VIZA is back at it again, teeing up new material for imminent release before the end of 2022. The first track from this new effort which will see daylight soon is titled “Yesterday”, with many more compositions slated for a continuous stream of releases over the coming months into 2023.
“The ideas just kept pouring out – sometimes on the oud and sometimes on the guitar – and in bringing this out to the universe it became clear that this kind of special feeling was back to create and record again,” said oud player Andrew Kzirian. “Emerging from the pandemic and what we all dealt with the past couple of years, in an odd twist, I basically wrote a substantial collection of material in the evenings and on weekends when the environment was a bit more subdued and quieter, and organized it all together along with scores of ideas from over the years that have been sitting dormant in laptop spreadsheets, mobile to-do lists and voice memos.”
“And most importantly – it’s exciting to start sharing them with the world,” he added.
theoudplayer
When it comes to symbolic storytelling and compelling soundscapes, VIZA is no stranger to adventure and Yesterday is no exception. As a story of inseparable memory and deep, personalized emotion, revealing a weaving tale of two siblings and their experiences together over several years and stages of their lives, Yesterday incorporates classic VIZA elements such as soft, sweet sections of spiritual singing set against folky, dancey grooves, juxtaposed with intensely passionate choruses where the music intensely transforms into a life of its own.
“Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away…wait wrong song. Aside from the Beatles similarity within the title, Yesterday is classic VIZA built on a solid rhythm, honest lyrics and a catchy ear worm chorus,” said frontman Knoup.
K’noup
The team has been hard at work and is excited for the coming months where a substantial amount of new material will be shared with fans. Yesterday, quite fittingly, is just the beginning of this new effort.
“I’m really looking forward to the release of this new song,” said guitarist Shant Bismejian. “And this is just the beginning, as we have several other new tracks we are recording right now,” he added.
Yesterday and all following releases will be available on all major streaming platforms for your listening pleasure and/or purchase.
Make sure to stay tuned for more information and updates as we continue our work!
Los Angeles, CA – VI·ZA is thrilled to release their first single of 2020 – Loyal Tea – a song that brings back classic tones of the band while guest starring former bandmates. Danny Shamoun, who was a vital part of the songwriting in the album Maktub is at spotlight once again in ‘Loyal Tea’, lending his percussive skills on all things Arabic.
“I remember when I first wrote ‘Loyal Tea’ it was honestly not with the intention of it becoming a VIZA song because the chords behind it had a different mode, but I had invited Danny to record on it, and the minute he did the whole complexion of the song turned its face to VIZA and I certainly couldn’t question it.” says K’noup.
The song features beautifully constructed oud melodies by theoudplayer as well catchy duduk licks by Jivan all the while Shant Bismejian rhythmically carries the belly of the song with his glistening guitars. “I recorded the guitars on my couch with 2 cats staring at me.” says Shant gleefully.
“Lyrically the song itself is an obvious pun that reflects the harshness and lack of loyalty within the music business that I’ve unfortunately felt first hand. One minute you’re the cool cat in town the next minute you’re the forgotten buffalo.” says K’noup.
VIZA continues to write and record throughout the new year, lookout for more to come.
Keep an eye out for the band on Facebook (www.facebook.com/vizamusic) and Instagram (@vizamusic).
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Music by VI*ZA
Lyrics by K’noup
Percussion by Danny Shamoun
Produced by K’noup
Recorded & Mixed by Yury Anisonyan at Live Wire Studios
Mastered by Andy VanDette at Engine Room Audio, NYC
Graphic Design by Mher Vahakn
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Lyrics:
Disappointed and I’m coming down with something nasty.
I’m passing out in a pond of doubt.
Drink your ‘Loyal Tea’ and spit it up on the ground.
I hereby appoint you minister of things that matter sinister.
You’re vinegar.
Drink your ‘Loyal Tea’ and spit it up on the ground.
Take the money in the acid rain.
Take the bounties to my name and enjoy your fame.
Drink your ‘Loyal Tea’ and spit it up on the ground.
Los Angeles, CA – VI·ZA is excited to announce the release of the group’s new EP recording, “The Unorthodox Revival: Volume II”. The release will feature hard copy recordings the band’s 6 new songs, which have been released as digital recordings thus far on a monthly basis, in addition to special artwork for fans to enjoy. The 6 songs to be included are “Pinches”, “Sheep”, “Diabolic Angel”, “Dancing Twig”, “Tom Waits for Her” and “Pathway”.
“I personally think this is our best work, due in part to the fact each song had its respective time to perfect and our incredible engineer Yury Anisonyan who was on board,” said K’noup.
Photo by Raffi Kevorkian
“With such a great reaction to the first EP, we wanted to follow it up and keep the new material flowing,” said Kzirian. “Even though these songs were released digitally on YouTube and Spotify, we want our dedicated fans to be able to enjoy these songs in album form too, and that allows us to incorporate the album artwork physically as well!” he added.
“The Unorthodox Revival: Volume II” will be the band’s 4th EP release, joining the self title, “De Facto” and “The Unorthodox Revival: Volume I” recordings, and is the band’s 9th overall hardcopy release. The new EP contains the band’s newest material, which has been written and recorded entirely in 2018, giving fans a feel of the group’s continued growth and exploration of various musical styles and colors. Notably, “The Unorthodox Revival” series of both volumes will feature a series of volumes, all interconnected and representing different but segmented components of VI·ZA’s new music.
After returning to the stage in early 2017 the band has been writing and recording actively the past several months, concentrating on composing new material as the band enters a new chapter of its growth. The band is excited to close the book on these first 6 releases, which will compiled as a new EP named “The Unorthodox Revival”. The band then continued to write and record a next batch of 6 tracks, all of which followed the same monthly digital release format. The band recorded with talented recording engineer Yury Anisonyan out of Live Wire Studios in Los Angeles. Anisonyan brings his expertise and unique mixing philosophy to VI·ZA’s sound, creating a unique tapestry of soundscapes.
Each new song has been released on VI·ZA’s dedicated YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/ExperienceViza.
VI·ZA’s new material is an exploration of sounds both old and new, and is sure to pique the interest of both diehard fans and new listeners. With vocals and a diverse array of instruments like the oud and duduk to combine with guitar, bass and drums, there are some exciting possibilities when it comes to both the core and potential artistic horizon of the band’s sound. Song titles include “Cash Karma”, “Viktorious”, “A World of Broken Mirrors”, “Aphrodite”, “Velvet Shade”, “Vicious Game”, “Pinches”, “Sheep”, “Diabolic Angel”, “Dancing Twig”, “Tom Waits for Her” and “Pathway”, representing diverse but resonant themes ranging from satire, continuity and social commentary to raw human emotions like love, loss and passion. Whether it’s VI·ZA’s bread and butter energetic style of pulsing percussion with exotic melodies or experimental ideas exploring the spiritual side of their art, the guys promise to keep things interesting with fans coming back for more, especially when it comes to documenting their work in the studio.
Keep an eye out for the band on Facebook (www.facebook.com/vizamusic) and Instagram (@vizamusic).
After releasing several albums, performing at major festivals worldwide, joining System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian for two worldwide tours and supporting Gogol Bordello and Skindred, VIZA is looking to explore a new dimension of sound. As a fixture of the Sunset club scene known for energetic and captivating live performances, VIZA is sure to deliver excitement in the form of shows and new songs in 2018.
Los Angeles, CA – VI·ZA is excited to announce the release of the group’s tenth new digital song release for 2017-2018. Following the online releases of “Viktorious”, “Cash Karma”, “Velvet Shade”, “A World of Broken Mirrors”, “Aphrodite”, “Vicious Game”, “Pinches”, “Sheep”, “Diabolic Angel”, “Dancing Twig” and “Tom Waits for Her” amidst acclaim and the anticipation of a loyal fan base, “Pathway” has now arrived for listeners to enjoy a stunning audio experience molded in the form of a rock epic.
“For our final digital release of the Unorthodox Revival EPs, we wanted to do something special,” said theoudplayer. “This song blends some of our traditional time signatures with a rock chorus and the result is quite the hybrid that our fans will really love,” he added.
