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Zeal
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Zeal
Genre: Indie, Electronic
Region: Adelaide Foothills, SA
Members: Robert Jarvis - instruments, vocals and production
Sounds Like: air, Architecture In Helsinki, elbow
Influences: Frank Zappa, Bright Eyes, Sufjan Stevens
Artist Website: zealousy.com.au

In 2004, a blip appeared on the infrequently manned Adelaide music radar system. That blip was a then 19 year-old Robert Jarvis. Going under the professional pseudonym ZEAL, the now 22 year-old multi-instrumentalist, who spends much of his time in his bedroom creating his own brand of beats based indie pop, is about to release his debut EP THIS IS HOW I HEAR YOUR VOICE.

Completely misusing his jazz degree, ZEAL creates eclectic down-beat pop songs characterized by inventive instrumentation from electric, electronic and acoustic sources. His sound has been likened to Architecture in Helsinki, Eels and Holly Throsby.

In 2006 ZEAL's track Salt was selected as the opening track on the NOISE compilation “Emergent” and distributed nationally leading to bursts of interest around Australia including being played heavily on Sydney station FBi. In the same year ZEAL was selected as a TripleJ Unearthed feature artist, once again gaining the attention of many around Australia.

Facing up to the challenge of playing electronic music live, ZEAL has taken to the streets of Adelaide. Armed with a melodica, an effects pedal board and a laptop made playable by use of Playstation Guitar Hero II controller, his shows are as 'live' as any punk band. On the horizon are interstate shows, both solo and with his three piece band.

Constantly dabbling in short animation and bringing inanimate objects around him to life, Robert created an animated music video for Salt on his bedroom floor. Using a laser printer, cellophane and $60 worth of rock salt, his humble clip found it's way into the Sunscreen Music Video Festival. The clip went on to gain more success being nominated for Best Music Video at the SA Short Screen Awards and then landing a spot in SoundKilda '07 among the top music videos in Australia.

Featuring Hilltop Hoods Initiative winner Subsketch, indie solo rocker The Birth of Jose, mixed by Simon Rose and mastered by William Bowden (Macromantics, The Sleepy Jackson, The Herd), ZEAL's debut THIS IS HOW I HEAR YOUR VOICE is out August 31st from zealousy.com.au.

Visit:

Zealousy.com.au
-Mp3s, Film clip for 'Salt', Blog etc.

Myspace.com/zealtv
-Edited via dial up and, ironically, completely dial-up unfriendly.

triplejunearthed.com/subsketch
-Compadre de musique

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reviews

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Salt
rating:  4/5
Pretty stuff from this up and comer... it's very low key and could almost benefit from a bit more work as neither the words or music quite get there ...
triplej



Salt
rating:  4/5
All his tracks show merit. Lots of things draw you in - the space in the tracks, his understated voice, the slow build. Worth investigating. Unless y...
triplej



Yumi and the Sky
rating:  3/5
nice. very. it's catchy and i think the kids will dig it. handclaps always go down a treat as does the way you build up and strip away the instrument...
triplej



Yumi and the Sky
rating:  3/5
Some beautiful ideas, great continuity through the whole song, but its not tedious. I'd love to hear it with real strings, I'd also like to hear the ...
more reviews



This project is supported by the Australia Council, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, through its Music Board Section.