Guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader Max Zaska has announced the second ZASKA album, A Better Way, has named its featured artists, and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring the project to light.
A Better Way features vocalists Tolü Makay, Faye O’Rourke (Soda Blonde), Melina Malone, Jess Kav, (The Waterboys), Carly Coonagh, and Precious Okpaje (Super Silly). James Smith (Gypsies On The Autobahn) who sings on the album, also plays keys and co-produces the album with Zaska. The band is rounded out by longtime collaborators Dylan Lynch (Soda Blonde) on drums and Neil Dorrington (BARQ) on bass.
A Better Way
Max Zaska describes A Better Way as, “the next musical step in the neo-soul/funk evolution from my first album and it has face-melting, stanky grooves to get those sweet endorphins flying. It’s a concept record themed around sustainability - not just sustainability for this gorgeous planet, but for all aspects of living a harmonious life. It’s a hopeful album about our ability to turn it all around for ourselves and the next generation.”
One-of-a-kind rewards
The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise €16,000 on Irish platform Fund It, and runs for four weeks from 22 February to 22 March in an all-or-nothing gambit that offers rewards from €5 to €10,000. Lower tiers offer a vinyl first pressing of A Better Way with carbon offset credit and a Save The Earth download bundle with a digital bonus pack. Max gets creative with custom personalised rewards at the mid-tier levels, but it’s the one-of-a-kind top rewards of a chicken for life, sourdough bread secrets, and a shrine in-studio that are for the person who has everything.
ZASKA’s first album crowdfunded €14,561 from 379 supporters at the end of 2016; the highest number of individual donors and the third-highest amount raised on Fund It that year. It Takes A Village was released in 2019 to stellar reviews and was named album of the year by Peter Curtin at RTÉ 2XM.
A Better Way has targeted Autumn 2021 for release. Fund It here:
https://fundit.ie/project/help-zaskas-2nd-album-a-better-way
Watch the Fund it Campaign Video
More About Max Zaska
Blending positive vibes with funk, neo-soul, and jazz, ZASKA is a supergroup of Irish talent led by guitarist, songwriter, and producer Max Zaska. Known for spotlighting up-and-coming artists, more than 50 musicians have played and recorded with ZASKA, including Hozier, the band’s original vocalist.
“A benchmark example of the talent that exists in this country”
The Irish Times
ZASKA’s 2019 debut album, It Takes A Village, featured more than 25 performers and was released to universally stellar reviews and was named album of the year by Peter Curtin at RTÉ 2XM. The concept album featured songs and interludes that combine to tell a very personal story of becoming a father.
With a reputation for incredible, high-energy live shows, ZASKA has played headline gigs at landmark venues and festivals throughout Ireland. February 2020 was the last live audience before lockdown when ZASKA opened for and played with Cory Wong (Vulfpeck).
Max is also Musical Director for the live band backing Irish hip hop rising stars Denise Chaila, MuRli, and God Knows, the trio behind narolane records.
His session work includes The Waterboys “Didn’t We Walk On Water” and Danny G & The Major 7ths “Time The Healer”.
Named one of Ireland's best guitarists, Max Zaska has a B.A. in Jazz Performance from the prestigious Newpark Music Centre in Dublin and played with jazz legends in Brazil, Italy, and Canada.
A Better Way has targeted Autumn 2021 for release. Fund It here:
https://fundit.ie/project/help-zaskas-2nd-album-a-better-way
Connect with Zaska
Website: https://zaskamusic.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/zaska.music
Twitter: http://twitter.com/zaskamusic
Facebook: http://facebook.com/zaskamusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSgnC2t0aYnRBjItu6UaC8A
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3gzJlKscDvfqlV0z1B5g8k
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/zaska/1434398717
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/zaskamusic
Bandcamp: https://zaska.bandcamp.com/
