When thinking of singer songwriters, Emily Zuzik certainly won’t be the first name that comes to most people’s minds. However, the Los Angeles based performer has had an interesting career. In addition to releasing work under her own name dating back to the early 2000’s, she’s collaborated with Moby, Enchanted Kids and several other artists. Dip into her back catalogue and you’ll find material from an artist who doesn’t want to be pigeonholed. Her 2006 release ‘You Had Me At Goodbye’, for example, features guitar driven pop-rock that would be perfect for a ‘Trouble’-era P!nk (‘Potential’), tunes that are Sheryl Crow-esque (pop-rocker ‘Subtraction’ and the country tinged ‘Breaking It Down’), light vocal jazz (‘Fascinating’) and even a number that sounds like something from the Morcheeba back catalogue (‘Stand Up Stand Out’). …And yet, Zuzik’s strong vocal presence is such that the material never feels like a musical grab-bag. The album is the work of a performer who not only appears to have sucked up a world of influences like a sponge, but also clearly believes in their art.
Tag Archives: singer songwriter
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #101
Following another week where there have been an insane amount of submissions for the Singles Bar, this visit offers a broad selection of sounds. Among the eight picks, there’s a really atmospheric slice of pop from a singer songwriter on her way to becoming a proper cult figure, some superb indie pop vibes, and even a long stoner infused jam which really doesn’t suggest a “single” at all. As usual, we hope you find something new to enjoy…
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SAM ROBBINS – So Much I Still Don’t See
From the moment the intro of ‘Piles of Sand’ by Sam Robbins shares a perfect finger picked, acoustic melody, there’s a sense of the artist drawing his audience into something special. As the guitar melody grows with Sam adding a few broader strokes, the opening number from his 2025 album ‘So Much I Still Don’t See’ takes on an amazing folk-pop stance, but it’s with the arrival of a hushed vocal, those very positive first impressions are very much confirmed. The narrative track is perfect for Sam’s voice as he quietly cries through a lyric that reflects on the old adage about how small problems become larger if taken out of context, and how time passes, “empires fall”, but a little self-belief can keep us trucking. Throughout these perfectly formed four minutes, the performer takes the greatest influences from 90s acoustic sounds and even further back, with hints of Bruce Cockburn, James Taylor, and even a pinch of Gordon Lightfoot, blending them into something that’s very much his own. There’s a real purity to this performance. The music is superb, but every vocal note here has an even bigger emotive pull that’s almost impossible to resist.
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #99
This week’s Singles Bar features a wealth of different musical styles. A dip into the world of melodic punk brings a fresh take on a well known tune, a melodic rock band bring a massive 90s vibe on a very strong track, and a singer songwriter blends soul, pop and world music on a brilliantly understated performance. Elsewhere, you’ll find a fun country tune, a huge sounding throwback to the grunge glory days, and more besides. It’s a selection that, hopefully, will share something of interest for most listeners… As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #98
Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we share some of the individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the past few weeks. It’s an especially strong selection this time around, throwing a spotlight on a new, young band with a perfect take on an old sound; a punchy number straddling the line between indie and punk; a potentially frightening, riff-heavy number; something that falls within the boundaries of blues rock…and more besides. We think you’ll find something – or someone – new to fall in love with, and if so, it’s been more than worthwhile. Grab a cup of tea and dive in…
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