people who I trust more than anyone. I am thankful to be working with the same people for this release as I have for the last few. When preparing, the goal is to always create a world for each song or project. So when everyone feels happy, we know it’s time to set it free. For this release, everything came together naturally, which is one of the best ways to validate that something feels right. I’m doing my best to not overthink anything in 2023 and beyond, and “Sweet Pea” is the first offering of what that looks like.
LUNA: Should we expect more singles or even a full-length record for 2023?
ZULI: More singles, for sure, with a project coming out sometime soon. Ideally this year, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. The plan at the moment is to make the best songs possible and take it from there.
LUNA: With your next album or EP, do you plan on taking a conceptual approach to the record just as you did on Stop It God, or will it follow in the vein of “Sweet Pea”?
ZULI: It’s hard to say. Stop it God naturally became a concept album, but I don’t always think every body of work needs to be this overarching multi-layered piece of media. Sometimes it’s good to be raw and let the music speak for itself. As I was writing that album, I started to find the parallels that gave it the overarching theme and stories, but all of the songs were just songs before I found the through line. I think all of my albums will always take that approach. I’ll never sacrifice the songs being great for fitting some type of narrative. That being said, though, I’m sure I will find a way to tie my next album together, front to back.
LUNA: What did you love most about the single — the recording process, even the conceptualizing process?
ZULI: Everything I previously stated is my favorite part of this song, honestly. I love that it genuinely feels like fans of both my albums can find common ground in this song. I love the rawness, I love the production on the vocals and the drums. I love that the video is simple yet timeless. My favorite part of the process of making this song was embracing what I do best and letting it be.
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