Today, Western Sydney-based rapper, producer and filmmaker Zion Garcia announces his long-awaited new EP “The New Film Star” due independently this Aug 29. With the news comes his brand new single ‘Sensitive’.
Drawing its name from a book centred around The Golden Ages of Hollywood, “The New Film Star” takes inspiration from this time while also observing the lack of representation of people that looked like him.
Musically influenced by his Tongan-Spanish heritage, Zion found the book sparked an internal dialogue; “It’s about delusion; we have big dreams that we don’t even know if we can or how we can go for it. It’s about striving for the same representation in the upper-echelon, where there’s the same level of balance and views of stars and regular people.” Leaving no room for disencouragement or doubt, “The New Film Star” embodies the all-encompassing facets of flexing that the Golden Ages of Hollywood would relish in – even if through the lens of deception.
Through “dorky, geek rap”, melody-heavy cuts and punk-rock elements reminiscent of N.E.R.D. and Paris Texas, “The New Film Star” is Zion Garcia both rewriting history and “figuring shit out” in real time. “The New Film Star” pulls the curtain back on Zion Garcia and plays out like a vignette viewed in technicolour and intersected with elements of growth, accountability, independence, love, grief and confident delusion.
With the announcement comes the release of Zion Garcia’s stirring new track ‘Sensitive’. A testament to his finely tuned craft, Zion shares, ”Sensitive’ is the song my friends love most from the project. It’s the rare time I actually made a song in the day time at a responsible hour, and I think that shows. It’s definitely my most “contemporary” sounding song, and it’s the one my friends go craziest for. I get emotional when I see ‘em get lit to it. I remember my bro SOLLYY getting back to me about it at like 9AM the next day, and going crazy for it. He just kept saying it was “the one”.”
He continues, “It’s always the ones you over think the least that end up resonating the most in your artistic endeavours. This one definitely helped me to learn how to trust my gut more, and just not overcook a song. It’s also one of my most proud productions. The chop on it I didn’t realise was super complex until we were mixing and my friends broke down the song production wise. This song makes me feel my age. I always get told I’m an “Old Soul” or I make art “beyond my years.” But man, I’m young, vibrant, and sometimes I truly don’t take things that deep. Only sometimes…”
Having firmly marked his place across Gadigal/Sydney’s music circuits, Zion Garcia’s breakthrough has been built from his heart-on-his-sleeve approach to life, drawing from his own identity, self-assuredness and indispensable commentary. As the next preview of his artistic streak, ‘Sensitive’ follows ‘FIGHTBACK’, supported across triple j, triple j Unearthed, fbi radio, Acclaim Magazine, RAGE and more, alongside the announcement of his upcoming Sydney headline show – Zion Garcia presents The New Film Star – taking place at an Inner West location on June 12 (tickets HERE).
Embracing a DIY rap volatility margined by his endless creativity, Zion Garcia has steadily cultivated an apex of next generation hip-hop – shaped by how he chooses to show up. Seamlessly weaving through disparate genres, his stream of new music sits like the middle ground between a blockbuster and cult classic of his own making. Take a seat and let the credits roll.
