The Zolas a band formed in 2009 which was created by duo Zachary Gray and Tom Dobrzanski, later Dwight Abell joined and so did Cody Hiles. Tom actually left the band after the birth of his new born child. The Zolas have a very unique sound as they blend pop music with alt rock. The band became known for making songs that felt nostalgic that was really the feel The Zolas went for when they made their music. 

In 2021 The Zolas returned after a 5 year hiatus with their album “Come Back to Life”. This album kept with that nostalgic feel that the band became known for. It felt very 90s for this project, maybe it was a nod to the music that raised the band members, but that’s just a theory. In 2021 during a weird stage in the world Zola’s “Come Back to Life”, really captures the feel of wanting connection and creativity, which just felt so limited at the time. 

Yung Dicaprio is the opening record on this track. It is the cinematic anthem that combines funny lyrics with large, and very danceable hooks. The song, which pokes fun at celebrity culture while feeling like the band is rediscovering their confidence, perfectly captures The Zola’s capacity to be both lighthearted and profound. Songs like “I Feel the Transition” and “Energy Czar,” which combine catchy melodies with serious topics. Combining those can be very difficult but The Zolas make it look easy.

Come Back to Life’s success comes from its production. The Zola’s embrace fuzzy sounding guitars, layered voices, and a punchy rhythm section that makes them indie rock rather than relying on polished pop formulas that have been done over and over. As a result, the album has the ability to be dancey and also very gritty.

Beyond the music, Come Back to Life seems to be The Zola’s way of reminding both themselves and their audience why they initially fell in love with rock music. It’s heartfelt, messy, and emotional. Zola’s most recent album encourages people to forget about everything that is troubling you. The album’s name is “Comeback to Life”, it’s the perfect message they want people to come back to life.