6 Things W/Gardenia
Photo Credit: Michelle LoBianco
Alt-rock duo Gardenia, named after a Kyuss song, formed back in 2018. Ryan Zakin and Tamir Malik met while working at a recording studio in Manhattan. As Zakin tells it, it didn’t take long for something to click while jamming during a random lunch hour. In 2023, Gardenia released their first album Knowing You Know Nothing. Fast forward to spring of this year and we get their latest EP Don’t Look Up.
The three song release is Gardenia at their best. Produced by Jack Shirley (Gouge Away, Deafheaven), it will have you questioning just how all that sound can come from just two people. It’s melodic alternative rock with hints of grunge. The thunderous drumming by Malik, the heavy distorted bass riffs, and let’s just say Zakin can absolutely write a hook.
Gardenia’s songs are often a result of stories told by the people around them and personal observations about our crumbling world. Their song “I Miss You, Alexa” is the tale of a roommate’s love interest, who may not be as interested in them. On “Lana Del Rey” the duo signals their disappointment with the US, referencing the songwriter’s use of the Americana aesthetic to make their point. The point is, they’re loud af and their lyrics are sick.
We connected with the duo where they touch on writing through creative blocks, stoner bands, optimizing studio spaces for writing, turning an instrument into a tank and underrated albums.
1/SONIC DIRECTION
We usually really take our time writing songs and rearranging them, and when that happens the songs start to cross-pollinate sonically. It's usually very natural and we let it roll until the songs come out to be pretty cohesive. From there, we try to fill in the blanks in terms of the narrative.
2/GEAR
My favorite and most reliable piece of gear is my Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff fuzz pedal. I've used it at every show and every iteration of my pedalboard, and it's the staple of our sound. It turns my bass into a tank sonically.
3/WRITER’S BLOCK
I try to write through it as opposed to feeling stuck in it. It usually involves me writing several awful songs that no one ever hears until at some point it sucks a little less.
4/STONER ROCK
It's funny cuz while we do love bands like Kyuss, Black Sabbath, Ween, and Sleep, I don't think much of it is reflected in our music. Maybe just in the fact that it's so muddy more often than not, and the songs take their sweet time which we also try to do.
5/STUDIO ENVIRONMENT
Quiet with unlimited time, but unfortunately that's usually not the case. I think the best studio environments are optimized to create. They aren't just rooms with instruments and amps and mics thrown into them. Everything in the room serves some kind of purpose, and they give the room a very distinct and individual sound.
6/UNDERRATED ALBUMS
Manning Fireworks by MJ Lendermann, Are We All Angels by Scowl, the new Sleep Token record, and Romance by Fontaines D.C.
Don’t Look Up is out now. You can be stream it below or wherever you listen to music. Follow Gardenia on Instagram.
Alt-rock duo Gardenia are making big noise with just two people. On their new EP Don’t Look Up, Ryan Zakin and Tamir Malik channel thunderous drums, distorted bass riffs, and sharp, storytelling lyrics that reflect daily occurrences as well as the chaos of the world around them. Produced by Jack Shirley (Gouge Away, Deafheaven), the three-song release pushes their sound to new heights. We spoke with the band about breaking through creative blocks, optimizing studio spaces, stoner rock and underrated records. Check out the our interview to learn “6 Things” about New York’s Gardenia.