Song of the Day: ScotDrakula - Shazon

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Shazon” by ScotDrakula from their self-released 2015 album ScotDrakula.

ScotDrakula - Shazon (MP3)

If ever a band were primed for a breakout year, it’s ScotDrakula. Their self-released, self-titled album has already garnered the Melbourne based outfit international acclaim, and without a label, an official website, or even much of a backstory, the mysterious punk rockers hold most of the keys to their own destiny. In other words, they’re living the DIY dream. Of course, such success is rarely won easily, and fittingly, a deeper dive into the band’s past reveals excellent material released as far back as 2011. ScotDrakula’s talent is more than a flash in the pan, and a close listen to “Shazon” reveals why.

In a “brevity is the soul of wit" sort of way, frontman Matt Neumann’s lyrics are truly excellent. In case you were wondering how many times a singer can get away with using the line, “I’m getting high in the back seat,” we now know from “Shazon” that the answer is at least 20. It may be more, but since the song ends after twentieth time through the refrain, it’s hard to say for sure. What makes all the repetition so fun, however, are the song's two verses that are just intricate, jumbled, and rambling enough to provide a perfect contrast to the crystal clear chorus. Similarly, the band makes the most of out only two chords until the last thirty seconds of the song, when they switch it up just in time for a triumphant conclusion led by Neumann's griping vocals. Nothing in “Shazon” is superfluous, which make the song perfect for putting on repeat when, well, you get the idea.

ScotDrakula don’t have much for tour dates coming up. According to their facebook page, the vampiric group is in hibernation until August 27th, with new music coming later in 2015. Check in on their tumblr for more news and updates, and in the meanwhile watch their video for the track “Starter Humanism”, also from the self-titled record, below: