When we take advantage of the moment, we live life to the fullest. Reverent of the past and excited for the future, Say ZuZu makes the most of the present in their music. The New Hampshire six-piece—Cliff Murphy, brothers Jon and James Nolan, Steve Ruhm, Tim Nylander, and Jon Pistey—artfully thread together a reflective patchwork of folk, rock, alternative and country powered by lifelong friendships and a collective ambition to “carpe diem.” As such, they sound as alive as ever on their seventh full-length offering and first original LP in 21 years, the aptly titled No Time To Lose (out March 10th on Strolling Bones Records).
They dove headfirst into the river back in 1992. Jon, James, and Cliff bonded over the likes of Uncle Tupelo and Neil Young, founding Say ZuZu and crafting a signature sound equally steeped in eloquent folk and gritty homegrown rock ‘n’ roll. They went on to build a cult audience by way of a series of fan favorite albums, including Say ZuZu [1994], Highway Signs & Driving Songs [1995], Take These Turns [1997], Bull [1998], Live [1999], and Every Mile [2002]. Along the way, they crisscrossed the country countless times in a converted school bus affectionately dubbed “The Bull,” found success in Europe, and lived through enough to inspire a lifetime of unforgettable memories. The group amicably split up during 2003.
During the pandemic, New West Records owner George Fontaine, Sr. reached out to Jon and Cliff. As the story goes, he nearly signed the band at the turn-of-the-century, so you could call it “unfinished business.” Inking a deal with Fontaine’s Strolling Bones, Say ZuZu commemorated its halcyon years with Here Again: A Retrospective (1994-2002) before recording No Time To Lose over the course of just ten days in December 2021. They channeled their original chemistry with the benefit of two decades of wisdom.
Today Glide is excited to premiere “Big Horizon,” one of the most solid tunes on the new album. Fans of the band’s signature style of New England alt-country will find it fully in-tact with this heartfelt tune that showcases the strong songwriting and musicians that put them on the map so many years ago. Bringing to mind acts like The Jayhawks, Jason Isbell and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “Big Horizon” is a work of sweeping folk and Americana brimming with gorgeous harmonies, poignant lyricism, the welcome touch of a banjo, slicing electric guitar, and the kind of commanding chorus that stays with you long after listening. For the band, it is both a return to form and a refreshing glimpse into their future.
“My friend Kate Redgate and I wrote Big Horizon together. Our stories are different, but we pull from the same well. Makes it easy for us to write together. Who hasn’t thought ‘C’mon, Universe – can I just get one freaking win here please?’ Sometimes life comes for you and shakes you down like a schoolyard bully for that money you really needed, makes you feel like you missed your one chance at happiness, or leaves you heartbroken and wondering if you’ll ever love again. The chorus is the vehicle for the feeling I get when I’m pushing back against despair. It’s where the fight shows up…the insistence upon redemption. And is there a more romantic vision of leaving it all behind and starting over than hitting the highway?” – Jon Nolan
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