You heard the first Summer Zilla in 2018, two years later the prequel in the form of Pre Summer Tape 89 followed to which more was promised. And now, after four whole years of expectations and waiting we finally get the much anticipated project. Summer Zilla II is finally here and it is a beautiful piece.
Teckzilla, the UK based producer and DJ, draws inspiration from his birth month to celebrate both the warmth of the season and his birth as well. Summer Zilla II, the sequel to his 2018 summer- themed instrumental project of the same name. Inspired by nostalgic memories of the 90s as a kid and crates of weird and somewhat recognizable sample flips. This project more or less picks up from where the first edition left off some 6 years ago. The 10-track body of work is a masterclass in lofi sampling techniques, engaging storytelling culminating in the element of surprise as it progresses.
Much like its predecessor, Summer Zilla II, is anchored on genre-bending layered sample chops, and dynamic arrangement threaded by the element of nostalgia and warmth. Starting with the anthemic “RETURN TO SUMMER (SUMMER MADNESS)” with its enthralling vocal samples and pulsating drums which help usher us back into the world of Summer Zilla to the solemnity of “SUMMERZILLA II” or the breezy sunny day vibes of “SUMMER SOCIETY THEME”, listeners get a heightened sense of comfort as the project moves along.
As a call back to Summer Zilla, Teck-Zilla also brought back the voice of Summer, the French-speaking narrator who appears throughout the project but this time it’s voiced by Nigerian rapper/fashion stylist Yemoja whose sultry vocals draw audiences into the surreal, summery world of Summer Zilla II.
Wondering why it has taken this long for the body of work to see the light of day, Teckzilla offers that…
“When it comes down to making sequels, It’s often difficult to meet the expectations of one’s previous work due to many factors.”
You could say the producer probably got haunted by the sophomore jinx in not meeting certain expectations and that is why he explains thus;
“The project underwent quite a lot of reworking and revamping so it’s hard for me to track the proper timeline. I do remember that my initial plan was for a 2020 release but the COVID-19 pandemic happened and I temporarily shelved the project. I kept working on it though and making subtle and major changes over the years and in mid-2023, I made up my mind to finally put it out, I guess I had finally overcome my release paralysis.”
Spoilers will not be dropped so that you enjoy an immersive experience without bias. Feel free to let the one-sixth of the Str8buttah crew know what exactly you make of the project. You owe him that much.
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