Members of NO ZU:(Back) Daniel Sutton,Maddie Otto,Sashi Dharann,Andrew Noble (front) Nicolaas Oogjes and Cayn Borthwick.Darrian Traynor
Trumpet player Daniel Sutton describes the vibe of the band as an “Australiana warped nightclub fever dream”,an apt label for the kind of music that evokes a late-night hallucination.
Featuring a rotating cast of up to 10 members including multiple vocalists and a horn section,NO ZU’s sound is otherworldly,bold,and brash,with rhythmic beats forming the basis of regularly outlandish stage shows. This will be their 15th year playing together,a milestone far beyond what they predicted.
Members of NO ZU.Katelyn Stefani
Though the return of live music and performance is a joyous occasion for NO ZU,there’s a tragic element to their post-pandemic reappearance on stage. The sudden death of vocalist and core band memberin April last year left a huge mark on everyone involved.
“The passing of Daphne left a gaping hole,not just in the project but also more so in our friendships,” says band founder,percussion player and vocalist Nicolaas Oogjes,welling up with emotion. “There are little moments where you look over,and it’s not Daphne in that spot. Or before the show or after the show,there’s little things.”
“I used to look to her for so many things,and now I don’t have that anymore. But her presence is still in the band,” vocalist Maddie Otto says.
Camf played for several years as lead vocalist in NO ZU as well as bands SaD,Rat Vs Possum,and other creative projects. In a Facebook post announcing her passing,NO ZU described her as “our beating heart” and described the unconditional love she nurtured throughout her personal and creative life.
Band leader Oogjes noted that with Camf’s death,he thought the time may have come for the project to come to a close. “I actually didn’t know if it would ever happen. I thought that might be it. But it feels kind of a better potential ending… It’s hard to say.”
Nicolaas Oogjes,Cayn Borthwick,Sashi Dharann,Andrew Noble,Maddie Otto and Daniel Sutton.Darrian Traynor
“Since the start,I’ve always only looked at it a few months ahead. And I think that’s been part of the joy,at least for me,that it feels like it could end at any time,” he said.
Fresh from their first gig in two years in Sydney,NO ZU are set to play their first home show at Northcote Theatre on November 5 as part of label Chapter Music’s 30th birthday party. Since the it’s hosted acts like Confidence Man,with, and all booked for forthcoming appearances.
The show at Northcote Theatre will feature songs old and new,with NO ZU keen to test out their latest EPHeat Beat on local fans. Oogjes and the rest of the band are relaxed about what the future holds,with their ethos of individuality and self-expression remaining core to their musical plans.
“There’s a freedom of movement and self-expression that you see people realising[at shows]. After the first couple of songs,they realise they have permission to be in that same space with us,” says Sutton of bringing their audiences into what they call the “Zuniverse”.
Bass player Sashi Dharann agrees. “The amount of times I’d do something outlandish on stage,where I’d check in and he’d[Oogjes] say ‘do whatever you want to do.’”
“I’ve always said it’s about the feeling… It’s not for the sake of being clever,it’s feeling,” Oogjes said.
NO ZU play at Northcote Theatre on Saturday November 5 as part of Chapterfest 30. Tickets are available via.
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