After returning to the stage in early 2017 the band has been writing and recording actively the past several months into 2018, concentrating on composing new material as the band enters a new chapter of its growth. The band was excited to close the book on its first 6 releases, which was compiled as a new EP named “The Unorthodox Revival: Volume I”. VI·ZA then continued to write and record a next batch of 6 tracks, which will populate the second volume of “The Unorthodox Revival” series set for release in November 2018. All songs – such as the recent October 9, 2018 release of “Pathway” – followed the same monthly digital release format. The band recorded with talented recording engineer Yury Anisonyan out of Live Wire Studios in Los Angeles. Anisonyan provided expertise and a unique mixing philosophy to VI·ZA’s sound, creating a unique tapestry of soundscapes.
“This was an excellent song written by my bandmate theoudplayer, from melody to harmony to poetry,” said K’noup.
VI·ZA’s new material is an exploration of sounds both old and new, and is sure to pique the interest of both diehard fans and new listeners. With soaring vocals and a diverse array of instruments like the oud and duduk to combine with guitar, bass and drums, there are some exciting possibilities when it comes to both the core and potential artistic horizon of the band’s sound. Song titles include “Cash Karma”, “Viktorious”, “A World of Broken Mirrors”, “Aphrodite”, “Velvet Shade” and “Vicious Game”, “Pinches”, “Sheep”, “Diabolic Angel”, “Dancing Twig”, “Tom Waits for Her” and “Pathway”, representing diverse but resonant themes ranging from satire, continuity and social commentary to raw human emotions like love, loss and passion. Whether it’s VI·ZA’s bread and butter energetic style of pulsing percussion with exotic melodies or experimental ideas exploring the spiritual side of their art, the guys promise to keep things interesting with fans coming back for more, especially when it comes to documenting their work in the studio.
Keep an eye out for the band on Facebook (www.facebook.com/vizamusic) and Instagram (@vizamusic).
After releasing several albums, performing at major festivals worldwide, joining System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian for two worldwide tours and supporting Gogol Bordello and Skindred, VIZA is looking to explore a new dimension of sound. As a fixture of the Sunset club scene known for energetic and captivating live performances, VIZA is sure to deliver excitement in the form of shows and new songs in 2018.
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Other Releases:
August 1st – VIKTORIOUS – The Unorthodox Revival I September 1st – CASH KARMA – The Unorthodox Revival I October 1st – VELVET SHADE – The Unorthodox Revival I November 1st – A WORLD OF BROKEN MIRRORS – The Unorthodox Revival I December 1st – APHRODITE – The Unorthodox Revival I January 1st 2018 – VICIOUS GAME – The Unorthodox Revival I February 1st 2018 – PINCHES – The Unorthodox Revival II March 1st 2018 – SHEEP – The Unorthodox Revival II April 1st – 2018 – DIABOLIC ANGEL – The Unorthodox Revival II May 1st 2018 – DANCING TWIG – The Unorthodox Revival II June 1st 2018 – TOM WAITS FOR HER – The Unorthodox Revival II October 9th 2018 – PATHWAY – The Unorthodox Revival II
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Music by VI*ZA Lyrics by theoudplayer
Produced by VI*ZA
Recorded & Mixed by Yury Anisonyan at Live Wire Studios Also Recorded by Johnny Nice at Spin Studios, NYC
Mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering
Artwork by Alex Zablotsky
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Lyrics:
Pathway to war…
Start the foreplay, aggravated. Take a look here, watch it glow. Counting days, we are barricaded. What’s the pathway I don’t know.
Can you see the wolf as it stands in between us? Just walk away and tell the people we’re no more.
Bare your fangs now, am I crazy? Is she here now? Is it real? I don’t see you, you’re hiding. She is here now, this is real.
Can you see the wolf as it stands in between us? Just walk away and tell the people we’re no more. Can you see the wolf as it stands in between us? And as we fall we understand we are at war.
Pathway to war…
Can you see the wolf as it stands in between us? And as we fall we understand we are at war.
