ZELA, the sibling duo from the North of England, have created a dark and imaginative brand of attitude-laced electronic pop. Think Charli XCX meets Big Black Delta, with a hint of Doja Cat and Baby Queen. You could use some of ZELA's music to soundtrack an erratic midnight drive after ditching your ex, and you could use some of their music to soundtrack that golden honeymoon phase of a new romance.
Dirty bass synths meet ambient layers of nostalgic synthesisers and driving, electronic drum beats, and the pair have become known for their signature use of sampling front-woman Liv's vocal and using it as an instrument in itself. ZELA are unashamedly fans of their own music, and they don't care if people know that.
Following their debut release with a relentless string of singles at an unstoppable pace, the duo have made sure that their 2021 will be huge. With new music and their first live shows on the horizon, ZELA are firmly ones to watch this year.
Latest single 'sober lovin u' is an emotionally-charged exploration into unfamiliar feelings. Picture postered bedroom walls, secret cigarettes and late-night phone calls, and you're in Liv's state of mind when she penned the lyrics to the track. It's the first 'love song' the singer has written that wasn't fuelled by bitterness or laced with sarcasm and attack, and we hear the furious bass synths and pulsing, electronic beats that underpin the dark-pop foundations of ZELA's sound.
Keep up to date with ZELA at @thisiszela