story and multimedia by Chance Solem-Pfeifer
From up on high to the streets of their hometown, the lyrics and music video of AZP’s newest single, “Charge,” bite off a lot.
But it’s nothing Ishma Valenti and Zachary Watkins — the creative duo behind the Lincoln band — haven’t set out to chew.
The video plays host to themes of suffering and redemption on a divine scale, an anti-bullying message and a portrait of violence in Lincoln neighborhoods. It’s a fusion of open eyes to social strife with melodic and danceable music that’s shaped AZP’s developing vision for itself since Valenti and Watkins first crossed paths more than 10 years ago.
The duo maintains they’ve clawed and maneuvered to avoid any kind of “box” for their artwork, going so far as to have once had “Productions” attached to their name, symbolizing an ongoing interest in film media and collaborating with visual artists. At times, AZP has even eschewed the word “band” altogether, in favor of “songwriting team” or “music production collective.”
Deliberate eclecticness holds for AZP’s sound, as well. The band is likely most recognizable for its combination of gospel-rock piano, soul vocals, rap lyrics and a backing rock band. Despite the mantra expressed in their 2012 song, “Keep It Simple,” (officially from Valenti’s album Respect) characterizing the band is anything but.
With their forthcoming EP, Early Sunday Morning, AZP’s message has shifted toward increased clarity, spiritualism and stirring representations of power and power reclamation.
“It’s that power inside of you: not power over people, but power from within,” says Valenti of the internal call-to-arms expressed on the EP and its lead single.
The cover image of Early Sunday Morning is an evocative rendering of black Jesus with his mouth agape and a crown of thorns atop his head. That same visage is matted, 8 feet tall and in color, propped against the west wall of AZP’s Parrish Project studio space in downtown Lincoln.
“It’s not to throw out Christianity,” Watkins says. “It’s our representation of a higher power. (His pain) is a not a representation of physical pain, but pain as in, ‘We need to do better.’ That’s what I get from it.”
On Tuesday night, AZP will release Early Sunday Morning at Duffy’s Tavern with More Machine Now Than Man.
Listen to the full Sessions interview with Valenti and Watkins here:
Chance Solem-Pfeifer is Hear Nebraska’s staff writer. Zach and Ishma are a pair of inspiring gentlemen, and Chance was the Chris Bosh in that studio last Friday. Reach him at chancesp@hearnebraska.org.