Q&A: Zuli Jr. On Returning to His Roots With “Make Out” & “Make Me Cry”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
AFTER THE INTROSPECTIVE VULNERABILITY OF THE SNAKE EP - Zuli Jr. is throwing the windows down and turning the volume up. With his latest dual singles, “Make Out” and “Make Me Cry”, the Manhattan-born, Los Angeles-based artist returns to the raw, guitar-driven energy that first defined him: music made for sticky summer nights, sweaty live rooms and shouting along until your voice is gone.
“These songs were the truest form of me getting back to my roots,” Zuli Jr. shares. “Not only in the sonics and genre but even the approach to songwriting. I wanted to have fun, and I wanted to write songs that would feel great to play in front of a room full of people.”
With his signature knack for pop hooks wrapped in the grit of garage rock, Zuli Jr. channels a freer, looser spirit than we’ve heard from him in years. It’s a late-summer soundtrack: sunny on the surface, but built with the kind of emotional core that makes you want to keep it on repeat. We caught up with Zuli Jr. to talk about reconnecting with his roots, the rush of live performance and why this new chapter feels like coming home.
LUNA: “Make Out” and “Make Me Cry” feel like such a burst of energy. What was the spark that made you want to release these tracks now?
ZULI JR.: They really are! Which is why it was hard to let them sit dormant in the vault. I’m sorting and finalizing the next few releases and felt that summer was the appropriate time to get these fun sunny songs out and off my chest.
LUNA: You’ve called these songs a return to your roots. What does “going back to your roots” look and sound like for you?
ZULI JR.: Over the years I’ve experimented with incorporating different genres into my songwriting style, and this sound and style feels very indicative of the raw energy and enthusiasm of my first record (On Human Freakout Mountain). Those songs were all written with the intention of being great to see live, and these were written from the same place.
LUNA: These tracks have such a joyful, live-show energy. Did you approach writing them with the crowd in mind?
ZULI JR.: Ahhh I beat you to the punch! Absolutely. I honestly feel like the two places these songs hit the hardest will be at a show (Gold Diggers on 9/14 hehe) and blasting in the car.
LUNA: After the more introspective Snake EP, what was it like to shift into this carefree, guitar-driven space?
ZULI JR.: Well, because these songs were recorded in the fall of 2023 it is a bit of an odd release for me. I still love the songs — hence why I put them out — but I am in a bit of a different place creatively. In my opinion, The Snake EP is my best and most revealing work I’ve ever made and does an amazing job of combining all of the experimentation I mentioned into one cohesive project.
However, this release was a great reminder that carefree-feeling music is very much a part of who I am, on top of being introspective and indulgent with the sonics. I think the next few releases are going to be really special and will blend all of these worlds. Great for deep listening, but also raw with fun energy you can move to.
LUNA: You’ve blended indie pop, garage rock, and your knack for pop hooks here. How do you balance experimentation with accessibility in your songwriting?
ZULI JR.: I think it comes naturally, thankfully hahah. Melody is and always will be my top priority. I haven’t accepted this label until recently, but I really am a singer-songwriter at heart, and my songs holding up bare bones melodically is the most important thing to me.
I love to imagine my songs being covered by someone at a bar gig or a restaurant. If it can pass the acoustic guitar only test, it’s ready. The experimentation with genre and instruments is more the part I save for the studio. I find it more fun to work quickly and make it on the spot. That said, I typically like my songs to have some sort of creative edge in the recording. For the case of these songs, a more raw, distorted vocal felt appropriate — even necessary — to really sell these gritty songs.
LUNA: Your TikTok has become a window into your creative process. Has sharing in that way changed how you think about making music?
ZULI JR.: Absolutely, it’s been fun to experiment with it and use it as a tool to see what works and what doesn’t. Music is about creating a lifestyle and I’m still not an expert, but it’s helped give me some context on what I’d like to soundtrack my own day-to-day with.
When push comes to shove, I make what I want to hear, but it’s helpful to keep in mind that music has moved into a space that’s more about mood and feeling than any particular genre.
LUNA: You’ve played shows with acts like Big Thief, Grouplove, and Lucy Dacus. Has playing alongside other artists shaped the kind of live energy you chase in your own music?
ZULI JR.: Absolutely. Playing alongside — and even just seeing — some of my favorite artists live always serves as amazing inspiration for my own aspirations (wow I’m a rapper). I’m always on YouTube watching shows etc. to stay inspired.
LUNA: What’s one thing you hope people feel when they hear these new songs for the first time?
ZULI JR.: I hope people feel GOOD and have fun listening to these songs! There’s not too much to overthink here. They’re perfect for rolling the windows down and shouting along to — and I hope people feel compelled to do that. I know I’ll be doing it (especially on the way to the beach).
LUNA: If these tracks were the soundtrack to a summer scene in a movie, what would that scene look like?
ZULI JR.: I think they’d be the soundtrack to a scene where some high school kids stole a six pack and are being chased by the bodega clerk… or they’re gonna be late to see their favorite band and are rushing out of the house to get there on time.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the rest of this summer?
ZULI JR.: Getting back in the studio for some new music in the fall and rehearsing with the band for my show at Gold Diggers on September 14th in Los Angeles, CA.
