
Text: Stunt Keaton
Finally we have here the new Zen-Zin & Pawcut reference called "Next Flight Ontario". The sudanese MC/Singer Zen-Zin and german producer Pawcut coming together to show us a melodious and perfect beated record. Recomended to all lo-fi lovers and beat makers
Down below Q/A with Zen-Zin:
1. How did you hook-up with Pawcut in the first place?
A local producer friend of mine was a fan of Pawcut’s & he put me on to his music. I liked what I heard so obviously trying to work with him was a no brainer. The question was, would he want to work with me? I was unknown outside of the city at the time, but he took a chance on me and the rest is history. I honestly feel that one day people will catch on to what we were doing, it’s just a matter of time or as Pawcut himself would always say: Time will tell.
2. Why Ontario?
Ontario is a homage to Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR, The Weeknd & other Canadian artists because when I got into music nobody was really looking at Canada for Hip-Hop or R&B like that, or at least I wasn’t. We decided to name the album after their province out of respect for how far they’ve come and also cause its catchy, haha...
3. What are your favourite tracks from the album and why?
“Waiting Game”, “Siren Song” & “Hold On Ontario”, they just feel right to me, it’s hard to explain why… I think in today’s terms you’d say: It’s a vibe.
4. How would you describe your style of rapping and singing? It's hard to pinpoint as you switch between so effortless.
My rapping is all over the place for many reasons, I’m claustrophobic when it comes to styles. I don’t like being boxed in or locked in to one style, I feel that era has passed and today it’s all about being creative with your flows, so I’m constantly trying to find new flows & new pockets to play in. My singing is kinda different. I know I’ll never be as good as a Bobby Caldwell, Tevin Campbell or Stevie Wonder so my approach is kind of simple, I try to think of a nice melody that I can sing and pray I don’t make a fool of myself in the process.
5. How is the situation in Khartoum these days? How has Covid changed everyday life?
The situation in the city is kind of depressing and if I can be completely honest, this may actually be my last album ever. I came into this project with good intentions and a label that saw the vision and I’m grateful for all their support, but the world has changed & will forever be changed by the things that have happened, especially in the last 9 months, so we’ll have to see. I don’t know what tomorrow’s gonna bring but as for today – I’m just not feelin’ it. Everything was easier then and optimism was in the air, but right now it’s hard especially with what’s going on with the country’s economy, but I don’t want to bore y’all to death, so I’ll just say that I hope people feel what I felt when I was recording these songs.
Tracklisting:
1. S.M.H.
2. Standing On It
3. D.I.Y.
4. Siren Song
5. Higher Calling
6. Eyes Wide Open
7. Auto-Pilot
8. Hold On Ontario
9. One On Me
10. On My Own
11. Zonin
12. Pyrotechnics
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