Zach Loizou has already lived a number of pop lifetimes. First, as a member of British boyband Right here At Final, he helped soundtrack a era of on-line fandoms with emotionally charged, harmony-led pop that thrived in each on-line and onstage. Now, stepping totally into his personal as a solo artist, Loizou is buying and selling group dynamics for one thing extra private – songwriting that feels lived-in, susceptible, and unafraid to sit down with the messier corners of rising up within the public eye.
On this dialog with CelebMix, Zach opens up in regards to the transition from band member to solo storyteller, the inventive freedom that comes with beginning over, and the way his sound has developed since his Right here At Final days. Reflective with out being nostalgic, he speaks candidly about identification, stress, and the fun of creating music that feels unmistakably his.
How did you are feeling when Right here At Final got here to an finish – and the way lengthy did it take earlier than you felt prepared to maneuver ahead by yourself?
Okay, so despite the fact that we formally completed working collectively in the summertime of 2024, we truly first made the choice to finish the band a number of months earlier than that… however we purposefully didn’t inform anyone simply in case we modified our minds (laughs). So yeah, we’d had fairly a little bit of time to get our heads across the modifications that had been about to return, however even then, it nonetheless took me a superb 4 or 5 months to determine what I needed to do subsequent.
Was there ever a second the place you questioned persevering with in music, or did going solo really feel inevitable?
If I’m being completely trustworthy, after we first broke up, I actually wasn’t into the concept of releasing music by myself. I used to be considering I’d go extra into the manufacturing facet of issues as a result of that was one thing I’d performed a whole lot of after I was within the band, and all the time loved it. There was a tune we had referred to as ‘Peculiar Life’ that me, Tommy and Ryan labored on collectively that had performed very well, so I felt like that would have been a superb profession transfer (for me) going ahead. I additionally thought of getting again into performing as a result of that’s what I did rising up. However yeah… I don’t know, I simply couldn’t see myself doing the solo factor.
What made you assume a solo profession wasn’t the best path for you at the moment?
I actually appreciated my function within the band! I loved being one among 5, and feeling like I used to be a part of a crew. We had been all in it collectively, if one thing went unsuitable or didn’t work out how we’d hoped, we had one another to fall again on. After which when issues did go effectively, it was much more thrilling, as a result of we had been capable of share these highs as a 5. Figuring out I wouldn’t perhaps have that anymore made the considered going it alone appear extra daunting.
Was there a second or expertise that helped you realise you had been able to step out on our personal musically?
It was truly a man referred to as Stuart Brock who urged I give it a go! Stuart used to do the sound and manufacturing for all of Right here At Final’s reside exhibits – he’s superb, and somebody all of us nonetheless work with just a little bit right here and there. He simply stated to me sooner or later: “pay attention, you’ve obtained nothing to lose! If issues don’t work out, and the music fails to attach with individuals, then no-one will know. But when it really works out, you then’ll be doing one thing you’re keen on for the remainder of your life!” So I wrote a number of songs, actually loved the method, after which ended up being the primary one of many band to launch a single, which is mindless as a result of like I stated, I used to be the one who actually didn’t need to go solo (laughs).
How did stepping away from a band dynamic change the best way you perceive your self as an artist?
It took me a minute to determine who I used to be each as an artist, and as an individual away from the opposite boys – and I believe they’d all agree and say the identical! As weird because it sounds, for us, the truth is, we spent the start of our grownup lives in a boyband (laughs). , the years the place most individuals are on the market discovering themselves, we spent them collectively. We had been tremendous shut, and clearly nonetheless are, so all of us form of moulded into the identical persona and have become like one particular person. While you reside that approach you’re probably not considering for your self. I used to be 17 after I joined the band, and 23 when it completed, so I clearly modified, and grew up so much in that point. Popping out the opposite facet you begin to ask your self extra questions like, how do I need to costume? How I need to act? What fashion of music do I need to make now? And it’s an ongoing factor attempting to determine who you might be, and who you need to be. However I like that, I like that issues are perpetually altering.
Naughty Boys (Official Efficiency Video)
How does writing alone examine to writing as a part of a bunch – do you are feeling extra uncovered, or extra free?
I might say a little bit of each (laughs). There’s a lot extra stress on you whenever you’re by yourself, particularly in terms of writing and looking for your sound. You’re feeling like you need to actually decide to a sure fashion and picture instantly so that folks get a really feel for who you might be away out of your band. Like I stated earlier than, I all the time actually loved the writing course of, and being concerned within the manufacturing of songs, in order that half was tremendous by myself. However when it got here to deciding to singles to launch, that was arduous.
Did you are feeling such as you wanted to separate your self from the music you’d made previously, to make sure that you had been creating and providing one thing new to your viewers?
Yeah positively. While you come from a boyband it may be arduous to maneuver away from the picture that you just’re identified for. Don’t get me unsuitable, I nonetheless love that a part of my life, and I don’t look down on it in any respect, however transferring ahead into this subsequent section of my profession I positively needed to do one thing completely different. Musically I used to be eager to undertake a bit extra of a cooler, mature sound – what that might be precisely I wasn’t certain instantly, however I knew it was going to be guitar targeted, and fewer out and out pop. My first single ‘Naughty Boys’ has kind of turn out to be was ‘Tongue’ was to Right here At Final. It was a tune that made an announcement. It wasn’t essentially the sound or fashion I used to be going to pursue longterm, however it obtained individuals’s consideration, and that’s what I needed.
A lot of your current solo releases really feel very private – was {that a} acutely aware choice, or one thing that naturally occurred?
All people writes in another way, and has a unique technique or format they like to stay to. For me, I really feel it’s essential that there’s all the time a component of fact in what I’m writing and singing about. I benefit from the course of extra after I’m saying one thing that I can personally relate to. Clearly you need to exaggerate sure issues, and add in little particulars, however the essence of the songs I’ve launched thus far are primarily based on true tales and are very, very private to me.
Do you all the time like to jot down from actuality, and actual life experiences, or do you’ve gotten the power to jot down from creativeness too?
Actuality all the best way… however with just a little little bit of creativeness. And I truly assume my new single is the proper instance of that. ‘Monday’ is 100% primarily based on a real story, however to make it sound extra emotive and conversational, I’ve switched up a few of the narrative. So within the opening line I say: “I met this lady on the underground”, and I didn’t truly meet her on the underground, however I felt by saying that, it created extra of a romantic feeling and made it sound extra movie-like. The truth is we met in a bar, which was truthfully simply as romantic, however placing it in a tune, I felt like setting our first assembly on the underground sounded higher (laughs).
Inform me extra about ‘Monday’…
I co-wrote it with Ryan from the band, and it’s about a kind of on and off relationships that you just by no means appear to have the ability to get proper, however nonetheless you are feeling compelled to attempt once more with the hope that sooner or later all of it works out. The lady within the tune I’ve identified for about 4 years now, however I by no means ever, ever, ever thought I’d write about her, or any of the issues we went by way of, however randomly sooner or later Ryan stated: “we should always write about this”, so we did (laughs). It’s very detailed oriented, and I believe lots of people will be capable of relate to it. Wanting deeper into the idea, I’d say lyrically it’s about discovering your twin flame, and exploring the invisible string idea the place you are feeling such as you’re all the time related to somebody, and intertwined of their lives, and the way all of that performs out in the long term. It was an essential relationship in my life, so I’m excited for individuals to listen to it.
Musically how would you say this tune differs out of your earlier singles?
It’s positively completely different to something I’ve launched previously – it has a really relaxed, chilled vibe to it. Aside from the acoustic model of ‘Naughty Boys’, I’ve not put out a ballad or a mid-tempo monitor, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see what everybody thinks…
This will likely be your fifth solo launch, has the method of placing out music by yourself gotten simpler?
I’d say it feels extra pure now than it did to start with. The joy you get within the lead up by no means modifications, fortunately the stress does (laughs). How so? Properly, it’s form of like I stated earlier than, me and boys all put a whole lot of stress on ourselves surrounding the discharge of our first singles… stress that I don’t assume was actually essential. However now, issues are a bit extra chilled, and in a humorous approach placing out music has turn out to be a bit like posting a video or content material on socials, it’s simply part of what I do.
How has performing reside modified now that the highlight is solely on you?
I can’t lie, it’s felt surreal being on stage by myself – primarily as a result of it’s one thing I’m not used to. Once I was youthful, I did a whole lot of musical theatre stuff – I used to be in Oliver and The Sound of Music – that are clearly massive ensemble productions. Then being within the band, I used to be surrounded by 4 different lads all the time, so performing solo isn’t one thing I’ve skilled so much. However I’m getting used to it, and studying to take pleasure in it extra.
Final 12 months you performed your first headline present on the o2 Academy2 in Islington – which was a HUGE success! Demand for tickets was excessive, that the venue needed to be upgraded…
I do know, that was psychological! My unique concept was to placed on just a little present to kind of take a look at the waters, and ease myself into performing solo, so to then be advised we had been going to have to vary venues because of excessive demand and the quantity of individuals wanting to return… I couldn’t consider it! While you’re in a band, you are feeling prefer it’s ‘the band’ that sells the tickets, not the person members, so that you don’t ever actually take into consideration the potential for anyone desirous to see you carry out by yourself. Seeing my identify and the phrases ‘SOLD OUT’ subsequent to it exterior the venue was insane!
Speak to me in regards to the present itself!
Have you learnt what, I don’t actually keep in mind being on stage (laughs). The entire day and evening was a whole adrenaline rush! However I completely beloved it! Seeing all of these individuals present up for me was an enormous confidence enhance – individuals travelled from God is aware of the place, simply to see ME! What’s that about? (Laughs). All the Right here At Final boys got here alongside to which was superb, I actually appreciated their help. It was simply an unbelievable evening, and doubtless the primary time that I felt like a official solo artist in my very own proper.
What have you ever realized in regards to the music business by way of this transition that you just didn’t know earlier than?
That it’s okay to lose issues, as a result of there are all the time different stuff you’ll achieve. That change is sweet, and utterly okay. To not panic in dangerous moments, as a result of they are going to all the time finish. And to benefit from the good moments too as a result of they don’t all the time final both. Typically as individuals we concern issues going unsuitable or not understanding, however I’m realising that we will actually blossom after going by way of arduous instances and hard experiences, since you develop so much from the struggles you face. I all the time say, chase the great, and get by way of the dangerous.
Has being solo made you extra hands-on with selections – visually, creatively, or business-wise?
Yeah I’d say so, however it’s additionally essential to say that within the band, we had been all the time allowed to be ourselves and really concerned in every little thing we did. So it’s not like impulsively I’m discovering myself making all of those selections and calling the pictures (laughs). The principle distinction now could be that I don’t have to consider what anybody else is doing, or issue of their ideas about issues.
What excites you most in regards to the future?
It in all probability sounds loopy, however not realizing what the longer term appears to be like like excites me. Something can occur on this business – one tune, one video can change your life utterly, so you need to be prepared for if, and when, that second comes! Within the meantime, I’m simply excited to maintain on doing what I’m doing. There’s positively extra music on the best way, and I need to do extra reside performing, so everyone be careful for that…
Zach Loizou’s new single ‘Monday’ is out there to pre-order right here.
Tell us your ideas on Zach Loizou over on CelebMix socials now!
